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The Top 5 Reasons Cloud Migrations Fail

May 3, 2024/in Cloud, connectivity, General, IT Security, Latest Tech, Microsoft, Microsoft Azure, Professional Services, Project Management, Remote Working, Security /by James Dell

The notion that public cloud costs are exorbitant and prompting a mass return to on-premises solutions is a prevalent topic in cloud migration discussions. Yet, this assertion doesn’t align with reality. Contrary to the narrative, AWS and Microsoft have observed substantial increases in their subscriber bases over the past year.

The driving force behind these claims often stems from particular interest groups. Hardware vendors and private data centre owners, keen on safeguarding their market share and relevance, may be behind this narrative.

In the digital age, the appeal of the public cloud is indisputable. It presents scalability, flexibility, and efficiency, fundamentally reshaping organisational operations. Nevertheless, many businesses need help with their cloud adoption journey despite its potential, leading to frustration and setbacks. From insufficient planning to cost mismanagement, there are numerous challenges organisations must navigate when venturing into the public cloud.

Common Challenges in Cloud Migrations

1. Inadequate Planning:

Rushing into cloud adoption without a coherent strategy often results in chaos and inefficiency. Organisations must assess their existing infrastructure, understand their business needs, and outline their objectives before migrating to the cloud. Please do so to avoid disjointed deployments, incompatible systems, and heightened complexity.

2. Insufficient Security Measures:

Security remains a top concern for organisations contemplating cloud adoption. Overlooking or underestimating the importance of robust security measures can leave sensitive data vulnerable to breaches and cyber threats. While public cloud providers offer various security features, organisations must implement additional layers of security, such as encryption, access controls, and regular audits, to mitigate risks effectively.

3. Poor Cost Management:

Effective cost management is often overlooked during the transition to the public cloud. While cloud computing promises cost savings through pay-as-you-go models, it also introduces the risk of overspending. With adequate monitoring and optimisation strategies, cloud costs can stay manageable. Factors like resource overprovisioning, idle instances, and governance lapses can significantly inflate the cloud bill. Organisations must implement robust cost management practices to avoid cost overruns, including usage monitoring, resource optimisation, and leveraging cost optimisation tools.

4. Vendor Lock-In:

Vendor lock-in poses a significant concern for organisations relying heavily on a single cloud provider. This dependency can restrict flexibility and impede innovation. Additionally, rapid advancements in cloud technologies may leave organisations locked into outdated or incompatible systems. Organisations should consider adopting a multi-cloud or hybrid cloud approach to mitigate vendor lock-in risks, allowing them to leverage services from multiple providers and avoid reliance on any single vendor.

5. Skills Gap:

Successful cloud adoption necessitates skilled personnel proficient in cloud technologies and best practices. However, many organisations need help to recruit or train personnel with the requisite expertise, leading to difficulties in managing and optimising cloud infrastructure. Inadequate expertise can result in costly mistakes, performance issues, and underutilisation of cloud resources. Investing in training and development initiatives for existing staff or collaborating with experienced cloud service providers can help address this challenge.

Summary

In conclusion, while the public cloud presents numerous advantages, organisations must approach cloud adoption with meticulous planning, robust security measures, and effective cost management. By addressing common pitfalls such as inadequate planning, security lapses, and cost mismanagement, organisations can fully harness the potential of the cloud to drive innovation and growth.

For personalised guidance on transitioning your business to the public cloud, contact one of our experts at 01235 433900 or via email at [email protected]. Alternatively, you can contact me directly via DM or at [email protected].

Read more… Microsoft Azure

Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop to Modernise and Revolutionise Your UX

April 19, 2024/in Cloud, General, IT Security, Latest Tech, Microsoft, Microsoft Azure, Professional Services, Project Management, Remote Working, Security /by James Dell

In today’s fast-paced digital world, delivering a seamless user experience remains a top priority for IT Managers. The surge in remote work, BYOD and multi-device policies have increased the demand for efficient and secure virtual desktop solutions. This demand is a direct consequence of the shift toward a decentralised workforce. Enter Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) by Microsoft—an innovative cloud-based service. It revolutionises how organisations manage their desktop infrastructure and applications. By removing the complexities and challenges associated with legacy products. With a cloud-first approach, Microsoft assumes the responsibilities, leaving you to get on with your job!

