Managing End-of-Life Infrastructure
It is no news that every business must have infrastructure put in place for the smooth running of operations. However, being equipped with the right infrastructure may not guarantee total sustainability and maximum productivity if management is not in place. Perhaps, the most critical concern is how you manage end-of-life infrastructure. Thus, this article presents a laconic explanation of how to manage end-of-life infrastructure to guarantee business continuity. Enjoy the read.
Source: ParkPlace
What Do I Mean By End-of-Life Infrastructure?
In this context, I am referring to IT Infrastructures which means the combination of the hardware, software, pieces of equipment, facilities, and other components that aid in the successful delivery of the service operations offered by a business or a firm. In simpler terms, IT Infrastructures are the foundational resources or say a framework that keeps the business in operation. They may otherwise be called supportive systems because they control the flow of storage, processing, and analysis of the business data & insights. Some of these IT infrastructures may include servers, cloud storage facilities, network hubs, data centres, workstations, potential software, routers, cables, Internet facilities, hardware like printing machines, connecting devices, network security devices, Operating systems, and even Computer systems.
These infrastructures are paramount to the daily operations of any business and as such their management must be prioritised. The majority of the physical infrastructures are manufactured with their life expectancy revealed. Hence, the time will come when they may be due for a change, refurbishment, or even replacement due to malfunction, theft, water spillage, wear out, etc. Therefore, they result in their end-of-life after a long continuous usage. However, in the process of decommissioning these infrastructures, it is vital to consider the cost implication and ensure that no data is lost & no interruption of service occurs. Similarly, software infrastructures are prone to attack, and infiltration from unauthorised users. They may even become outdated, or collapse suddenly which is detrimental to business efficiency. Some software becomes obsolete quickly as a result of the frequent advancements in technology. Thus, it is imperative for businesses to adjust accordingly which is why some software reach their end-of-life quickly. Consequently, the need for an intervention (migration) arises which reveals the significance of Infrastructure management.
So, How Do You Manage End-of-Life Infrastructure?
Having understood the essence and the value of Infrastructures, It is required to now understand how to manage these Infrastructures at their end of life. Several businesses have suffered the implications of not paying attention to the management of these infrastructures at their end-of-life. Please do not miss the following points:
- Prepare a plan that helps you manage the lifecycle of these infrastructures.
- Continuous backup of OS and data
- Conduct frequent inspections of infrastructure.
- Take inventory of the entire business assets.
- Monitor the performance of devices constantly.
- Maintain constant security protocols.
- Review the ethical and standard compliance occasionally.
- Hire a professional to effectively manage your infrastructure.
