Following the recent launch of Cisco’s Digital Network Architecture (DNA), I wanted to take this opportunity to highlight, what I believe it can offer to IT Departments and their unsung heroes.
How fast do you want to run?
The speed at which new technologies are coming to market is frightening. It’s often too fast for many companies to digest and at worst it becomes dis-orientating. If time consuming network tasks can be almost eliminated through automation, making the network open and accessible then companies have a fighting chance, these are key principles of Cisco’s DNA.
Many organisations want to embrace the skills and knowledge that sit within their own organisation, and increasingly companies are investing in DevOps teams to drive innovation and develop new products and features. This is ensuring their organisation remains at the forefront of a rapidly changing world.
If we can make the operation of a network simpler, then IT has the headroom to implement bi-modal IT or DevOps models. This can be achieved through software tools such as APIC-EM which is in effect a centralised controller pushing instant changes across the entire network which has often been the ‘delay’ factor for most digitisation efforts.
DNA is also programmable and has open API’s allowing for any number of home grown or 3rd party applications to run over the network, which will satisfy the needs of the most demanding developer. In Short, DNA will help IT deliver innovation at speed whilst ensuring there is purpose between operational and development teams. Take 4 minutes and watch this intuitive fundamentals video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17lDRT9tuWY
Are you the driver or the passenger?
It’s an exciting time to be in IT as organisations embark on implementing their digital programs, this has seen IT emerge as the most important line of business now empowered to consult with and advise other departments. I frequently see IT teams lead projects such as ‘Customer Experience’ (typically the domain of sales and marketing) or ‘Workplace transformation’ (territory owned by Facilities).
Increasingly the network is acting as a sensor base collecting every scrap of information on what is connecting to it and what is happening between those connections. Another example helps us understand how expensive real estate is being utilised, for many companies 30% occupancy is about the norm (providing you have a means to calculate this?) which is far from optimal. Network analytics can provide insight into how and when space is used and by whom, enabling Finance to accurately measure the return on fixed assets. I bet you didn’t think the network could do that!
So, if you are a Line of Business, have you asked what IT can do for you? Or if you are fortunate enough to be part of the IT team, are you telling your lines of business how you can be their hero?
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