IT Modernization: Where Do I Start?

The Foundation of Digital Transformation Initiatives

As organizations seek to pull emerging technologies to the changing business and customer demands, Digital Transformation (DX) is key for IT modernization. Organizations that embrace DX are able to bring new products and services to market. They can enhance the customer experience, meet revenue goals, and make better data-driven decisions.

Many organizations begin their DX initiatives before embarking on an IT modernization journey. However, architectures weren’t designed to support artificial intelligence, big data analytics, and other advanced technologies. As a result, many are experiencing performance issues, unplanned downtime, and security threats. This is particularly challenging when the IT modernization journey includes implementing existing services on a cloud hyperscaler platform.

A recent Vanson Bourne study found that nearly one-third of the typical organization’s IT environment is made up of outdated systems. Eighty percent of IT leaders say these systems will stop long-term growth if they aren’t modernized.

An IT modernization strategy can help organizations overcome these challenges and prepare for the future IT needs of the business. By laying the proper foundation, organizations can execute their DX initiatives and maximize the ROI in new technologies.

The IT Modernization Challenge

That’s not to say that IT modernization is easy. In a recent IBM survey of IT leaders in midsize and large organizations, 60% of respondents said their company’s modernization program is not yet ready for the future. Nearly a quarter admitted that their organization is just starting its IT modernization journey or has yet to begin modernizing. About a third said they are still in the IT modernization process. This, combined with pressures from leadership to find new ways to lower costs, leads to rushed decisions and higher long-term costs, especially when the cloud is part of the modernization effort.

An effective IT modernization strategy encompasses every aspect of the IT environment, including infrastructure, networking, security, and endpoint devices. Backup systems will likely need updating to address rapidly growing data volumes and widely distributed data sources. Organizations should also address communications to ensure that users have effective tools for collaborating and sharing information.

Choosing Hybrid Modernization

Organizations can jumpstart their modernization initiatives with a hybrid IT strategy that combines onsite and cloud resources. Hybrid IT enables organizations to maintain control over mission-critical and highly sensitive workloads. All this, while gaining the flexibility, elasticity, and cost advantages of the cloud. In the IBM survey, more than 95% of IT leaders said they are looking to adopt public, private, or hybrid cloud strategies.  On one hand, a hybrid IT strategy may seem challenging to enterprises burdened with technical debt. But on the other, identifying the right workloads and applications to migrate or modernize is key to successfully evolving an IT organization’s services. This approach creates a reliable path to hybrid IT without impacting customer experience through the introduction of too many changes at once. 

Choosing the right Partner for Digital Transformation

IT skills gaps can complicate modernization initiatives. A full 40% of the technology leaders surveyed by Teneo Research feel that their teams lack the right skills to fully meet their organizations’ IT modernization requirements. But, more than 75% say they will rely more on trusted partners that can provide infrastructure services.

Choosing the right partner is critical. IT modernization requires deep expertise across the IT environment and up and down the technology stack. An IT solution provider must also have the business insight to develop a strategic approach that meets current and future requirements.

Rahi’s digital infrastructure services enable secure, reliable delivery of applications and services. These services are based upon our proven ELEVATE services methodology that begins with an in-depth assessment of the existing environment. We then conduct a gap analysis to prioritize technology solutions that will improve your operations. 

Rahi identifies legacy systems that will benefit from modernization and develops a road map for enhancing the stability, performance, and security of your IT infrastructure. Contact our team and let us help you raise the value you bring to your customers.