Azure Virtual Desktop To Revolutionise Your UX

Gone are the days of grappling with the complexities of on-premises desktop management, or battling Remote Desktops, XenApp/ XenDesktop.

AVD brings forth a new era where desktops and applications are hosted in the cloud. This enables the users to enjoy a consistent and personalised experience from any location or device. Whether corporate-owned or a personal device, this centralised approach simplifies administration and offers scalability and flexibility to suit business demands.

Flexibility: AVD empowers users to access their desktops and apps remotely, fostering collaboration and productivity. Each user gets the same experience regardless of the device. This means that you can push applications and experiences to users on devices previously excluded from accessing your system, i.e., Apple iPads and Chromebooks.

Performance: Leveraging the robust infrastructure of Microsoft Azure, AVD ensures high-speed access to applications, regardless of the workload demands. This means you are leaning on one of the biggest providers in the cloud space.

Security: With features like Azure Active Directory integration and multi-factor authentication, AVD strengthens data protection, mitigating security risks associated with endpoint devices.

Management Simplicity: IT managers can centrally manage and deploy virtual desktops through the Azure portal, streamlining administrative tasks and reducing overhead. Leveraging tools like Nerdio to wrap around your AVD deployment can simplify this.

Cost Optimisation: By adopting a pay-as-you-go model, organisations can eliminate upfront hardware investments and optimise resource utilisation, resulting in long-term cost savings.

Real-World Applications Azure Virtual Desktop for UX

Across various sectors and organisations are leveraging AVD to transform their user experience:

Education: AVD facilitates seamless access to educational resources, enhancing the learning experience for students and faculty alike. If your education provider is looking for a BYOD, this is a great way to remove the hardware dependence on the process.

Healthcare: Healthcare providers rely on AVD to ensure secure access to patient records and critical applications, even in remote settings. Using Zero Clients from 10Zig, you can access the desktop experience quickly and securely, and it indeed follows users around.

Finance: Banks and financial institutions use AVD to enable remote work while maintaining compliance with industry regulations. Challenges around compliance and regulation have often been a barrier to progress, but not with Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop leveraging the secure framework Microsoft Azure is built on and the protection of AVD, you can truly drop the legacy systems.

Best Practices for AVD Implementation

To ensure a successful AVD deployment, you should look to adhere to these best practices:

Assessment and Planning: Conduct a thorough assessment of infrastructure and user needs to design a tailored deployment strategy. Planet IT can help with this through our Free assessment of your DaaS solution and asses how to get you ready for the cloud.

Pilot Testing: Evaluate AVD performance and compatibility through a pilot program before full-scale deployment. This is best done with around 5% of your workforce, which includes users from across the spectrum of skills, roles, and use cases.

Security Measures: Implement robust security protocols to safeguard sensitive data and ensure compliance with regulations. Working with our team, we can understand your needs and translate them to Microsoft’s compliance and protection.

User Training: Provide comprehensive training and support to help users adapt to the new virtual desktop environment. This can be done via workshops, 1 to 1 sessions, training videos, and so much more. With a team of experienced trainers, we can help you maximise the experience and get all users ready to work.

Continuous Improvement: Monitor performance metrics and user feedback to optimise the AVD environment over time. This is critical with all aspects of Azure, and even more so when you are looking to make the most of Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop.

To Conclude

Azure Virtual Desktop offers a compelling solution for organisations seeking to modernise their desktop infrastructure and enhance user experience. By embracing AVD and following best practices, you can unlock new opportunities for innovation and productivity while ensuring a secure computing environment for your workforce.

If you want to talk to our experts about how we can help your business review its environment and plan to move to the cloud. To find Out how Azure Virtual Desktop could make all the difference, please call 01235 433900 or email [email protected]. If you want to speak to me directly, you can contact me via DM or at [email protected].

The True Cost Of Migrating On-Premise Infrastructure To The Cloud

March 28, 2024/in ai, Backup, Cloud, connectivity, data, Education, General, IT Security, Latest Tech, Microsoft, microsoft 365, Security, Software, team, Technological Innovation Overview, Windows /by James Dell

An abstract image depicting the cost of migrating on-premise infrastructure to the cloud.

With the shift in cloud-based solutions showing no signs of slowing down, we often think about the true costs of cloud migration.

