Info-Tech's Infrastructure and Operations 2024 report highlights the top areas of focus for infrastructure and operations leaders this year, including embedding FinOps integration, cost control, cloud resilience, data strategy, and zero trust security. The insights provided in the report aim to equip leaders with the strategies required for optimizing infrastructure, ensuring security, and driving organizational success in the dynamic digital economy.

TORONTO, March 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - As organizations consider the emerging digital and business opportunities of 2024, they face the task of not only maintaining their current IT operations but also adopting and integrating emerging technologies like generative AI (Gen AI). The recently published Infrastructure & Operations Priorities 2024 report from Info-Tech Research Group offers research-backed guidance to I&O leaders working through this dual challenge.

Info-Tech's annual report highlights five strategic priorities essential for navigating the exponentially evolving digital landscape, focusing on realism and responsibility in embracing technological change. The report provides actionable insights to help leaders align their I&O strategies with broader business objectives, ensuring they remain competitive in an exponentially digital economy.

"Infrastructure and operations leaders grapple with the critical task of setting priorities for the year, a process that's as much about the art of strategic foresight as it is about the science of operational management," says Emily Sugerman, senior research analyst at Info-Tech Research Group. "This delicate balance between maintaining existing systems and showcasing IT's broader business value is complicated by external factors and past decisions. Yet, it's the essential groundwork, system maintenance alongside innovative project work, that enables IT to deliver substantial business value, even as the technological landscape evolves."

The Infrastructure & Operations Priorities 2024 report delves into the significant shifts and challenges that I&O leaders must negotiate. It highlights the critical impact of Gen AI, economic pressures, cloud migration, and the imperative of maintaining robust security measures. By identifying these areas as focal points, the report aims to equip I&O professionals with the insights needed to align their strategies with the evolving demands of the digital landscape, ensuring operational resilience and strategic growth in the face of change.

"As the landscape continues to evolve, I&O teams must embrace adaptability, moving beyond traditional methods to innovative solutions like no-code platforms while also navigating financial constraints to fuel growth and innovation," explains Sugerman. "This shift toward a more democratized IT landscape not only mitigates risks but also carves out new pathways for delivering enhanced services and achieving strategic business outcomes."

Drawing on a wealth of data and insights, the new report is based on a blend of data and insights, incorporating findings from in-depth CIO interviews and expert analyses. It also uses data from Info-Tech's CIO Business Vision diagnostics program and the Tech Trends 2024 report. This comprehensive approach ensures the report offers a well-rounded view of the industry's current state and future.

The Infrastructure and Operations Priorities 2024 report provides I&O leaders with five pivotal priorities for this year. The following priorities will assist in fostering innovation, aligning strategies with organizational objectives, and ensuring readiness for future challenges and opportunities:

1. Embed FinOps: Unearthing cloud's business value. 
   This priority underscores the need to manage cloud costs proactively, moving beyond simple usage to a strategic approach that ensures every dollar spent on the cloud drives business value. By implementing FinOps practices, organizations aim to balance cost, speed, and quality, making cloud spending more transparent and accountable. I&O leaders should champion a collaborative FinOps culture, focusing on transparency and accountability in cloud costs. The research recommends the establishment of cross-functional FinOps teams and the utilization of cost management tools.
2. Control Costs in Operations: Respond to economic challenges with efficient resource management. 
   In response to economic pressures, this focus emphasizes the importance of resource efficiency. According to the research, this means doing more with less, streamlining operations, and cutting unnecessary expenditures without compromising on service quality or business continuity. IT and finance teams must work together to implement cost-control measures, focusing on automation and efficient resource management to navigate economic pressures.
3. Establish Business Continuity Plans for Critical Systems in the Cloud: Improve IT resilience. 
   Highlighting the shift of critical systems to the cloud, this priority advocates for robust continuity planning to ensure resilience. It involves preparing for and quickly recovering from data breaches or system failures to minimize downtime and maintain trust. According to the report, I&O professionals should lead the development of robust business continuity plans, ensuring systems remain resilient in the face of disruptions.
4. Support the Productization of Data: Proactively seek to understand Infrastructure's role.
   This initiative calls for treating data as a strategic asset, emphasizing its role in decision-making and business strategies. It involves enhancing data management practices to improve accessibility, accuracy, and security, thereby enabling better business outcomes. Data architects and I&O leaders need to collaborate on enhancing data management practices, focusing on security, accessibility, and the strategic use of data to drive business outcomes.
5. Continue to Pursue Zero Trust Security: Collaborate with security teams to implement zero trust security. 
   With cybersecurity threats evolving, adopting a zero-trust framework is crucial. This approach assumes that threats could be internal or external, and therefore, verifies every access request as if it originates from an open network, minimizing the risk of data breaches. The report recommends that security and I&O teams implement zero-trust frameworks, with a focus on rigorous access controls and continuous verification to mitigate cyber threats.

With the digital era evolving at an exponential pace, the Infrastructure & Operations Priorities 2024 report aims to provide I&O leaders with a critical roadmap to align their operations with both emerging and future demands. By embracing the recommended priorities, leaders can position their teams at the forefront of innovation and operational excellence. This strategic approach empowers organizations to not only meet but exceed business goals and ensures they remain agile and competitive in a landscape marked by constant change and technological advancement.

For exclusive media commentary from Emily Sugerman, an expert on IT infrastructure and operations, or to access the complete Infrastructure & Operations Priorities 2024 report, please contact pr@infotech.com.

Info-Tech Research Group is one of the world's leading information technology research and advisory firms, proudly serving over 30,000 professionals. The company produces unbiased and highly relevant research to help CIOs and leaders make strategic, timely, and well-informed decisions. For more than 25 years, Info-Tech has partnered closely with IT teams to provide them with everything they need, from actionable tools to analyst guidance, ensuring they deliver measurable results for their organizations.

Media professionals can register for unrestricted access to research across IT, HR, and software and hundreds of industry analysts through the firm's Media Insiders program. To gain access, contact pr@infotech.com.

For information about Info-Tech Research Group or to view the latest research, visit infotech.com and connect via LinkedIn and X.

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