What will wearables mean for the workplace?

We've talked about how mobile is now on the up-and-up, and what this will mean for businesses, but there's another technology that companies across the globe need to pay attention to – wearables.

This is taking technology and downsizing it into a wristwatch or a pair of glasses – allowing people to access information without even needing to pull out a smartphone. There's a good chance this technology will grow over the next few years in the consumer space, but what about businesses?

It's time to step into a world that's only been seen in sci-fi movies: the world of wearable technology.

What is a wearable?

Wearable technology is any piece of electronic technology worn on the body – whether in the form of a watch with a screen, glasses that project images in front of a user or even built into clothing.

These devices commonly communicate with the internet or a smartphone, delivering useful information to the wearer. A smartwatch, for example, will show the wearer emails as they come through, alerts if a message or phone call has been received and even route directions when driving or catching a train.

Smartwatches will make everyday tasks far easier.Smartwatches will make everyday tasks far easier.

The core functionality is that there's no need to pull out a smartphone – all information is available at a glance in an easily accessible location. Consumers are certainly showing an interest in the devices, as evidenced by the substantial Apple Watch supply shortage, but what use is there for companies?

How will these impact businesses?

Remember when smartphones were first starting to become a thing? How much utility did they put in the hands of your staff members? We're about to see this yet again – although not exactly in the hands of staff.

Wearables mean construction site managers will be able to see plans and the locations of other workers through augmented reality glasses, and gain real-time overviews of construction sites by accessing cameras. What's more, they'll be able to do so without dropping what they're doing.

Salesmen can use smartwatches to have information subtlety delivered to them during meetings, whether reminders or cues to discuss certain topics. No longer will they need to pull out a phone.

Even more advanced wearables like the HoloLens from Microsoft will enable architects and engineers to visualise models of buildings and machinery directly in front of them, and walk around the designs, changing aspects as they see fit through simple gestures.

Unlike the traditional mobile technologies we're used to, there's really no limit to what is possible with wearables – and CIOs agree.

A new report from Robert Half has found that 81 per cent of chief information officers believe wearable computing devices will become common workplace tools, with the majority predicting this will happen in the next five years.

"Emerging technologies such as wearables may help drive enterprise mobility and create a need for IT expertise to support their adoption at work," explained John Reed, the senior executive director of Robert Half Technology.

With the predicted increase in technology usage, businesses will need to think about IT security. After all, with nearly every new technology comes a bevvy of security risks, such as information loss when a device is stolen, or potential cyber threats.

Security concerns have been apparent with the introduction of nearly every new technology, whether PCs or smartphones. Now, the same risks apply for wearables, but businesses have the advantage of foresight. With preparation, there's no need for security to become an issue.

With nearly every new technology comes a bevvy of security risks

If you want to get your staff on the right footing when wearables start to roll around, you may want to consider training with an IT framework.

This type of specialist education helps employees to grasp difficult concepts, and then utilise them for the benefit of the business. As a bonus, companies also get to invest in their employees, helping to create a more engaged workforce.

The world we've seen in sci-fi movies is fast approaching – and there's no denying that prepared businesses will be in the best position to succeed.

Going virtual: Why 2015 will be a big year for cloud technology

Cloud computing has caused significant disruption over the past few years, and it has understandably grabbed the attention of the business world.

In recent reports from Computerworld, it was noted that 42 per cent of IT decision makers plan to increase IT spending on the cloud this year, with the greatest growth being seen in organisations with more than 1,000 employees (a total of 52 per cent).

What's more, the Cisco Global Cloud Index: Forecast and Methodology 2013-2018 found that cloud workloads will evolve, with 59 per cent set to be Software as-a-Service (SaaS) by 2018.

This means that this year, and over the next few, cloud computing will grow and develop, becoming a technology that cannot be ignored. However, businesses should be aware of how to effectively manage the technology.

On a growth path

As evidenced above, cloud technology is on a substantial growth path. Centaur Partners found that SaaS and cloud-based business application services revenue will climb exponentially in the near future. According to the firm, it will grow to $32.8 billion in 2016, up from $13.5 billion in 2011.

The cloud is the future of business services.

The cloud is the future of business services.

This year may seem like just another stepping stone on the massive upward swing for the technology, but it's important to remember that more and more businesses are continuing to utilise the technologies – and 2015 will be another milestone.

