EMA Report Highlights Shift from Scripts to Scalable Platforms
The collaboration with EMA Research yielded insights into how network and infrastructure teams are implementing automation effectively. This information is pertinent for IT leaders assessing current practices versus strategic needs.
Analysis of Current Practices
The report reveals that 64% of enterprises utilize custom scripts or open-source tools for network automation. While these solutions offer flexibility for immediate problem-solving, they can also result in significant maintenance overhead.
Specifically, 61% of teams dedicate six or more hours weekly to maintain and troubleshoot these scripts. Issues such as skill gaps and project sprawl complicate efforts to extend beyond isolated fixes. Security and compliance remain ongoing concerns as automation increases.
Leadership Insights
IT leadership recognizes that relying solely on scripts limits the potential for consistent and reusable automation. The report indicates that 64% of organizations are seeking low- or no-code solutions to enhance governance, security, and repeatability within automation efforts.
Platforms can provide centralized governance, enhance security protocols, and support the creation of reusable workflows, which addresses the shortcomings of DIY approaches.
Bridging Differences
The report suggests a need for collaboration between engineering teams and leadership. Both sides have valuable tools and objectives to leverage. Engineers desire platforms that enable the integration of existing scripts into orchestrated workflows, while leadership prioritizes governance and scalability.
Case Study: Armstrong World Industries
Armstrong World Industries serves as a case study in the report, demonstrating successful transition from script-based solutions to structured workflows. By leveraging Itential's platform, they converted isolated scripts into coordinated processes that yielded substantial operational efficiencies.
As noted by their engineering lead, the choice was to integrate and secure their existing solutions rather than replace them entirely, leading to reduced manual workload and faster service delivery.
Itential's Role
Itential presents a modular platform that addresses the gap between custom scripts and enterprise requirements. Their tools allow teams to execute existing scripts securely while enabling orchestration and facilitating self-service workflows.
This blended approach empowers teams to enhance their current setups, making automation more robust and systematic.
Conclusion
The report outlines a clear trajectory for organizations grappling with automation challenges. It emphasizes the importance of evolving from script-based approaches to structured, reusable services. This summary encapsulates the critical findings from the original EMA report.