Organisations are enticed by the cloud’s promises of scalability, flexibility, and cost-efficiency. However, the decision to migrate presents some advantages, but it is also valid to note the drawbacks. Especially, when the actual cost can extend beyond the budget, for this reason, we see many businesses flip-flop between the two worlds. Confused and uncertain about the level of commitment and the lack of strategy, leadership is often faced with difficult decisions that can potentially harm the business.

In my experience, there is a lack of understanding of the scope: the benefits and the costs involved in making these choices. In this article, I delve into the multifaceted aspects of migrating on-premises infrastructure to the cloud, unravelling the true costs of migration, hoping to help you make an informed decision for your business.

So What’s Positive About Cloud Migration

Scalability and Flexibility:

The cloud enables organisations to scale resources dynamically according to demand. Unlike on-premises infrastructure, scaling often requires substantial upfront investment and time-consuming processes.

This agility enables businesses to adapt swiftly to fluctuating workloads, enhancing operational efficiency and boosting customer satisfaction. For the first time, we have such a large degree of flexibility; it requires a shift in mindset from the sizeable single server instances to the flexible containerised (load-balanced).

Cost-Efficiency:

Cloud computing offers a pay-as-you-go model, eliminating the need for hefty upfront capital expenditure on hardware and infrastructure. Additionally, organisations can benefit from economies of scale as cloud providers leverage their vast infrastructure to offer services at competitive rates. Moreover, the cloud reduces ongoing operational costs associated with maintenance, upgrades, and energy consumption, leading to long-term savings. This has never been more important with the growing cyber threats.

Some instances of lacking upgrades for legacy and patching can leave businesses at risk, now more than ever. Let’s explore this in more detail.

Enhanced Collaboration and Accessibility:

By migrating to the cloud, businesses transcend geographical boundaries and facilitate seamless team collaboration. Cloud-based tools enable real-time access to data and applications from any location, fostering productivity and innovation. This accessibility offers a more agile and responsive work environment, empowering employees to collaborate efficiently, irrespective of their physical location.

Improved Security and Disaster Recovery:

Cloud providers invest heavily in robust security measures and compliance frameworks to safeguard data against cyber threats and breaches. Additionally, cloud platforms offer built-in redundancy and disaster recovery mechanisms, mitigating the risk of data loss and ensuring business continuity by leveraging the expertise and resources of cloud providers and organisations,

If you think, “Nothing beats my 3-2-1 backup” and/or “My disaster recovery is better than the cloud”, then you are wrong! It takes a lot more technology and resources to come anywhere near the scalability and protection of the public cloud. You may get close, but it will always be at a different level than Microsoft, Amazon, or Google can offer in comparison for a fraction of the costs.

The Negatives Of Pushing Your Business Into The Cloud.

Hidden Costs and Vendor Lock-In:

While the pay-as-you-go model initially appears cost-effective, organisations may encounter hidden expenses associated with data transfer, storage, and bandwidth usage. Moreover, as businesses scale their operations on the cloud, they may become susceptible to vendor lock-in, wherein switching providers or migrating back to on-premise infrastructure entails significant complexity and cost. This dependency on a single vendor can limit flexibility and hinder strategic decision-making.

Performance and Latency Issues:

Despite advancements in cloud technology, organisations may encounter performance and latency issues, especially in scenarios where real-time processing and high throughput are paramount. The physical distance between users and cloud data centres can introduce latency, impacting application responsiveness and user experience. Additionally, shared resources in multi-tenant cloud environments may lead to performance degradation during peak usage periods, necessitating careful optimisation and resource allocation.

Compliance and Regulatory Concerns:

Migrating sensitive data and applications to the cloud raises compliance and regulatory challenges, particularly concerning data sovereignty, privacy, and industry-specific regulations. Cloud providers operate globally, which may conflict with jurisdictional requirements governing data residency and protection. Compliance with diverse regulatory frameworks demands meticulous planning, robust encryption, and contractual agreements to safeguard sensitive information and maintain regulatory compliance.

Dependency on Internet Connectivity:

The reliance on internet connectivity represents a fundamental vulnerability of cloud-based infrastructure. Organisations may encounter service availability and productivity disruptions due to internet outages or network latency issues. Moreover, data privacy and security concerns may deter businesses from fully embracing cloud solutions, for instance, regions with inadequate internet infrastructure or heightened cybersecurity risks.