The year of the cloud

Taking a closer look at specific industries when talking about the cloud, can help to give a more localised view of what can often appear to be merely a buzzword.

By seeing what certain industries are achieving, companies can better understand how they might use the technologies effectively.

IDC recently explored the manufacturing sector, and found that a substantial number of businesses in the industry are now taking advantage of both public and private clouds. In the US alone, 41 per cent of manufacturing respondents to an IDC survey said they are now accessing IT resources over public clouds.

"Manufacturers are in the midst of a digital transformation, in which 3rd-Platform technologies are absolutely essential to the way they do business and in the products and services they provide to their customers," said Kimberly Knickle, research director, IDC Manufacturing Insights.

"Because of cloud's tremendous value in making IT resources available to the business based on business terms – speed, cost, and accessibility – manufacturers must  ensure that the line of business and IT management work together in defining their requirements."

While directed at manufacturing, the lesson holds true for all businesses – a strategic approach is often best. In doing so, it's easier to avoid potentially costly mistakes.

While many companies rush to adopt the technology – often times fast enough to cause issues – others need to remember that strategic adoption is the best approach.

If businesses want to start taking advantage of cloud technology, it's important to think about the usefulness of powerful frameworks. In most cases, these can be used to ensure that the technology is adopted in the most strategic way possible.

What role does engagement play in innovation?

Innovation is one of the most important areas of focus for any business. It elevates a company above competitors; it's often why staff choose to work at any given company, and it can be a deciding factor in customer purchasing decisions, too.

Like nearly everything that's useful, however, innovation is difficult to achieve, and many companies will likely be confused as to how they can become truly innovative. According to new studies, the answer may lie with employee engagement.

Engagement and innovation

The Queensland Government noted that new ideas are often critical to business success, and those that fail to innovate could risk losing ground to competitors or points of difference. It's easy to see why this should be given appropriate attention.

A survey from IX Research sought to discover the role of engagement when it came to innovation, and found that one of the components of an actively managed innovation program was employee participation.

What's more, the companies that take innovation seriously established formal innovation programs in order to organise the process, something that improved corporate performance.

Engaged employees are the key to innovation.

Engaged employees are the key to innovation.

Engage for Success also released a report, finding that engaged employees work harder, which in turn means they look for new ways to add value. In the end, engaged employees are the ones finding direct opportunities to innovate.

LivePerson discovered similar findings, but noted that it was more the relationships between staff that played the most important role. With deeper connections between workers, it was more likely that that a company would see an increase in the level of engagement.

While engagement may seem difficult to focus on at first, comprehensive training programs can help.

Boosting engagement

Engagement isn't easy to achieve, however, and according to Bersin & Associates, US companies spend around $720 million per year on employee engagement initiatives. Of course, given the benefits of innovation, it's easy to see why these companies are pouring funding into the area.

Engagement can also be boosted through greater staff training – for example allowing employees to upskill with an ITIL certification. Education helps to show employees that they're valued within the business – and worth investing in.

Education is one of the best ways to get started – and it's simple to do so. Get in touch with ALC Training today if you'd like to find out where courses are being held.

Turnover: Understanding and prevention

"When you play professionally, you get accustomed to turnover. Players come and go – they get injured, they get transferred, they get cut from the team. Coaches are hired, and coaches are fired. It's just part of the world you live in," Athlete Tim Howard explained.

Similar to the world of sport, businesses can often lose their star performers; however, there is not always a well-trained replacement waiting in the wings at many companies.

Staff leaving a business is usually always an issue, especially given the difficulties in finding suitable replacements and bringing them up to speed. This turnover means costly hiring processes, expensive training and and potentially issues with the new employees.

This is clearly something businesses will want to avoid. But how?

To avoid turnover, understanding is key.

Getting to the bottom of the issue

In a report released last year, research firm Robert Half surveyed over 2,100 CFOs and more than 300 employees in the US, asking CFOs: "Which one of the following is most likely to cause good employees to quit their jobs?", and workers: "Which one of the following is most likely to cause you to quit your job?". The results were interesting.

At the top of the list for both parties was inadequate remuneration – salary and benefits. A significant 28 per cent of CFOs said this was the reason staff would be likely to quit, while 38 per cent of employees agreed. There's certainly a disconnect here.

Following this was limited opportunities for advancement (CFOs: 22 per cent, employees: 20 per cent) and unhappiness with management (CFOs 14 per cent, employees: 16 per cent). Other factors included job boredom and a lack of recognition.

