Intelligent CIO Middle East Issue 90 | Page 32

EDITOR ’ S QUESTION

DESCRIBE THE APPROACH CIOS AND IT DECISION MAKERS NEED TO ADOPT TO REDUCE THE COST OF IT OPERATIONS ACROSS THE ENTERPRISE AND IT ORGANISATION ?

Continuous investments into technology will be a longer lasting line of defence since it will be the sustainable differentiator that sets companies apart . So , what other investment can yield a greater return so that organisations can accomplish more while keeping operational costs low ? A focus on improving performance and reducing total cost of ownership of digital solutions on the cloud .

According to Ahmad Saad , Country Manager UAE , and Qatar , Liferay , recessions and crises have demonstrated that technology should never be the first casualty in case of an economic downturn . Rather , this should be an area of a company ’ s budget to nurture and invest in , especially in troubled times . By accelerating time-to-market and reducing costs with a robust platform , businesses will

IT leaders can optimise technology resources by regularly evaluating , repurposing , or upgrading their technology to ensure they are leveraging the latest and most cost-effective solutions . be equipped to survive through future downturns and thrive despite the circumstances .
To effectively reduce the cost of IT operations , CIOs and IT decision-makers need to adopt a strategic approach that involves a combination of optimising resources , automating routine tasks , and promoting cost transparency and accountability , points out Ercan Aydin , Vice President , Emerging Markets , Palo Alto Networks .
IT leaders can optimise technology resources by regularly evaluating , repurposing , or upgrading their technology to ensure they are leveraging the latest and most cost-effective solutions .
It is recommended to automate routine tasks , which is an effective way to reduce IT operational costs , such as system monitoring . With time being our most valuable and powerful resource , automating these tasks can free up IT staff to focus on more strategic initiatives while also reducing the risk of human error .
In addition , by leveraging cloud-based services , IT leaders can also reduce their infrastructure and maintenance costs along with greater flexibility and scalability .
IT leaders must also be able to identify the right approach for cybersecurity and promote cost transparency and accountability . The total cost of ownership can increase when cybersecurity tools are thrown into an environment without understanding the need . Executives from Omnix International , Riverbed Technology , Software AG responded .
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