6 Tips for Modernizing Your Company's Computing Infrastructure

As technology advances, your business needs to advance with it. It isn't practical to invest in every new tool that enters the technology market, but there are things you can do to modernize your business's technology over time. Here are six tips for modernizing your company's computing infrastructure.

1. Focus on Streamlining And Simplification

Technology tends to become more streamlined as it advances, which is quite similar to the goal of streamlining workflows as much as possible. Look for ways to simplify your computing software and hardware. Review your current architecture for redundant tools and overly complex application arrangements. Think about whether you can use a single tool to support multiple workflows or whether you need to invest in a new comprehensive tool. Make sure you use modular tools that can easily be integrated into your existing infrastructure, with similar user interfaces, coding languages and configurations.

2. Improve Your Metrics Storage And Retrieval Methods

Metrics are vital to any business and you need certain tools to successfully store and retrieve them. Using a comprehensive metrics storage tool, such as Prometheus, and its associated query language, PromQL, can help you streamline your infrastructure. Look for a tool that can support your data and metrics measurements. The majority of these tools support time series metrics, but you may want to look for tools that support other types of metrics, including summaries, histograms, gauges and counters. You should also look for a tool that can integrate with your other technology and that won't be too difficult for employees to learn to use.

3. Keep Agility And Flexibility in Mind

Many companies are focusing on agile workflows so they can ensure their workflows are fast, efficient and accurate. You can use agile best practices to ensure efficient computing infrastructure too. Modular applications can support increased agility and flexibility in the workplace. Make sure you keep these concepts in mind when choosing software and designing more streamlined workflows and computing architecture. If you prepare in advance for agility and flexibility, you will be more capable of pivoting and adapting to different situations and further technological advancements in the future.

4. Incorporate Automation

One of the easiest ways you can modernize your company's computing infrastructure is by incorporating automation as much as possible. You may choose to implement advanced artificial intelligence applications and machine learning algorithms or simple programs meant to take over repetitive tasks from employees.

5. Implement New Tools And Technologies

It may seem obvious, but you can effectively modernize by choosing the right new tools and technologies. Don't just implement new tools as an end goal, utilize new tools to support your modernization. Look for tools and strategies that your IT team members can use to their advantage, such as site reliability engineering (SRE) and DevOps. Implement data analytics software to help you make informed decisions.

6. Educate Your Employees About Advancements And Changes

Physical architecture and organization are not the only things you need to keep in mind when modernizing your computing infrastructure. You also need to consider employee education and comfort levels with such advancements. No matter how streamlined or flexible your infrastructure and applications are, they won't be effective if your employees don't understand how to use them or why you made the changes you did. Make sure your employees are aware of the modernization throughout the process and have chances to provide input. Develop an education program so your employees can learn how your new tools work and their roles in the modernized computing infrastructure. Allow them time to practice in sandbox environments and explain why you're modernizing.

Remember that you don't need to use every new technology at your disposal. A more practical approach to computing modernization is to review your current infrastructure and build a strategy from that information. You need to know what you need to modernize or streamline and then decide what products and tools best suit your needs.