Given the gap in understanding about turnover between employees and CFOs – it's clear that work is needed from management to close the gap.

Anne Fisher, a contributor for Fortune, spoke with Dan Amos, the CEO of Alfac. He explained that it's really not difficult to get to the bottom of why staff leave. "If you want to know what would keep someone from quitting, ask," he said.

"It sounds like common sense, but not many companies really do it."

How can businesses prevent turnover?

How can businesses prevent turnover?

Human Resources Expert Susan Heathfield said that company culture was a critical area of focus, as it encompasses benefits, how employees are treated and any other perks. However, she pointed out that good relationships were key to retaining staff – a point reiterated by Gallup.

In research released this year, the organisation stated that around half of a surveyed 7,200 adults left their jobs to get away from a manager, and that those who held regular meetings were more likely to engage staff.

Relationships aside, there's an area that can prove essential for retaining staff – engagement through education.

Engaging staff through frameworks

As the Robert Half release noted, staff value opportunities for advancement – progression that's able to take them further in their careers. With this in mind, it's easy to see why workers would choose to stay with a business when additional training is on offer.

Framework and methodology training is an excellent consideration, given that it provides best practice training across a number of areas. For example, SABSA focuses on best practice in security. This is always important, given the risk of business data breaches.

There are also management frameworks, which educate staff in the most capable ways to control projects, whether small in-house developments of large conferences.

With frameworks being a great tool to progress the skills of your staff, and subsequently keep them engaged in the company, it's a good idea to speak to a course provider about the available options.

At ALC Training, we've got subject matter experts who host a variety of courses across a number of frameworks, including PRINCE2 and ITIL. 

Five of the worst data breaches from recent years

When a business is hit by a data breach, there's often no telling just how significant the consequences will actually be.

The fallout from a breach could mean minor financial damage, as the company institutes new security systems and processes, and reimburses any affected customers, or a seriously tarnished reputation. After all, what customer will want to use services from a business they know isn't secure?

These breaches were ranked as a top issue of chief information officers in an NC State report from earlier this year, with 53 per cent of respondents stating that they were insufficiently prepared. This is clearly a concern for businesses, and understanding is the first step to preventing a breach from occurring.

Below, we'll take a look at five of the worst data breaches in the last few years.

Heartbleed

This was one of the biggest bugs in recent years, causing a substantial number of data breaches. It was revealed by security firm Codenomiconon, after it had been operating for nearly two years.

According to TechRadar, this bug affected around 17 per cent of secure web servers on the internet, exposing sensitive data such as passwords.

Impacted companies included Amazon, Reddit and WordPress.

Target

As one of the biggest retail chains in the US, any data breach is almost certainly going to be bad news for Target. The company was hit in point-of-sale terminals, which in turn impacted around 70 million shoppers. Information such as credit cards and customer names and addresses were stolen.

Target explained that while the issue was resolved soon after discovery, they continued to conduct an investigation to identify other potential impacts.

Epsilon

In 2011, a company called Epsilon was hit with a substantial data breach, one which exposed customer names and addresses thanks to the work of outside attackers. While no payment information or anything more sensitive was leaked, US$225 million in damages was eventually paid out.

Sony PlayStation

The final breach on the list is Sony PlayStation, with an attack that also happened in 2011. A massive 77 million users were affected by this breach, with the PlayStation Network having to be shut down for 23 days in response.

What's more, $171 million in damages was paid out.

Sony witnessed another fairly substantial breach at the end of 2014, when the film and television sector of the company was hacked.

Data breaches can often have serious consequences.

Data breaches can often have serious consequences.

While IT security should rank as a top priority to mitigate the threat of data breaches, another necessary course of action is proper IT governance strategies. These can help to ensure that all staff responsible for the security of IT systems understand how to manage them correctly.

If you'd like to get your staff started with either IT security frameworks or an IT governance methodology, get in touch with ALC Training today.

Out with the new and in with the old: Older workers valuable contributors

Millennials, many with relevant skill​ sets including IT, currently dominate recruitment discussion, with older workers largely remaining out of focus.

Most business leaders will likely be feeling the demand to bring younger employees on board, as they can offer fresh ideas as well as new approaches to potentially tired processes. This drive shouldn't come at the expense of older workers, however, as a new study has found that they bring valuable knowledge to their positions.