Summary

Migrating on-premise infrastructure to the cloud entails a complex interplay of benefits and challenges, each significantly impacting operations’ overall cost and efficiency. While the cloud offers unparalleled scalability, flexibility and cost-efficiency, organisations must navigate potential downfalls, including performance issues, compliance concerns and dependency on internet connectivity. By conducting thorough analyses of regulatory requirements and implementing robust security measures, businesses can unlock the full potential of cloud computing while mitigating risks effectively. Ultimately, the actual cost of moving to the cloud transcends financial considerations, encompassing strategic, operational, and technological implications that shape the future trajectory of organisations in the digital age. The first step is the cloud migration assessment of a business. This is something that Planet IT can help with as a subject expert.

If you want to talk to one of our experts about how we can help your business review its environment and plan to move to the cloud, please call 01235 433900 or email [email protected]. If you want to speak to me directly, you can contact me via DM or at [email protected].

Read more about Cloud Implementation Strategy.

Microsoft Copilot for Security: Empowering IT Teams with AI-Driven Insights

March 14, 2024/in ai, Backup, Cloud, connectivity, data, Education, General, IT Security, Latest Tech, Microsoft, microsoft 365, Security, Software, team, Technological Innovation Overview, Windows /by James Dell

Organisations all face an uphill battle against sophisticated and ever-changing threats. As adversaries become more cunning and leverage AI and ML to deliver more complex attacks, defenders need innovative tools to stay ahead. This is where Microsoft Copilot for Security, a ground-breaking solution that combines the power of artificial intelligence (AI) with security expertise to enhance threat detection, response, and overall cybersecurity security posture, comes in. On the 1st of April Microsoft releases, to all Microsoft 365 customers, the ability to gain the intelligence of a threat analyst at the press of a button.

Understanding Microsoft Copilot for Security

What makes up Microsoft Copilot for Security? The product is built from Microsoft’s Copilot platform, leveraging their bespoke blend of the Open AI engine and the threat data they have from the world’s largest endpoint dataset, but it is so much more than that; here are some of the key components that makes Microsoft Copilot for Security different.

The Fusion of Language Models

At its core, Microsoft Copilot for Security is a fusion of two critical components: an advanced large language model (LLM) and a security-specific model. This unique blend allows it to understand and address security challenges effectively but without losing the human and natural level compute understanding gained via an LLM. By leveraging the vast amount of data generated daily (approximately 65 trillion signals) that Microsoft has access to because of its Defender, 365 and Windows platforms, Microsoft Copilot for Security distils relevant insights for you as a defender.

Guided Insights and Actionable Recommendations

Microsoft Copilot for Security acts as a trusted advisor, providing actionable guidance to security teams. Here’s how it works:

Signal Interpretation: The solution processes an array of signals, including threat intelligence feeds, network logs, and endpoint data. It identifies patterns, anomalies, and potential threats.
Contextual Summaries: Instead of drowning defenders in raw data, Microsoft Copilot for Security generates concise summaries. These summaries highlight critical events, vulnerabilities, and emerging risks.
Threat Prioritisation: Not all threats are equal. Microsoft Copilot for Security prioritises incidents based on severity, impact, and relevance. It ensures that defenders focus on what matters most.
Step-by-Step Playbooks: To empower junior staff, Microsoft Copilot for Security offers step-by-step playbooks. These guides simplify incident response, ensuring consistent and effective actions.
Reduced Response Time: With Microsoft Copilot for Security, response times shrink from hours to minutes. Defenders can swiftly investigate, contain, and remediate threats.

Integration with Microsoft Security Solutions

Microsoft Copilot for Security seamlessly integrates with the vast array of Microsoft security products, which many of you will be using or will have access to:

Microsoft Defender XDR: Prevents and detects cross-domain cyberattacks using AI-driven insights.
Microsoft Defender for 365: Pulling threat data from Microsoft Graph and your 365 environments to provide AI-driven insights.
Microsoft Sentinel: Collects security data from diverse sources (cloud, on-premises, and hybrid environments) and correlates alerts.
Microsoft Intune: Protects devices, enforces compliance, and mitigates threats across endpoints.
Microsoft Defender Threat Intelligence: Exposes suspicious infrastructure and provides dynamic threat feeds.
Microsoft Entra: Safeguards identities and secures access to resources.
Microsoft Purview: Ensures governance, protection, and compliance for data.

