CIO OPINION security operational infrastructure without potentially dramatically increasing expenses .
Through the deployment of a Gigamon Visibility Fabric , Barrett Steel was able to optimize its Network Detection and Response ( NDR ) tools by establishing a clear view of all data-in-motion across its network . Visibility was the key to streamlining and minimizing the traffic that was fed through its network tools , and by ensuring that traffic is de-duplicated , the volume of information to be analyzed was dramatically reduced without impacting the quality of the process .
The outcome was a reduction in the load faced by its network tools and an increase in the throughput across the network , all while only slightly increasing the size of – and investment into – its tooling .
Without embracing digital technologies and tools , the majority of businesses would have failed over the past year .
Following the lead of Barrett Steel highlights that increases in the capacity of network tools without adding massive cost can be realized , while ensuring a positive impact on staff . By increasing the efficiency of network and security tools , the number of false alarms will be reduced allowing IT and security teams to focus on the bigger picture – Digital Transformation – rather than being overloaded with false alarms / alerts .
Investing in optimization
I have suggested that Digital Transformation is a non-negotiable initiative , but the elephant in the room remains : resources are currently limited for most businesses , so investment priorities must change for new tools and technologies . Fortunately , migrating away from current management , monitoring and security infrastructure tools is not always necessary – for many companies , simply optimizing existing resources can free up the resources required to invest in a Digital Transformation initiative .
Businesses around the world have had to ‘ do more with less ’ over the past year , whether that is fewer resources or a reduction in budgets . Streamlining people , processes and current technologies can be the answer to evolving when it may seem impossible .
A strong example of doing more with less was demonstrated by Barrett Steel , the UK ’ s largest independent steel stockholder , that was struggling to realize complete visibility across its infrastructure as the volume of network traffic increased as Digital Transformation occurred .
This resulted in challenges to the security analysis and reporting , potentially leaving it vulnerable to security breaches . It needed to modernize its network and
Another opportunity to gain greater returns from past and future investments is to consider task automation that will free cycles within the workforce allowing them to spend time on strategic projects rather than struggling with mundane or administrative tasks . With minimal investment in the optimization of your people , processes and existing technology , you will be disproportionately rewarded with resources that can better serve your customers .
Looking ahead to the digital enterprise
The pandemic ’ s impact has been undeniable on almost every aspect of our lives , and now is the time to start thinking about the future . While battening-down-thehatches and waiting for the storm to pass may seem like the option that holds the least risk especially as such uncertainty remains , it is also a path to get left behind in a competitive business landscape . We are living in a digital world and business leaders must take appropriate steps to adjust .
I ’ m under no illusion that budgets remain tight for many organizations which is why I suggest striving to optimize your existing resources – people and technology – to provide capacity for transformation and evolution to take place . As global business has become more reliant on technology than we foresaw a few years ago , I strongly suggest that Digital Transformation of the enterprise is where most organizations start the journey . p
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