Intelligence from experience

The American Psychological Association (APA) recently published a study that explored the role of age in the workplace, and found that older executives bring useful skills to the job, including what's called "crystallised intelligence".

This means verbal ability and knowledge born from experience – something that's certainly of critical importance when making crucial business decisions. Younger employees excelled when it came to fluid intelligence, however, which involves the ability to reason.

The results of this study serve to showcase the importance of retaining older members of the workforce, even if younger employees may appear to offer attractive benefits, including lower costs and the ability to train them over time.

Focusing on engagement

It's not just cognitive ability that's an important area of focus, as engagement should also rank highly on the employee priority list.

According to a study from the Journal of Organizational Behavior, older workers are actually more engaged than their younger counterparts. This trend was seen among workers approaching the retirement age bracket (55-65) as well as those eligible for retirement (66 years and over).

Older workers could represent a good opportunity for businesses.

Older workers could represent a good opportunity for businesses.

"There is this idea among employers that older workers require a lot of accommodations," explained Director of Research at the Sloan Center on Aging, Jacquelyn James.

"Older workers want the same things other workers want: opportunities for learning, job clarity, workplace flexibility, and supervisors who show concern for their well-being and recognition for a job well done. When these job conditions are met, workers of all ages are more engaged."

Clearly, businesses should not discount members of the older workforce, and start to think about hiring them in the near future.

If your business is planning to bring new workers onboard, whether they're experienced or new, consider the use of proven frameworks to ensure they're quickly brought up to speed. Training in PRINCE2 project management, for example, can be extremely useful for running business projects.

Get in touch with ALC Training if you'd like to start thinking about certification – it's a good idea if your business is planning on hiring additional staff.

With an SME cloud push comes a need for a security focus

Cloud technologies have quickly changed communications and information management across the globe, as data is now easily shared and accessed across any number of devices, and in any location with an internet connection.

SMEs have recognised the benefits of cloud technologies – and that's why they're starting to take to the online systems in droves. In fact, a new report from the Asia Cloud Computing Association (ACCA) found that small and medium-sized enterprises in the region are now the biggest IT spenders, with an increasing focus on new cloud, remote and virtualisation technologies.

As this cloud focus ramps up, however, SMEs will need to ensure that they're focused on keeping the systems (and data stored on them) absolutely secure through the right tools and architectures.

SMEs taking to the cloud

The ACCA report released earlier this year noted that SMEs in Asia spent around US $2 billion on cloud services in 2014, specifically in developed and emerging areas. What's more, the growth rate for these services stood at around 42 per cent.

Remote desktops were identified as a necessary area of focus, as they can support several trends. Once these cloud-hosted computers are set up, a business can have staff work off laptops at home, on cheaper, low-powered computers in the office or on devices at other office locations.

While these benefits could be applicable to any size business, the ACCA report noted that SMEs are taking to the systems in order to make money.

"This is a very different mentality from large corporates and it means that the messaging around cloud technologies and services for SMEs to date has been misplaced," ACCA explained.

"The initial attraction of cloud computing for the larger corporates lies in the cost savings and efficiencies it enables. But for SMEs it will be all about greater reach, greater speed, and greater flexibility in acquiring or serving a customer."

However, as this cloud push continues, it's going to be essential for SMEs in the region to place a high priority on security. Failure to do so could mean serious problems for businesses. 

A failure in cloud security could be disastrous.

A failure in cloud security could be disastrous.

The necessary precautions

Given that cloud technologies are still relatively new, there's uncertainty when it comes to security requirements. For example, the online systems are not completely secure against outside attacks, as unwitting staff could let an attacker onto a network.

A report from 2013 by Porticor found that in the midst of a substantial cloud push there was also a massive rise in cloud-based criminal activities.

These often include attackers outside the company gaining access to secure systems within the business, either through what's known as a cyberattack (conducted over a network) or manipulating employees (malicious emails and chat messages).

It can be next to impossible to identify when these attacks could occur, and that's why early preparation is so vital.

Cisco also noted the importance of cloud security, explaining that with the new technologies comes new security risk. The organisation explained that any cloud adoption depends on an appropriate security focus.

"To succeed with cloud computing, organisations must address cloud security concerns," Cisco noted.

