Enterprise IT Maturity Levels
Abstract: Maturity levels of an enterprise IT infrastructure.
Description of the advantages and disadvantages of each level separately.
Analysts say that in a standard situation, more than 70% of the IT budget is spent on maintaining infrastructure — servers, networks, operating systems, and drives. Organizations, understanding how it is necessary to optimize IT infrastructure and how important it is to be economically efficient, come to the conclusion that it is necessary to rationalize the infrastructure of their enterprise by standardizing desktop computers, consolidating data centers, and also introducing experience in operating information technologies. If we take these initiatives separately, they do not have a lasting effect at all. To achieve a long-term effect, it is necessary to clearly understand the maturity levels of your IT infrastructure, its relationship with the overall business strategy and its needs.
Microsoft offers itsIOM Infrastructure Optimization Model (stands for Infrastructure Optimization Model). This model is designed to help enterprises understand and improve the state of their own IT infrastructure, in addition, it contributes to a clearer picture of what are the costs expected in the future for optimization, what is its flexibility in operation and what is the level of security. Significant savings are possible due to the transition to a dynamic environment from unmanaged. Security rises to proactively counter threats at higher maturity levels. In a similar way, IT infrastructure management can be improved: the entire list of operations that need to be performed is not done manually, but at a high level of automation with advancing work in order to avoid similar problems in the future.
By purchasing and using the optimization model from Microsoft, the customer is rapidly beginning to understand the full benefits of the strategy, as well as the benefits for the business of moving from a basic level to a dynamic level of maturity of IT infrastructure. At first, it is considered an expense item, and after the transition, its value to the business becomes understandable and it is perceived as a strategic asset that contributes to the effective management of the business.
The creation of a model for optimizing IT infrastructure by Microsoft is due to the experience accumulated over many years by the industry and the company itself, as well as the successful application of this experience in practice. This model is based on the Gartner IMM IT infrastructure maturity model and the MIT AMM maturity model.
The main goal set in the beginning when developing the model for optimizing IT infrastructure from Microsoft was to find a flexible and simple way to apply the model, which later would be easy to implement as a benchmark to determine the technical capabilities of the IT infrastructure and its value for the business.
The first step in applying this model in practice will be the assessment of the maturity level of the enterprise’s IT infrastructure in terms of this model, the next step will be planning the development of infrastructure that will ensure the achievement of the required level of maturity.
The IT infrastructure of a basic maturity level is characterized by the presence of many processes that are carried out manually, minimal centralization of management, as well as the lack of thought or lack of infrastructure security policies and standards, image management systems, backups, as well as non-compliance with other information technology standards. The company does not clearly understand the details of the existing IT infrastructure, there is no knowledge about the tactics of its modernization, which could give the maximum effect. The health of services and applications and services in general is unknown due to the lack of suitable tools and resources. There is no mechanism for the exchange of knowledge between structural departments of the organization. Organizations with a basic level of IT infrastructure, they are in a difficult situation and cannot manage their environments, the costs of managing servers and PCs become extremely high, the vulnerability to any attacks and threats becomes great, and as a result, the business suffers, receiving little benefit from information technology. Any deployment or upgrade of services or applications in this case will require a lot of effort and expense. At the same time, organizations at a basic level of maturity of IT infrastructure significantly benefit by making the transition to a standardized level of maturity, actually reducing costs by: Any deployment or upgrade of services or applications in this case will require a lot of effort and expense. At the same time, organizations at a basic level of maturity of IT infrastructure significantly benefit by making the transition to a standardized level of maturity, actually reducing costs by: Any deployment or upgrade of services or applications in this case will require a lot of effort and expense. At the same time, organizations at a basic level of maturity of IT infrastructure significantly benefit by making the transition to a standardized level of maturity, actually reducing costs by:
Well-defined management points are beginning to appear in the standardized IT infrastructure through the use of server and desktop PC administration policies and standards, rules for connecting a PC to a network, resource management based on Active Directory, security policies and access control. Businesses with Standardized maturity IT infrastructure are already effectively implementing all the best basic policies and standards, but still only respond to problems when they are already available. Deploying and updating new services / applications usually requires costs and expenses within the acceptable range, but sometimes the costs still remain high. As a rule, in such a company there is some kind of intelligible database of inventory information about hardware and software, and license management begins. By blocking the network perimeter, protection against external threats is increased, but internal security is low. Enterprises with a standardized level of maturity of IT infrastructure always win when moving to a rationalized level, while acquiring the highest control over the entire IT infrastructure, as well as processes and policies aimed at proactively responding to various kinds of situations, from natural disasters to changes in market conditions.
