EDITOR ’ S QUESTION
ERCAN AYDIN , VICE PRESIDENT , EMERGING MARKETS ,
PALO ALTO NETWORKS
To effectively reduce the cost of IT operations , CIOs and IT decision-makers need to adopt a strategic approach that involves a combination of optimising resources , automating routine tasks , and promoting cost transparency and accountability .
IT leaders can optimise technology resources by regularly evaluating , repurposing , or upgrading their technology to ensure they are leveraging the latest and most cost-effective solutions .
We also recommend automating routine tasks , which is an effective way to reduce IT operational costs , such as system monitoring . With time being our most valuable and powerful resource , automating these tasks can free up IT staff to focus on more strategic initiatives while also reducing the risk of human error . IT leaders can secure everything , everywhere , faster than ever with automation .
In addition , by leveraging cloud-based services , IT leaders can also reduce their infrastructure and maintenance costs along with greater flexibility and scalability .
IT leaders must also be able to identify the right approach for cybersecurity and promote cost transparency and accountability . The total cost of ownership can increase when cybersecurity tools are thrown into an environment without understanding the need .
We recommend the Palo Alto Networks ’ platform approach to boost your cybersecurity ROI . While IT leaders can partner with multiple vendors for their cybersecurity solutions , our strategic next-gen platform approach provides procurement , implementation , and operational benefits . Using one single vendor can avoid complexity , inefficiency , expenses , and unnecessary risks of coverage gaps .
Lastly , employee awareness and training , ensuring everyone is aware of the costs associated with IT operations , can go a long way . This can also help identify where costs can be reduced and encourage individuals to take ownership of their IT spending .
RANJITH KAIPPADA , MANAGING DIRECTOR ,
CLOUD BOX TECHNOLOGIES
CIOs and IT decision makers need to pave the way for right use of technology to look at both shortand long-term strategies to reduce IT operations cost . Embracing technology is a vital investment , however organisations must also be able to source and implement the right and more innovative technologies .
One of the first approaches would be to move towards digital transformation to automate all time-consuming jobs . Also , virtualising many tasks and partially depending on cloud would be a good practice to follow .
Most operations cannot be worked in an isolated state and requires for organisations to find the right partner of systems integrator and rely on them as their outsourced division . In doing so and handing over several tasks it helps in reducing IT operational costs . But it is also crucial that the internal IT teams have the appropriate skills and help in raising the productivity levels .
It will also be key to understand how uniformity within IT hardware and standardisation of infrastructure helps to reduce costs . In current times it is important to provide a well implemented hybrid work and IT environment which makes it easier to manage whole reducing costs and lowering workforce . p
www . intelligentcio . com INTELLIGENTCIO AFRICA 29