Empowering Defenders at Scale

Microsoft Copilot for Security democratises security expertise and puts it in the hands of all, regardless of your experience of exposure to the threats your business is seeing:

Natural Language Interaction: Defenders can converse with Microsoft Copilot for Security using natural language. It feels like having an AI-powered security expert by your side. This gives you the quickest route to the information you need while using the language you know rather than throwing logs at you.
Efficiency and Consistency: Junior security analysts benefit from guided playbooks, while senior experts offload repetitive tasks. The result is a more efficient and consistent security team.
Cloud-Based AI: Microsoft Copilot for Security operates in the cloud, enabling real-time updates and scalability. There is no agent to install, and no extra tools to host. This is all delivered as SaaS.

Microsoft Copilot for Security isn’t just a tool; it’s a force multiplier for IT Teams. By harnessing AI, contextual insights, and expert guidance, organisations can proactively defend against threats. As the threat landscape evolves, Microsoft Copilot for Security remains a steadfast ally, empowering defenders to protect their digital assets and maintain cyber resilience.

Remember: In the battle against cyber adversaries, having a Copilot can make all the difference.

If you want to talk to one of our experts about how we can help your business secure itself and make the most of AI and Microsoft Copilot, please call 01235 433900 or email [email protected]. If you want to speak to me directly, you can contact me via DM or at [email protected].

The Cyber OODA Loop Explained: Enhancing Cyber Defence with Rapid Decision-Making

February 20, 2024/in Cloud, data, General, IT Security, Security, Technological Innovation Overview /by James Dell

The Cyber Observe Orient Decide OODA and Act Framework

If you follow the world of Jocko Willink or listen to his podcast, especially the one with Andrew Huberman, then you will have heard about the Observe, Orient, Decide and Act (OODA) loop.

Willink used this model during his time in the Navy Seals to help him overcome challenges. This article explores how the OODA loop can be utilised in cyber response, especially in highly stressful situations, to enable you to see the woods from the trees.

What is the OODA loop?

Observe

The first step in the OODA loop is observation. In the context of cybersecurity, this involves actively monitoring our network, systems, and external threat intelligence sources. Key activities include:

Security Bulletins and Advisories: Regularly track security bulletins and advisories from trusted sources. Stay informed about vulnerabilities and emerging threats.

Threat Intelligence: Gather information on adversary tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs). Understand their modus operandi to anticipate their moves.

Incident Detection: Implement robust detection mechanisms, including network intrusion detection systems (NIDS), firewall logs, and user behaviour analytics.

Orient

Orientation is about making sense of the observed data. Here’s how it applies to cyber defence:

Assess Applicability: Evaluate how the observed threats align with your organisation’s assets and operations—Prioritise based on criticality.

Operational Issues: Consider operational constraints, resource availability, and potential impact. What can realistically be addressed?

Risk Assessment: Quantify the risk associated with each threat. Understand the potential consequences of inaction.

Decide

Decisiveness is crucial in the face of cyber threats. Make informed decisions:

Prioritise Remediation: Decide which vulnerabilities or incidents require immediate attention based on your risk assessment. Create a remediation strategy.

“Duelling” OODAs: Recognise that adversaries also operate within their own OODA loops. Act swiftly to disrupt their plans.

Act

Execution is where the rubber meets the road:

Rollout and Monitor: Deploy patches, updates, and security controls. Continuously monitor for any “breakage” caused by changes.

Active Defences: Implement active defences such as honeypots, sinkholes, and application whitelisting. Deceive, degrade, and disrupt adversary actions.

Continuous Cyber Loop

Remember that the OODA loop is iterative. As you act, new observations emerge, leading to further orientation, decisions, and actions. Adaptability and agility are essential.

Organisations face an ongoing battle to protect their digital assets in the volatile landscape of cyber threats. Initially developed by military strategist Colonel John Boyd, the OODA loop provides a robust framework for decision-making and response. Let’s explore how this loop can be applied to enhance our defences against cyber-attacks.

In an outbreak or live cyber-attack, it can be challenging to remain calm whilst taking the first steps to deal with the situation and do the right thing. We recommend taking time to run an OODA loop model in your mind. In doing so, you can find a better, more effective way to tackle the challenges.

