Technological advancements are made every day. Whether it’s improvements to wireless networks like 5G or finding new ways to use AI for better customer experiences, new and improved technologies are the driving factors forcing business transformation. For this reason, when you think about the digital transformation of your business, you need to see it as a continual process rather than a one-and-done achievement. 

So, what does having a ‘digital business’ mean? According to a recent IDC survey, respondents identifying three functions of digitizing their organization:

• Enable worker productivity through tools such as mobile, data access, AI-assisted processes (52%)
• Better manage business performance through data availability and visibility (49%)
• Meet customer experience expectations (46%)

All of these functions point to the same thing – the digital journey requires organizations to evaluate and continually improve their infrastructure to keep pace. Taking your business from ‘the old days’ to today’s digital world requires a solid foundation. It’s impossible to harness all of the benefits of digital transformation without first establishing the building blocks that make it all possible.

Cloud Migration

The most obvious business transformation is the adoption of the cloud. Today, being ‘in the cloud’ is no longer a differentiator – it’s mandatory. However, many organizations have not fully embraced the cloud, despite the fact that running physical data centers and servers is more costly and requires more effort to maintain. By shifting to the cloud, organizations gain operational efficiencies and reduce the financial impact of infrastructure growth. Additionally, cloud vendors invest heavily in innovation and security updates that are rolled out automatically, reducing the burden of development and maintenance on IT departments.

Network Shift

The technologies that enable the digital transformation (the cloud, IoT, and mobility) are network-centric in nature. This means the network directly impacts the success or failure of digital transformation initiatives. Issues with the network can be particularly problematic for the WAN since legacy networks were designed to support client-server computing where most traffic went from the datacenter to a branch. Today, however, users connect from off-net locations, branches use a number of cloud services, and IoT has pushed the limits of the edge past traditional demarcation points. All of these changes in network accessibility and design must be addressed if a business stands a chance at a successful digital transformation.

Comprehensive Security

Likely one of the most important areas of transformation lies in that of security. With an increased number of devices in the network, the number of attack areas skyrockets. Similarly, a greater collection of data now means there is a much higher risk of potential damage to the business. However, extending the network beyond the traditional constraints of the office makes it that much more difficult to protect. Considering the increasingly sophisticated threat landscape, it makes sense that nearly 85% of CIOs see securing the network as the biggest challenge in the digital era. Cloud technology and mobile device management are a good place to start, but businesses making the transformation should also ensure security is tightly integrated into systems and applications, automating whenever possible. 

Now what?

There’s no ‘finish line’ when it comes to transforming your business. It’s something that you continue to evaluate and invest in as time goes on. Whether you’re just getting started in your digital transformation journey, or you need to re-evaluate your current transformation process, LanYap Networks can help you. Just give us a call!