When you buy a house, you know it’s not going to stay the same. The furnace might be five years old, but you’ll need a replacement in about 10 to 15 years. Some of the fixtures could already be dated, requiring modernization as you settle in. The original windows need to be upgraded to ensure you’re not spending too much on utilities. Every improvement is designed to make the home future-proof so it’s functional and appealing to buyers when you sell.
Your organization’s digital set-up requires an identical approach. Upgrades and maintenance are a given. It’s knowing how to go about it that can trip leaders up. While there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach, there are best practices to follow. Here’s how you can future-proof your company’s digital infrastructure.
Adopt Zero Trust Security Measures
Your company runs multiple apps a day. Employees access web-based resources, exchange or store information, and browse external sites. While your infrastructure can’t operate without software, it creates opportunities for unauthorized activities. Cybercriminals can launch attacks via ransomware and malware, abruptly compromising your infrastructure’s capabilities.
Software vulnerabilities make attacks possible since criminals find ways to exploit those coding flaws. It’s like a thief discovering an unlatched window when the front door is secure. Protection comes down to double-checking for flaws and correcting the vulnerabilities you discover. A zero day vulnerability is riskier because it’s like having a window without a lock.
You can’t latch it so it remains open for anyone to come through. But what you could do is assume you can’t trust anyone to leave it alone. Instead, you put bars over the window to prevent unauthorized access. Zero trust security measures, such as allowlisting, work on the same principle. You stop cybercriminals from exploiting new software flaws a developer hasn’t released a patch for yet by creating a list.
On the list are applications your company allows to run. Anything else will fail to launch. This includes unapproved scripts, malware, and ransomware.
Integrate AI
There’s little doubt AI is the newest kid on the block. Technology changes quickly and trying to play catch up with the latest developments later can backfire. Thirty-four percent of organizations are already using AI. Another 42% are looking into how to integrate the technology.
Upskilling and reskilling existing workforces are an additional priority for 35% of organizations. You risk falling behind if you don’t include AI, machine learning, and automated tools in your digital infrastructure planning. Customers and employees will come to expect it, even if they have concerns about AI’s implications.
The technology affords several advantages, such as shifting employees’ responsibilities from routine to strategic. Errors are caught, reduced, and even automatically fixed. Productivity goes up, along with client satisfaction. The introduction of chatbots, for instance, streamlines repetitive, simplistic customer requests. Clients get an easy, quick solution instead of waiting for answers.
AI also protects your infrastructure. Automated monitoring tools create alerts about suspicious network activities. In addition, tools identify potential failures before they turn into unplanned downtime.
Keep It Simple
Ever walk into a cluttered workspace and wonder how someone can be efficient with chaos around them? Complex digital infrastructures can become like environments full of clutter. It’s difficult to find what you need. You don’t know how the pieces fit together. Not to mention, someone wouldn’t know where to start in your absence.
Future-proofing your digital infrastructure means getting rid of the complex clutter. Assess what you have, along with what you need and how it should all sync together. Maybe you have old equipment on its last leg. Are you going to successfully implement new software with legacy hardware? It will be like trying to patch a tire with multiple nails in it.
At times, you can get away with patches. Other times, you’ll end up with a flat. It’s better to realistically determine your infrastructure’s longevity and compatibility. You may also have data in multiple places you can streamline. Consolidating software programs with redundancies and data silos is another opportunity to consider.
It doesn’t make sense to use one provider for spreadsheets and another for email. Simplifying and centralizing resources makes it easier to upgrade later. You also don’t have to deal with the fallout from migration nightmares.
Evaluate New Developments
Updates to technology will continue to happen. Part of future-proofing your systems involves assessing those developments as they come along. Does it make sense to test and integrate them now or wait?
You’ve got to know your organization’s needs and digital infrastructure’s performance to make an accurate assessment. Say you’ve been repairing your computer-based phone system with salvaged parts for years. That’s probably a sign you’re using severely outdated technology on the brink of failure.
Don’t be reluctant to consider replacements before you think the equipment is past its prime. Simultaneously, you may not be ready for shiny, new objects yet. It’s a delicate balance with budget constraints to keep in mind. As part of your assessment, evaluate current system performance, strengths, and weaknesses. Coming up with a provisioning schedule based on average equipment life cycles is another tip.
Building a Digital Infrastructure for the Future
Your organization relies on its digital systems to carry out day-to-day operations. Having your infrastructure break down isn’t on your to-do list. Neither is having its performance compromised to the point where you can’t meet internal and external needs.
Future-proofing your infrastructure safeguards against these scenarios and prepares your company for meeting the demands of tomorrow. Realizing its importance is one thing. Knowing how to carry it out is an asset you must have.