SDN, BYOD, Cloud, IT Security and Compliance... Where's an IT Pro to Begin?

Networks have evolved from simple one-size-fits-all environments to a complex array of technologies and devices, both physical and virtual, as well as on and off premises services. This new technology evolution combined with businesses adjusting to the evolving needs of their employees and customers as well as operational priorities, equates to the job of the IT pro being more complex than ever before. Without the right skills, tools, support and resources, any seasoned IT pro could be left in a tailspin.

How to Manage Network Complexity Chaos
Step 1: Get to know New Technologies
New technologies offer great promise and often deliver great value when focused around targeted problems. But, when it comes to introducing a new technology, it's important to know what problem the technology was designed to solve as the hype often outpaces the reality. Most new technologies like software defined networking (SDN) and Cloud are not an overnight reality for businesses. There is a considerable amount of work and training required upfront to get it off the ground, and IT pros need to be prepared to guide their organizations, determining what new technologies are relevant and when they should be implemented.

Step 2: Evolve your IT Operations model to handle new and old services efficiently
Bring Your Own Device (BYOD), Cloud, distributed workforces and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) are some recent examples of issues that are placing a strain on IT pros as they balance managing business-critical IT services already on their plates with new services. Creating a model that leverages management tools for established high-volume services, and learning the management needs of new services is a critical best practice. Investing in tools too far ahead of the learning curve often results in shelfware. For new services, start by defining business objectives and how they translate to IT goals. Then, build operations practices to manage IT goals. Once the management challenges are understood, leverage tools to scale your ability to deliver those services efficiently.

Step 3: Identify Business Operations requirements key to your organization's success
Business operations requirements such as security, compliance and audit reporting are often treated as necessary evils by IT pros. These requirements alone rarely deliver any visible direct value until you have a problem, a security threat, or, need to troubleshoot an issue. But each requirement is critical to the business. Business operations don't have to be an afterthought and should be integrated into day-to-day operations. To help minimize network complexity, IT pros should automate business operations with software tools where possible. For example, configuration management tools can reduce time and errors making it easier to meet regulatory, corporate and security standards.