The exponential evolution of technology isn’t just changing what IT professionals need to be aware of; it’s also changing their day-to-day tasks and standard operating procedures. While technology is changing all businesses, it is perhaps disrupting IT professionals more than anyone else.
For an IT department to be successful during these periods of growth and change, it’s essential that they have the right tools in place. Here are five must-have tech tools for the modern IT department.
Application Performance Management
Modern IT departments have more to do than to watch what their applications are doing all day. As businesses aim to become more streamlined and specialized, IT managed services professionals are learning to broaden their focus and take on more responsibility. This is one of many reasons why Application Performance Management (APM) systems are a crucial tool for modern IT departments.
Systems like AppOptics are designed to provide metrics and analytics regarding what’s happening in the business infrastructure, highlighting any potentially damaging occurrences before they become a significant problem. Additionally, they can help outline where a problem might take place, and how it can be prevented or fixed. This tool is invaluable as businesses start to scale and grow.
Project Management Program
Whether an IT department uses the Agile planning protocol to develop new apps or needs to keep up-to-date on the implementation of new infrastructure, project management tools are essential to keep everyone on the same page during complex projects. For project management software to help the modern IT department, it must offer:
- Live tracking and updates
- Integrations with other tools
- The ability to assign tasks, due dates, and updates
- Visual workflows
- Scalability
As more businesses shift toward a streamlined, tech-based approach that allows employees to take on more work, IT departments must have the right tools in place to keep track of their resulting increased workflow.
Ticketing and Help Desk Software
Having ticketing and help desk software plays a few important roles for modern businesses. First and foremost, it puts workflow and operational procedures in place when ranking and prioritizing help requests. Next, it helps various team members keep in touch about what’s happening and ensures that resources are allocated accordingly. Finally, it helps from a management standpoint by showing proof of work and providing data about the issues that occur.
Using ticketing and help desk software also keeps employees honest, by ensuring everyone is treated equally. Furthermore, it prevents line jumping and unnecessary disruptions in the IT department.
Access Rights Management
There’s a pitfall to the rapidly developing technological advances that have created global interconnectivity: security threats. Cybersecurity continues to weigh heavily on the minds of many, both those with expertise in how the internet works as well as concerned consumers who wish to keep their privacy protected.
Access Rights Management software ensures that businesses are remaining compliant to regulatory requirements, as well as protecting their data. This software ensures that things are only accessed by those who need to work in that space, and log details about what’s happening. As data loss is estimated to cost $150 million by 2020, modern IT departments can’t afford not to have ARM in place.
Remote Collaboration Tools
Modern IT departments are always on the go, whether it’s working from various spots throughout an office building, visiting satellite offices or telecommuting while monitoring things from home. As technology develops, so does the preference of a remote work environment. It’s estimated that 50% of the U.S. workforce is expected to be remote within the next decade.
Remote collaboration tools incorporate programs like Slack, which allows for instant messaging, as well as other integrations that can help with project management tasks. Cloud sharing for reports and documents is also essential for remote teams.
By having the right tools in place, businesses can create an opportunity for their IT consultant to modernize and model changes that will bring the business into the future.