This level of maturity of the organization’s IT infrastructure is characterized by minimal costs for managing servers and desktop computers, policies and processes are becoming important in expanding and supporting the business. The key attention in the protection is given to preventive measures; the company responds predictably and quickly to any kind of security threat. The use of Zero touch deployment (fully automated deployment, with minimal operator involvement) reduces costs, as well as the installation time for updates and the likelihood of technical problems. The number of system images (images) is minimal, and the process of managing stationary computers requires little effort. A database is created at the enterprise that has comprehensive information about the hardware and software. As a result, the purchase of new computer equipment and software licenses is targeted, without the cost of unnecessary. Having reached a dynamic level of maturity, an IT infrastructure with a rationalized level provides a large number of bonuses for the business: the enterprise becomes able to introduce alternative and latest technologies required for the implementation of new goals and business tasks, while the gain significantly exceeds the additional costs.
In an organization with an IT infrastructure that has reached a dynamic level of maturity, there is a full understanding of the strategic value of this infrastructure, which contributes to effective business management and constant competition. All expenses are fully controlled, users have access to the data necessary for their work, no matter what servers they are on, there is also well-organized and well-organized collaboration both at the employee level and at the structural department level, almost the same service is also available for mobile users, as in the office. The processes become fully automated and regularly integrated directly into IT systems, this allows you to manage these systems in accordance with the needs of the business. Fast and predictable business returns come from additional technology investments. The use of quarantine-like systems and self-provisioning software, which ensures correct update management and compliance with established security policies, allows enterprises with a dynamic level of maturity of IT infrastructure to automate processes, increasing their reliability. This format helps reduce costs and maximize service levels. Enterprises with this level of maturity of IT infrastructures can answer any challenge of a modern business. guaranteeing correct update management and compliance with established security policies, allows enterprises with a dynamic level of maturity of IT infrastructure to automate processes, increasing their reliability. This format helps reduce costs and maximize service levels. Enterprises with this level of maturity of IT infrastructures can answer any challenge of a modern business. guaranteeing correct update management and compliance with established security policies, allows enterprises with a dynamic level of maturity of IT infrastructure to automate processes, increasing their reliability. This format helps reduce costs and maximize service levels. Enterprises with this level of maturity of IT infrastructures can answer any challenge of a modern business.
Description of the advantages and disadvantages of each level separately.
Analysts say that in a standard situation, more than 70% of the IT budget is spent on maintaining infrastructure — servers, networks, operating systems, and drives. Organizations, understanding how it is necessary to optimize IT infrastructure and how important it is to be economically efficient, come to the conclusion that it is necessary to rationalize the infrastructure of their enterprise by standardizing desktop computers, consolidating data centers, and also introducing experience in operating information technologies. If we take these initiatives separately, they do not have a lasting effect at all. To achieve a long-term effect, it is necessary to clearly understand the maturity levels of your IT infrastructure, its relationship with the overall business strategy and its needs.
Microsoft offers itsIOM Infrastructure Optimization Model (stands for Infrastructure Optimization Model). This model is designed to help enterprises understand and improve the state of their own IT infrastructure, in addition, it contributes to a clearer picture of what are the costs expected in the future for optimization, what is its flexibility in operation and what is the level of security. Significant savings are possible due to the transition to a dynamic environment from unmanaged. Security rises to proactively counter threats at higher maturity levels. In a similar way, IT infrastructure management can be improved: the entire list of operations that need to be performed is not done manually, but at a high level of automation with advancing work in order to avoid similar problems in the future.
By purchasing and using the optimization model from Microsoft, the customer is rapidly beginning to understand the full benefits of the strategy, as well as the benefits for the business of moving from a basic level to a dynamic level of maturity of IT infrastructure. At first, it is considered an expense item, and after the transition, its value to the business becomes understandable and it is perceived as a strategic asset that contributes to the effective management of the business.
The creation of a model for optimizing IT infrastructure by Microsoft is due to the experience accumulated over many years by the industry and the company itself, as well as the successful application of this experience in practice. This model is based on the Gartner IMM IT infrastructure maturity model and the MIT AMM maturity model.
The main goal set in the beginning when developing the model for optimizing IT infrastructure from Microsoft was to find a flexible and simple way to apply the model, which later would be easy to implement as a benchmark to determine the technical capabilities of the IT infrastructure and its value for the business.
The first step in applying this model in practice will be the assessment of the maturity level of the enterprise’s IT infrastructure in terms of this model, the next step will be planning the development of infrastructure that will ensure the achievement of the required level of maturity.