Those of us who are often in a position where a decision needs to be made fast, risk missing alternative more effective ways due to time pressure. However, this model will give you the best chance to see a clearer picture, so you can make more informed decisions.

Application Of the Loop in Cyber Security

The first step is to observe the incident and analyse your data:

What has happened?
Calmly analyse the facts and the unknown.
Assess the worst possible scenario and the potential impact on your business.
Think of your next steps.

Once facts have been established, decide on the action and how you will proceed with the informed decision. Hopefully, the decision stemmed from the Observe and Orient model.

The Act is the last step which puts the plan into action. At this point, you should also be planning to perform another OODA loop to cover the previous loop; sometimes, you may even be running multiple loops at once. The ability to place a cognitive weight on having time to make the right decision is key in a high-pressure scenario.

If you are looking for further reading, then you can also look at the following:

Mandiant APT1 Model: Map control implementations to the adversary model. Identify opportunities to detect, deny, and disrupt attacks.

MITRE ATT&CK Matrix: Align techniques with tactics. Understand where defences are effective and where gaps exist.

By embracing the Cyber OODA loop, organisations can transform reactive responses into proactive defences. Rapid decision-making, continuous adaptation, and a deep understanding of the threat landscape empower us to stay ahead of cyber adversaries. Remember: in cyberspace, surprise favours the prepared mind.

If you want to talk to Planet IT experts about how we can help you with your cyber security, planning and innovation, then please call 01235 433900, or you can email [email protected], or if you would like to speak to me directly, you can reach out to me via DM or at [email protected].

Cloud Security Posture Management, Why you need it!

February 2, 2024/in ai, Backup, Cloud, connectivity, data, Education, General, IT Security, Latest Tech, Microsoft, microsoft 365, Security, Software, team, Technological Innovation Overview, Windows /by James Dell

It’s time to discuss the importance of moving to an Opex model, the drive towards consumption-based usage and the impact on technologies like Microsoft Azure, as well as the importance of protecting Cloud resources and security when you move resources to the cloud. This article looks at how we put these principles into practice in Cloud Security Posture Management.

What is CSPM And Why Is It Important

Cloud security posture management (CSPM) is critical for any business moving its infrastructure to Microsoft Azure. CSPM helps organisations identify and remediate security risks in their cloud environments, to ensure their data and applications are protected. This rather preventative approach helps avoid any disasters!

When moving to the cloud, businesses must ensure that their security posture is robust and able to withstand the unique challenges of the cloud environment. Once you move to the cloud, you are placing only some, but not all, of the responsibility for the service provided.

In this shared responsibility model, the level of understanding of your risks is critical. This is why CSPM tools are so essential. They provide a comprehensive view of the security posture of an organisation’s cloud environment. It allows them to identify and address vulnerabilities and misconfigurations that could expose their data and applications.

Automation and Benefits Of CSPM

One of the greatest benefits of CSPM is the ability to automate the process of identifying and remediating security risks. Taking the human out of the equation often results in a better, faster, and more secure platform in the long term.

This is particularly important where the scale and complexity of the environment make it difficult for businesses to keep up with the constantly evolving threat landscape. CSPM tools can automatically scan the cloud environment for vulnerabilities and misconfigurations. This alerts security teams to potential risks and provides the information needed to take action.

CSPM also gives businesses greater visibility into their cloud environment, allowing them to monitor activity and detect unusual or suspicious behaviour. With the correct visibility, you can trust that the systems you have in place are configured and protected to the required standard.

The dynamic nature of the environment can make it difficult for businesses to keep track of changes and activities. CSPM tools provide real-time visibility into the cloud environment, allowing security teams to identify and respond to potential threats quickly. Being able to see who has made changes, what risks you have, and the overall nature of your cloud posture is invaluable.

Complying with Standards and Regulations

Many businesses are subject to strict regulatory requirements, and failure to comply can result in significant fines and reputational damage. CSPM tools can help businesses ensure that their cloud environment complies with relevant standards and regulations, reducing the risk of non-compliance. If your business needs to hit Cyber Essentials, ISO 27001 or PCI-DSS, then CSPM is the way to go

In summary, CSPM is essential for businesses moving their infrastructure to Microsoft Azure. It gives businesses the visibility, automation, and control they need to ensure their cloud environment is secure and compliant. By implementing a robust CSPM solution, businesses can protect their data and applications from threats, reduce the risk of non-compliance, and maintain the trust of their customers and stakeholders.

