It’s no secret that artificial intelligence (AI) has dramatically reshaped the world in recent years. Tasks that were previously impractical are now easier than ever. This improved efficiency in virtually every industry, especially the information technology space.
IT operations automation has become far more streamlined with the introduction of artificial intelligence, allowing service providers to offer better results. However, not everybody understands the role of AI in modernizing this type of service.
We’ve written a brief guide that highlights the key information you should know about IT operations automation when moving forward. Let’s explore what to consider.
Increased Efficiency
One of the most notable attributes of using artificial intelligence for IT operations automation is increased efficiency. AI can help you determine new obligations you can automate. It can also make your automation more efficient overall.
Active monitoring is a great example. This is the process of using automation to check for security threats.
When one is discovered, it sends alerts to IT professionals who can resolve them. When used in conjunction with AI, it can become more efficient as time passes. To clarify, artificial intelligence could notice that problems tend to arise in certain areas.
It might also discover that certain threats are more common than others. AI would then modify its workflow to prioritize these situations. The outcome is completing automated tasks faster and getting better results.
It’s worth noting that AI can process far more information than humans can. Imagine running an automated scan of an enormous network.
When you get the results, you’ll have to sift through them to look for anomalies or areas of concern. By using AI, you can consolidate this information into a brief report.
Not only does this simplify task management, but it also reduces employee stress. Keeping morale high is crucial, as it makes your employees more productive. It also minimizes the chance they’ll look for opportunities elsewhere.
Improved Accuracy
There’s no point in using IT operations automation if the results aren’t accurate. In some cases, improper inputs can lead to poor outcomes. However, using the appropriate inputs doesn’t always guarantee you get the results you need.
Artificial intelligence can correct mistakes and optimize the accuracy of your IT operations automation. Let’s assume your IT provider automated your bandwidth usage based on your network activity. The automation parameters were manually configured by IT staff.
While they might work as intended, there’s a good chance they aren’t optimal. You can leverage AI to take automatic performance to the next level while maintaining accuracy.
Increased Compliance
Regardless of what industry you work in, there are compliance standards you’ll need to adhere to when you setup your IT operations automation. Infringing upon these can have dire consequences, such as expensive fines or fees.
It’s also important to note that you’ll damage your company’s reputation. Think of what would occur if your company made headlines due to improperly storing consumer data.
Consumers would choose competitors over your company, and other businesses wouldn’t partner with you. Situations like these can be difficult to recover from, as well.
Artificial intelligence can learn your industry’s compliance standards and audit your systems, which is a huge help when with IT operations automation. If it notices mistakes, it will identify them and offer a solution.
You can even allow the AI to automatically make corrections. However, you should always manually audit the results. Compliance is a serious enough obligation to allocate extra time to.
Better Decision-Making
Artificial intelligence offers comprehensive analytical insights. You can use this information for IT operations automation to make better decisions in the future.
For example, AI could gather useful data from different sources and present it in a way that’s easy to understand. From here, you can emphasize strategies that work and reconfigure those that don’t. AI can even provide recommendations for your next course of action.
This is ideal for businesses that encounter unfamiliar situations. It’s also great for companies that don’t have experienced IT departments. It’s possible to use artificial intelligence to predict future performance, as well.
In context, a managed IT provider could use AI to quickly analyze past trends. The application would then use this data to determine what will occur in the future.
Without the right forecasts, you risk encountering a large number of issues. Keep this in mind when moving forward.
Cost Optimization and Better Asset Utilization
AI will help you determine the best ways to use assets during IT operations automation. This leads to cost reduction that allows you to invest in other areas of your company. Even large organizations can benefit from saving money.
Proper asset utilization often prevents the need to purchase new equipment or software. When configured correctly, AI and automation can allow you to get the most out of your it systems.
Improved Customer Experience
The way your customers perceive your brand is one of the most important attributes of a successful business. If you don’t satisfy your target audience, they’ll choose a competitor instead. In situations like these, it can often be impossible to get them back.
Artificial intelligence can help you identify customer needs. When using a managed service provider for IT operations automation, they’ll use process automation to check network details.
To clarify, they could assess your total traffic volume and look into traffic sources. Artificial intelligence could identify that certain pages are loading slower than the industry standard. Pages that take you more than a few seconds to load are likely to deter users away from your site.
When Google notices this occurrence, it could decrease your search ranking. This is because they’ll view your content as low-quality.
Better Risk Management
Many people overlook how useful artificial intelligence is for risk management and IT operations automation. AI can quickly and reliably assess risk and make it easier for your business to avoid potential issues.
To clarify, artificial intelligence could collect data about common cybersecurity threats. You could use this information to create a robust security architecture.
Hackers are constantly looking for ways to procure sensitive data as time passes. This is one of the many reasons why the cybercrime industry is projected to cost the world over $10 trillion annually by the end of 2025. By minimizing risk, you can dramatically reduce the chance your company experiences a data breach.
Even a single incident can derail your IT operations automation. To put this into perspective, the average data breach costs businesses around $4.5 million. There’s a good chance your company won’t be able to accommodate situations like these.
Improved Flexibility
Staying agile as a business is one of the most important keys to success. Changes outside of your control can dictate how you run your company. Industry regulations might change, or your competitors might start using more effective tools.
Leveraging AI for IT operations automation can allow you to adapt. It can also help you scale your business sooner than anticipated.
In contrast, imagine a scenario where your company took weeks or even months to accommodate changes. Chances are you’d fall behind competitors and have a difficult time meeting your customers’ needs.
Finding a Service Provider
It’s essential to work with the right service provider for your IT operations automation needs. This will dictate whether you’re able to reach your goals. When looking for someone to hire, pay close attention to their past reputation. There should be no shortage of positive feedback from satisfied clients.
It’s also important to find a firm that frequently works with businesses like yours. This will help ensure they understand your project’s nuances. Someone who’s been around for at least a decade can likely meet your needs.
What is their pricing structure like? It’s never recommended to work with a firm that doesn’t provide insight into what you’ll spend. This will lead to frustrating financial surprises.
You should also avoid the cheapest options you encounter. There’s a reason certain firms offer rock-bottom rates, and it’s often because they cut corners. This doesn’t mean you need to spend as much money as possible, though.
Somewhere in the middle of the industry’s price range can help you reach your goals without overspending. Avoid firms that don’t offer ongoing customer support. Issues will inevitably arise, and accommodating them on your own can be impossible.
It’s customary for IT service providers to offer 24/7 support. This is often in the form of chatbots or outsourced employees. Regardless of how they handle support tickets, you should prioritize accessible firms.
Are you comfortable communicating with them? Working with a managed IT service provider is a long-term relationship.
If they aren’t easy to talk to, there’s a chance they’ll misunderstand your objectives. This could lead to you getting worse results than you anticipated. With enough vigilance, it should be easy to find the ideal choice for your situation.
Don’t Overlook IT Operations Automation
Some people tend to ignore the development of technology like this, but doing so will only hold you back in the future. It’s imperative to understand how AI impacts IT operations automation so you can leverage it correctly.
At Vertical IT Solutions, we pride ourselves on providing reliable managed IT services. We strive to help our clients save as much money as possible and provide 24/7 support.
We own our cloud infrastructure, which allows us to make customized plans for our clients. You’ll learn more about the many benefits we offer when you schedule a consultation today.