To start taking security seriously, all business leaders should consider the benefits of upskilling staff. Through a variety of versatile frameworks such as ITIL and SABSA, it's easy for a business to ensure the security of online systems.

These mean that staff understand what can cause a security risk or breach, and they're constantly focused on preventing such events from occurring.

Speak to ALC Training today if you'd like to ensure that even in the midst of cloud migration, your staff know how to handle security.

Mobile on the up-and-up

Mobile technologies appear to be seeing substantial proliferation across the globe, as businesses race to take up the devices for everything from communications to remote working.

In fact, this year could see usage climb higher than ever before, thanks to growing device shipments and data traffic continuing to rise. Challenges remain, however.

Mobile growth is likely to take many businesses off guard – especially in areas such as security. It's crucial that, along with IT frameworks, companies put security methodologies in place.

Significant global device growth

Total worldwide devices shipments, which include PCs, mobile phones and tablets, are estimated to hit 2.5 billion units this year, which is an increase from the 2.8 per cent seen in 2015.

Mobile phones alone are expected to reach 1.9 billion units this year, growing 3.5 per cent. Gartner noted that cheaper smartphones will continue to present attractive options for consumers and negate a need to increase device prices.

Smartphones are set to see growth thanks to the low-end.

Smartphones are set to see growth at the low-end.

Coupled with growing device usage will be a rise in mobile data traffic, according to a new report from Cisco. Traffic grew by 69 per cent in 2014 across the globe, and it's expected to increase tenfold until 2019, expanding at a combined annual growth rate of 57 per cent.

What's more, network speeds will also climb, making it easy for businesses to access the information required regardless of whether or not they're connected to WiFi networks.

The issue of security

Security is likely to remain a key issue in the near future as devices continue to grow in usage – and this needs to be addressed.

As with many new technologies, staff will be unfamiliar with the necessary security practices – which often include setting up passcodes, remote device wiping and even having IT departments manage the devices.

Failure to put security measures in place could lead to significant data breaches – in which valuable or sensitive information is exposed to parties outside the company.

As noted above, an ITIL certification from a training organisation can go a long way towards effectively managing new device trends – especially when it means a new way of working.

ITIL gives employees best-practice knowledge that can be utilised time and again across new IT projects, and even in other areas of the business. If you're interested in finding out more about ITIL, speak to ALC Training today.

Could engagement be a recipe for burnout?

For many business leaders, it's easy to define their engaged group of workers. These are the staff who always arrive early, remain productive and helpful throughout the working day and are ready to respond if an issue crops up – at night or even on weekends.

However, having workers switched on 24/7 may not be a recipe for productivity, it could be leading to burnout.

Author and founder of The Energy Project Tony Schwartz explained in a recent CEO.com article that while the common definition of engagement is the "willingness to invest discretionary effort at work", this could have less than desirable effects – certainly not the consistent high performance employers are after.

Mr Schwartz cited a 2012 engagement study conducted by consulting firm Towers Watson, which explained that traditional engagement is no longer the answer for high performance.

"Companies in which employees reported feeling well taken care of – including not working too many hours – had twice the operating profit margins of those with traditionally engaged employees, and three times the profit levels of those with the least engaged employees," Mr Schwartz said.

Of course, preventing burnout is not exactly an easy task – especially if the company has stringent targets and deadlines. This could be the implementation and management of a new IT security initiative, or any other large project. 

In a study published in the Journal of Paediatric Oncology Nursing at the end of 2013, mindfulness was assessed as a possible tool to reduce burnout in nurses and other medical professionals.

In effect, it means slowing employees down and keeping them relaxed – through use of a 'relaxation station' or another initiative.

The results found that such practices can be taught in the workplace and can prove useful as a component of a wider strategy to reduce burnout. These practices can also be applied to the wider workplace.

It's no secret that many modern workplaces are stressful environments – and there's a real danger of burnout if staff workloads aren't carefully managed.

Who can you trust? The growing threat of data breaches

Almost every business across the globe will understand the threat of a security breach – specifically one caused with regards to IT systems.

The loss of data as a result of these breaches is often not the biggest side effect, however, as a company will often struggle to reimburse customers impacted by the event and repair a damaged reputation.

A solution is required – but it's becoming more difficult for business to find one. Aside from the standard information security solutions, businesses need to address all potential attack vectors.

The threat landscape

At the end of 2014, Verizon Enterprise released a report detailing data breaches during the year. It surveyed 50 organisations across the globe and investigated over 63,000 security incidents, along with 1,367 confirmed data breaches.

