What do process, software, and change have in common? Well, for starters, they go hand in hand.
Procedures drive how you implement, manage, and enhance software running on your IT infrastructure. Specifically, procedures are critical for managing the software running your network and further down the stack. Change is two-fold and is an equally crucial aspect of running your IT infrastructure. Organizational Change Management drives the dissemination of support, advisory, and adoption of the implemented procedures and software. System-level change management drives the review, approval, and instructions of the change that will be applied within the IT infrastructure.
For the sake of this post, we will highlight Organizational Change Management. Let’s take a closer look at how these three areas work together.
Process Management
Developing procedures for software upgrade lifecycle management is key. Procedures are guidelines that dictate why, when, what, and how something should be done. Developing procedures to track and manage software upgrade lifecycle is necessary and critical for managing the business’s risks. While it seems like a given that this procedure would exist, most companies either do not have formal procedures or, if they do, the procedure is not always adhered to. Formalizing and improving software upgrade lifecycle procedures are necessary for reducing risk to the organization and, in some cases, adhering to compliance regulations.
Software Upgrades
Following the best practices for software patches and upgrades reduces data breaches. Updating software on network operating systems is no easy feat. It’s often the most challenging, as one wrong move could cause your entire data center to go offline. But, according to an article published by Harvard Business School, an average of 57 percent of organizations had operated with a severe vulnerability within their infrastructure even when the vulnerability was disclosed, and a fix was readily available. Being blind to known vulnerabilities and not taking proper action could be costly if a compromise were to occur that resulted in a data breach. This includes loss of brand credibility, financial impact, and consumer trust. While it’s always advisable to take caution when applying patches and new software versions by testing and validating on non-production environments, mistakes can occur without proper procedures and guidelines.
Organizational Change Management
Change management is necessary but is often overlooked. Organizational change management (OCM) is critical when developing new procedures or making significant changes to IT infrastructure (even with software upgrades). Procedures do not just magically get ingrained into the IT department or organization. As with any new or enhanced procedures, stakeholder support, launch plans, training materials, communication, and monitoring are needed. OCM provides the structure and strategies to ensure employees understand, accept, and utilize new tools, processes, or systems. Ultimately, this results in smoother transitions, higher productivity, and a greater return on investment for the organization.
Conclusion
Process, software, and change can all function independently of one another. However, procedures guide situations and solutions that drive software upgrades, patches, and implementations. Change management ensures the acceptance and adoption of the procedures. Software upgrades also reduce the company’s risk of exposure to data breaches.
Cadent Solutions has the expertise to assist you with your business process optimization (BPO), software upgrade lifecycle, and organizational change management. Contact us for a complimentary assessment of your business processes and network infrastructure upgrade needs.