If you want to talk to one of our experts about how we can help your business secure its cloud environment and the benefits a CPSM could have for you, please call 01235 433900 or email [email protected]. If you want to speak to me directly, you can contact me via DM or at [email protected].

Unleashing The Power Of Microsoft 365 Copilot

January 19, 2024/in ai, Backup, Cloud, connectivity, data, Education, General, IT Security, Latest Tech, Microsoft, microsoft 365, Security, Software, team, Technological Innovation Overview, Windows /by Lewis Kitchen

Microsoft Copilot for 365 is a chat-based tool that integrates into other 365 applications such as Microsoft Teams, Outlook, and SharePoint. It can learn and understand data from these locations, giving it the ability to answer questions, summarise documents, and more. Copilot is also integrated into the applications, allowing you to use it in real-time to draft emails, summarize emails or Teams chats.

Watch our webinar about unleashing the power of Copilot for your organisation

How will Copilot change the way we will work?

Microsoft Copilot for 365 won’t be coming after your job anytime soon. Copilot 365 is there to help make your job more efficient and effective by cutting down the time you would have spent reading unimportant emails or messages, drafting base documents and emails and so on. It will help you improve your time management skills, professionally write emails and recap your entire working days.

The security and compliance around Copilot

However, Microsoft Copilot 365 poses new security and compliance challenges for businesses as it has access to so much data. Examples of risk can involve data leaking to the wrong user or a compromised user which could be could be devastating.

Currently, Copilot has inbuilt rules and compliance policies to stop certain actions such as users requesting sensitive data like payslips or contracts. It also has built-in security to only show data that the user would be able to access natively.

It is on Microsoft’s roadmap to integrate this policy into Purview to allow IT admins greater control over copilot security.

If you are eager to harness the full potential of Microsoft Copilot 365 to elevate your business through AI integration in your daily operations, then please call 01235 433900 or email our team of experts at [email protected]. As your trusted Microsoft Solution Partner, we seamlessly guide you through every step – from licensing to integration – ensuring that your investment not only meets but exceeds expectations.

Integrating Generative AI

January 10, 2024/in ai, Backup, Cloud, connectivity, data, Education, General, IT Security, Latest Tech, Microsoft, microsoft 365, Security, Software, team, Technological Innovation Overview, Windows /by James Dell

In the dynamic landscape of technology, integrating Generative AI, Machine Learning (ML), and Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become imperative for businesses to stay competitive and innovative.

Not since the dot.com era have we seen such a dramatic shift in technology, which has become a part of our everyday lives.

Businesses must adapt and integrate AI, ML and GenAI into their short and long-term IT strategies. To enable employees to access AI tools from their workstations, mobiles and any web-enabled device.

More than ever, IT professionals ought to be committed to developing robust strategies that leverage these technologies to enhance operational efficiency, customer experiences and overall business outcomes. This article will explore key considerations and recommendations for incorporating Generative AI, Machine Learning, and AI into your IT strategies in 2024.

Understanding the Business Objectives:

As IT leaders, you must align the adoption of Generative AI, ML, and AI with the broader business objectives.

Due to a lack of consideration for your business’s strategic objectives, the improper use and implementation of these technologies may have little or no effect on achieving organisational objectives. In other words, these tools should be complementary and continuously aligned with the organisational strategy. For instance, some technologies may not necessarily support the direction of the business. The same principle applies to the implementation of strategic IT decisions.

Conversely, the judicious use of AI can elevate customer service satisfaction and increase operational efficiency, which can lead to gaining a competitive advantage in some shape or form.

Crafting an effective IT strategy based on individual business merits will help choose technologies tailored to individual needs that will support development and growth.

Talent Acquisition and Skill Development:

Investing in talent is crucial for successful implementation. IT leaders should assess the existing skill set within their teams and identify the gaps. This is crucially important as well as your current team’s skill including knowledge of working with IA set vs. AI delivery services.

