- IT automation
- Cloud, containers
IT automation – what is it? IT automation, also known as infrastructure automation, is the process of replacing or minimising human contact with IT systems by using software to generate repeatable procedures and instructions. IT optimisation and digital transformation depend heavily on automation.
Automation in commercial IT shops has progressed from a fad to a need. The combination of technology currently in use, the speed at which IT must function, and talent issues are the causes of this.
Cloud, containers, and microservices top the list of technological variables influencing the rise in automation. The complexity of hybrid cloud setups is tamed by containers and microservices. Automation quickly turns into a critical requirement when you scale up the use of containers and microservices.
“Automation gives the administrator tools to effectively deploy scalable workloads, without a commensurate increase in staff,” explains Ned Bellavance, director of cloud solutions at Anexinet.
That’s where orchestration platforms like Kubernetes and automation tools like Ansible come in handy: They enable IT leaders to scale up the benefits of cloud, containers, and microservices without having to keep hiring new personnel to handle changing operational requirements.
“Developers are getting used to constructing and transporting containers. According to Chris Short, principal technical marketing manager for Red Hat OpenShift, containers enable comprehensive service packaging, which eliminates the hassle of managing several developer environments. “Concurrently, operations teams are acquiring the knowledge and equipment necessary to manage Kubernetes clusters at scale. Teams understand that many, smaller clusters better satiate their demands as those muscles grow stronger.
As with OpenShift virtualization, Short asserts that “we are rapidly moving towards a world where administration of ‘legacy’ infrastructure can occur in Kubernetes clusters.” In the years to come, “Kubernetes is looking to become a real powerhouse in enterprise IT.“
The need for automation is also fueled by the speed at which businesses currently operate and the concomitant growth of the DevOps methodology. DevOps calls for eliminating technological debt, such as time-consuming manual fixes, so that workers may concentrate on more significant issues.
The more labour that teams can automate, the better, as DevOps values experimentation, speed, and iteration. “Engineering practises such as Continuous Integration, Continuous Delivery, and Everything-as-Code employ automation at the foundation, and [DevOps] teams should seek opportunities to automate as much of their workflow as possible,” notes Tim Beattie, global head of product for Red Hat Open Innovation Labs.
The IT talent factor comes last. As we’ve said, “Are you receiving the greatest work from your engineers and other professionals if they spend the majority of their time on tedious, manual tasks? Most likely not, which is fatal when you’re continuously under pressure to accomplish more with fewer resources.
According to Mark Kirstein, vice president of products at BitTitan, “one of automation’s biggest use cases in the enterprise IT space is ensuring businesses have the right people performing the right tasks.“
Instead of tedious tasks that can be automated, IT administrators need talent today working on strategic issues. Additionally, IT professionals are more inclined to leave their employers for a more inventive setting where they can advance their careers if their employers keep them on menial tasks. Automation can aid with retention in this regard.