Basic
The IT infrastructure of a basic maturity level is characterized by the presence of many processes that are carried out manually, minimal centralization of management, as well as the lack of thought or lack of infrastructure security policies and standards, image management systems, backups, as well as non-compliance with other information technology standards. The company does not clearly understand the details of the existing IT infrastructure, there is no knowledge about the tactics of its modernization, which could give the maximum effect. The health of services and applications and services in general is unknown due to the lack of suitable tools and resources. There is no mechanism for the exchange of knowledge between structural departments of the organization. Organizations with a basic level of IT infrastructure, they are in a difficult situation and cannot manage their environments, the costs of managing servers and PCs become extremely high, the vulnerability to any attacks and threats becomes great, and as a result, the business suffers, receiving little benefit from information technology. Any deployment or upgrade of services or applications in this case will require a lot of effort and expense. At the same time, organizations at a basic level of maturity of IT infrastructure significantly benefit by making the transition to a standardized level of maturity, actually reducing costs by: Any deployment or upgrade of services or applications in this case will require a lot of effort and expense. At the same time, organizations at a basic level of maturity of IT infrastructure significantly benefit by making the transition to a standardized level of maturity, actually reducing costs by: Any deployment or upgrade of services or applications in this case will require a lot of effort and expense. At the same time, organizations at a basic level of maturity of IT infrastructure significantly benefit by making the transition to a standardized level of maturity, actually reducing costs by:
- reducing risks associated with security through the implementation of layered defense (this is an approach characterized by ensuring security at several levels: at the level of servers, applications, PCs and around the perimeter of the network);
- introduction of an automatic operation instead of a manual one;
- introducing best practices (various IT libraries: Infrastructure Library, SANS and others);
- developing policies and standards, and strategies for their application.
Standardized Maturity Level (Standardized)
Well-defined management points are beginning to appear in the standardized IT infrastructure through the use of server and desktop PC administration policies and standards, rules for connecting a PC to a network, resource management based on Active Directory, security policies and access control. Businesses with Standardized maturity IT infrastructure are already effectively implementing all the best basic policies and standards, but still only respond to problems when they are already available. Deploying and updating new services / applications usually requires costs and expenses within the acceptable range, but sometimes the costs still remain high. As a rule, in such a company there is some kind of intelligible database of inventory information about hardware and software, and license management begins. By blocking the network perimeter, protection against external threats is increased, but internal security is low. Enterprises with a standardized level of maturity of IT infrastructure always win when moving to a rationalized level, while acquiring the highest control over the entire IT infrastructure, as well as processes and policies aimed at proactively responding to various kinds of situations, from natural disasters to changes in market conditions.
Рационализированный (Rationalized) уровень зрелости
This level of maturity of the organization’s IT infrastructure is characterized by minimal costs for managing servers and desktop computers, policies and processes are becoming important in expanding and supporting the business. The key attention in the protection is given to preventive measures; the company responds predictably and quickly to any kind of security threat. The use of Zero touch deployment (fully automated deployment, with minimal operator involvement) reduces costs, as well as the installation time for updates and the likelihood of technical problems. The number of system images (images) is minimal, and the process of managing stationary computers requires little effort. A database is created at the enterprise that has comprehensive information about the hardware and software. As a result, the purchase of new computer equipment and software licenses is targeted, without the cost of unnecessary. Having reached a dynamic level of maturity, an IT infrastructure with a rationalized level provides a large number of bonuses for the business: the enterprise becomes able to introduce alternative and latest technologies required for the implementation of new goals and business tasks, while the gain significantly exceeds the additional costs.
Динамический (Dynamic) уровень зрелости
In an organization with an IT infrastructure that has reached a dynamic level of maturity, there is a full understanding of the strategic value of this infrastructure, which contributes to effective business management and constant competition. All expenses are fully controlled, users have access to the data necessary for their work, no matter what servers they are on, there is also well-organized and well-organized collaboration both at the employee level and at the structural department level, almost the same service is also available for mobile users, as in the office. The processes become fully automated and regularly integrated directly into IT systems, this allows you to manage these systems in accordance with the needs of the business. Fast and predictable business returns come from additional technology investments. The use of quarantine-like systems and self-provisioning software, which ensures correct update management and compliance with established security policies, allows enterprises with a dynamic level of maturity of IT infrastructure to automate processes, increasing their reliability. This format helps reduce costs and maximize service levels. Enterprises with this level of maturity of IT infrastructures can answer any challenge of a modern business. guaranteeing correct update management and compliance with established security policies, allows enterprises with a dynamic level of maturity of IT infrastructure to automate processes, increasing their reliability. This format helps reduce costs and maximize service levels. Enterprises with this level of maturity of IT infrastructures can answer any challenge of a modern business. guaranteeing correct update management and compliance with established security policies, allows enterprises with a dynamic level of maturity of IT infrastructure to automate processes, increasing their reliability. This format helps reduce costs and maximize service levels. Enterprises with this level of maturity of IT infrastructures can answer any challenge of a modern business.