3 IT Infrastructure Modernization Questions to Ask Before You Start

The International Data Corporation (IDC) estimates that by 2025, a staggering 175 zettabytes of data will exist, with much no longer confined to traditional data centers. The rise of edge computing, multi-cloud environments and Software as a Service (SaaS) platforms has shattered the boundaries of where and how data is stored, processed and accessed.

As organizations find themselves ever more reliant on data, they must be fully prepared for its explosive and unpredictable growth. The old adage of “sizing for five years” no longer holds water; businesses must adopt a forward-thinking approach that anticipates growth as well as the unforeseen developments that lie ahead.

In response to the looming challenges posed by the explosion of data, organizations are beginning to turn to infrastructure modernization as a solution.

Overhauling legacy systems and embracing cutting-edge technologies can optimize data management, processing and accessibility. Modernized infrastructure also enables organizations to tap into emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning and advanced analytics, unlocking insights and driving innovation.

Done correctly, infrastructure modernization can help businesses achieve scalability, agility and the resilience necessary to thrive in the data-driven landscape of the future.

Organizations should ask three critical questions before beginning an infrastructure modernization journey:

1. What is my current technical debt? For example, what is the cost of maintaining my legacy infrastructure and hardware?
2. Where are we in our modernization journey today?
3. Where do we want to be in our technology journey tomorrow?

On the surface, this sounds very basic, but we’ve noticed that many organizations don’t engage in this level of planning when considering IT infrastructure refreshes. You should avoid modernizing for the sake of modernization, and you don’t want to develop your infrastructure in a piecemeal way.

Some organizations start moving forward with the intent to modernize and break down silos, tackling different areas of their IT environment as budget allows. Typically, storage is targeted for refresh first while compute and networking wait. However, this delayed approach can disrupt your modernization journey and hamper integration.

The problem we often see is that organizations don’t anticipate disruption: budget cuts, strategic shifts, changes in leadership — these all interfere with and shift the scope of modernization goals. As a result, organizations end up with competing projects, which is an out-of-alignment business strategy.

When you plan your modernization journey carefully, your organization will see a number of benefits, including: reduced cost, increased efficiency, improved manageability, heightened security and sustainability.

Infrastructure modernization runs across all lines of your business, so you need to use a holistic approach. To accomplish this, we recommend starting at the application layer.

Applications are the primary driver of your business and end-user experience. By first rationalizing your applications, you can begin your infrastructure modernization journey assured that you have a deep understanding of each application’s requirements and the best platform for them.

CDW’s Strategic Application Modernization Assessment (SAMA) can help you bring legacy systems up to speed, future-proof applications, maximize ROI and take your business to the next level with minimal disruption to operations and your budget.

SAMA is a proprietary reporting and analysis tool that provides a complete picture of your modernization needs, allowing our experts to build a comprehensive roadmap that gives you a clear path forward to success.

We’ll help you to break down silos and build a more efficient and collaborative workplace through infrastructure modernization.

Infrastructure modernization starts with your applications. Modernize your legacy systems with CDW’S Strategic Application Modernization Assessment.