Hiring or upskilling employees in areas like data science, machine learning, and deep learning ensures that the organisation has the expertise to drive AI initiatives. Not only focusing on the team who will support it, but your IT strategy must also focus on how you train end users to understand, leverage and validate where AI is used.

Establishing a Data-Driven Culture:

Generative AI and ML rely heavily on data. IT leaders must foster a data-driven culture within the organisation, emphasising the importance of high-quality, relevant data. It has always been a challenge for businesses to hold data regardless of its quality, relevance, or ability to be reused, ingested, or understood by a system. With AI, both structured and unstructured data can be used, but the data still needs to be relevant if you implement a system to reduce the amount of time your business spends on answering customer queries based on previous fixes but don’t check the previous fixes for validity you are likely to suggest non-solutions and harbour distrust in the system. This involves implementing data governance practices, ensuring data security, and promoting collaboration between IT and business units to derive meaningful insights. Tools like Microsoft Purview are a great place to start when looking into your data and its governance.

Creating a Robust Infrastructure:

IT leaders need to invest in a robust and scalable infrastructure to support the increased computational demands of AI applications. For most, this will mean looking at a transparent Cloud and edge computing strategy, moving away from private and co-located data centres on dedicated hardware to pooled and shared, scalable solutions like Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Google Cloud Platform (GCP). This becomes critical when you consider that for some AI workloads, you will need specialised hardware such as GPUs, which may be essential IT infrastructure components to ensure optimal performance or gain the results your business requires. For those who want to remain on-premises, then your strategy needs to directly reflect a hybrid cloud approach as you will not be able to run many of these tools in your environment and will instead need to run the toolset where it is best suited be that with the vendor or on a public cloud instance.

Implementing Explainable AI:

As your strategy reflects how your business increasingly relies on AI-driven decisions, you must ensure that your business, customers, and staff can maintain faith in the solution; therefore, transparency becomes critical. As IT leaders, you should prioritise adopting Explainable AI models that provide clear insights into how AI algorithms arrive at specific conclusions. This transparency builds trust both internally and externally. This is easier said than done with some of the current Generative AI toolings, and therefore, your IT Strategy should reflect how you will tackle this when selecting the tools you will work with.

Security and Compliance:

Ensuring the security of AI systems is paramount. As an IT leader, you must integrate AI technologies in compliance with industry regulations and standards. Now, most of these AI tools currently take little consideration for the regulations and standards your business might have to reach, be that HIPPA, PCI-DSS, or ISO. Therefore, it will fall to you and your strategic approach to ensure that safeguards are put in place and that you remain in control of your data, its sovereignty and how it is being used. Additionally, implementing robust cybersecurity measures is essential to protect sensitive data and maintain the integrity of AI applications; this does not stop with just placing anti-virus on a system; you will need to think beyond this and engage with the right security partners.

Continuous Monitoring and Improvement:

AI models require ongoing monitoring and refinement. IT leaders should establish mechanisms for continuous evaluation of AI systems, identifying areas for improvement and adapting strategies based on real-world performance. Regular updates and adjustments ensure that AI applications remain effective and aligned with evolving business goals. Remember that even though a model is good today, it will still be better in 6 months or a year. Also, the data set will age out on models, therefore, you need to ensure you understand how and when this will be updated to support your business.

Collaboration and Communication:

Successful AI implementation requires effective collaboration between IT and all business units. IT leaders should facilitate communication, break down silos, and encourage cross-functional collaboration to ensure that AI initiatives align with the overall business strategy. No man is an island, and if you make your safe in this landscape, you will quickly fall behind. While implementing your IT strategy, you engage a cross-business group and work with them to support you in understanding how to engage the wider business and provide training, support, and guidance to maximise uptake and effectively communicate the changes coming.

In 2024, the strategic integration of Generative AI, Machine Learning, and AI into IT strategies is critical to business success. IT leaders must align these technologies with business objectives, invest in talent and infrastructure, foster a data-driven culture, prioritise security and compliance, and ensure continuous monitoring and improvement. By adopting a holistic approach, you, as an IT professional, can position your organisations at the forefront of technological innovation, driving sustainable growth and competitive advantage in the ever-evolving digital landscape.

If you want to talk to one of our experts about how we can help you with your IT strategy or implementing AI into your business, then please call 01235 433900, or you can email [email protected], or if you would like to speak to me directly, you can reach out to me via DM or at [email protected].

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