Legacy systems are a bottleneck in an alarming amount of businesses.
They slow down operations, hinder innovation, and escalate operational costs. With so much potential waiting to be unlocked, it’s time to embrace modernized, automated networks to drive business success.
This was the central theme of this week’s episode of The Digital Decode, where host Allec Brust welcomed three experts from Presidio — Andy Richter, Enterprise Networking Practice Director; Jacquelyn Thome, Consulting Solution Architect; and Britny Bolton, Inside Solutions Architect.
They discussed how automation, artificial intelligence, and cutting-edge tools like Cisco’s AI-driven solutions are reshaping enterprise networking.
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The Complexity of Modern Systems and the Role of AI
As businesses scale and technology evolves, managing IT infrastructure becomes increasingly challenging. Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are revolutionizing this space
“The systems that we have today are a lot more complex. Artificial intelligence and machine learning allow IT engineers and admins to analyze more data in real-time, potentially forecast issues, investigate the good and the bad patterns, and also to allow some of that technology to do some unmanned decision-making for us,” Jacquelyn says.
AI’s ability to process vast amounts of data in real-time provides IT teams with actionable insights, enabling them to identify and address issues before they escalate. This not only saves time but also reduces the operational burden on IT staff, freeing them to focus on strategic initiatives.
This can give teams more breathing room to focus on the larger picture instead of constantly being buried in the weeds of trying to put the data together.
Addressing Common Business Challenges
Businesses across various industries share common challenges, including the need to deploy and manage increasingly complex infrastructure.
“When we look at the business problems in every industry, in every geography, in the Midwest, in the Rust Belt, in Manhattan, everywhere, the problems are consistent. Businesses need help from their own people. Their own people are always getting more infrastructure to deploy, and we have to put it all together. It’s amazing,” Andy says.
By leveraging unified management platforms like Cisco Meraki – an enterprise network – businesses can simplify infrastructure management.
These tools consolidate multiple functionalities into a single dashboard, making it easier for IT teams to deploy and maintain complex networks.
Enhancing Security Operations
Another significant challenge for businesses is managing security operations effectively.
Alert fatigue is a real issue for IT teams, as constant notifications can overwhelm and desensitize staff to critical alerts. AI-driven tools help address this problem.
“I do think that when you look at things like security operations, right? We see a lot of issues with things like alert fatigue. How do you weed out the things that are truly important, from the things that are just kind of nice to know? You get dinged on your phone, how many times, and eventually you just kind of start to ignore it, and you might miss some good things in there. So when you look at things like security operations, that unified dashboard, unified management, and some sort of organization of how to prioritize those things, I think that is extremely helpful,” Britny says.
AI tools prioritize alerts, ensuring that IT teams focus on what truly matters. This minimizes the risk of overlooking critical issues and enhances the overall security posture of the organization.
Keeping what actually matters in front of people is a game changer for productivity in any business.
Breaking Down Barriers to AI Adoption
Despite the clear benefits, many businesses are hesitant to adopt AI-driven solutions. Educating clients about the possibilities and advantages of these technologies is a crucial step.
“It’s amazing that it’s so easy that we can help everybody. We just need to educate them about those worlds of possibilities,” Andy says.
Understanding the potential of AI and automation requires a shift in perspective. By showcasing real-world applications and success stories, businesses can build confidence in these solutions and recognize their transformative power.
The Future of Enterprise Networking
Looking ahead, the integration of AI and automation in enterprise networking promises to unlock new levels of efficiency, innovation, and scalability. From reducing wireless channel changes by 60% to enabling smarter alert prioritization, these technologies are reshaping the business landscape.
The faster a business can bring these tools into its overall workflow, the faster it will see improvements across the board.
Bringing It Together
As legacy systems become an increasingly significant barrier to growth, businesses must embrace modernized, automated networks to stay competitive.
AI-driven solutions offer a way to simplify infrastructure management, enhance security operations, and empower IT teams to focus on strategic initiatives.
“Artificial intelligence and machine learning allow IT engineers and admins to analyze more data in real-time… and also to allow some of that technology to do some unmanned decision-making for us,” Jacquelyn says.
The transformative power of automation is clear, and the tools are available. It’s time to educate, adopt, and innovate. This can unlock a future where businesses can achieve their full potential with streamlined, modernized networks.
Interested in learning more to reshape your business’s future by harnessing the power of AI? Listen to our full discussion on the latest episode of The Digital Decode. Find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast player.