The report serves to show the substantial array of attacks, and what businesses need to do. Here are just a few:

Miscellaneous errors: These are any mistakes that compromise security, whether it's sending confidential data to the wrong party or failing to destroy sensitive information after use.

Insider misuse: Something that's quite hard to deal with, but a danger nonetheless. Essentially, these are people within the organisation leaking sensitive data.

Web apps: Attackers using stolen credentials or even exploiting vulnerabilities to gain access to web applications, whether they're content management systems or related to e-commerce.

Businesses need to start thinking about cybersecurity.

Businesses need to start thinking about cybersecurity.

As data security needs to be a top priority, every organisation needs to understand the possible threats. As noted above, loss of data could prove to be extremely damaging.

So what measures can be taken to ensure ongoing security?

Protective measures

It's important for businesses to look beyond software when implementing effective security. As can be seen with the attack vectors above, many can occur from within the business itself.

That's why it's important to educate staff on security practices and teach them about what can cause breaches. Such education could involve why it's important not to plug in unknown flash drives, or visit web links that appear malicious.

In addition, there are security methodologies available that can be used to implement stronger security architectures. In turn, this means stronger security systems that the business can use to defend against cyberattacks.

A best-practice methodology such as SABSA is one of the best options for security – as it's a leading open security architecture framework. As with most frameworks, it doesn't take long to get up to speed with the course – and the benefits can be long-lasting.

Taking advantage of AgilePM

Those working in project-focused environments can often find it difficult to manage the myriad issues that crop up day to day.

Whether it's budget overruns, staffing issues or perhaps problems with clients, these project workers need to be able to respond appropriately. While it may sound like expensive education is the only option, the answer could be as simple as a four day Agile Project Management (AgilePM) course.

Anyone considering this framework should firstly take a look at what is, what it can offer and how to get started.

What is AgilePM?

This is a certification aimed primarily at those working in project-focused environments. It's designed to offer a leaner, more structured approach that means it's easier to respond to changes – a given on any large project.

Fast and effective change is really the core of Agile project management – this differs from traditional methodologies that require a thorough understanding of the reasons for change before it's enabled. On a real project with many moving parts, slowing down could cause a number of delays.

The benefits of the course

The AgilePM course, available from ALC Training, is quite comprehensive, and covers a number of areas.

Participants will learn the underpinning philosophy and principles of Agile, the lifecycle of a project, and the products produced during an Agile project, as well as their exact purpose.

AgilePM is a great way to better manage projects.

AgilePM is a great way to better manage projects.

A substantial amount of content is covered over the course, including:

Who is it good for?

There is no set criteria for the AgilePM course – it's open to anyone involved in project management along with project managers. Basically, it's aimed at those who want to learn how to apply agile approaches, within a project management lifecycle framework.

What's the best way to get started?

Getting started with AgilePM is extremely easy – all that's required is a four day course. These are hosted across many major cities – and don't interfere with usual business operations. Given the short course timeframe, it's easy to take part and learn the necessary skills and approaches.

If you'd like to get started with AgilePM or one of the many other frameworks that deal with IT service management, security and project management, get in touch with ALC Training today.

Gartner expects DevOps to see significant growth

It's often tough to predict future trends, especially in sectors like IT where developments constantly progress. However, Gartner has come forward about a method of development – specifically in regards to software – that could signal big change for enterprises.

This process, called DevOps (Development and Operations) is set to proliferate over the next few years, becoming a mainstream strategy across organisations.

Of course, it's also going to be important that companies use the right IT project management frameworks to ensure the success of the trend.

What is DevOps?

This is a new term that's currently growing in use across the globe, which isn't altogether surprising given the benefits.

It involves developers and operations staff on a project working together, effectively breaking down the traditional 'silos' of older projects. With DevOps, all members of a project are constantly in contact, meaning far more effective collaboration.

What's more, DevOps means both teams are constantly across what's going on in each area, so roadblocks in development that could cause setbacks in operations are identified early. This means they can be caught before snowballing into larger problems.

In a new report, Gartner explained that it's currently a relatively niche trend – but this will change over the next few years. 

Expansion of DevOps

DevOps will soon become a mainstream strategy, according to Gartner, one that's utilised by 25 per cent of global 2,000 organisations.

As early as next year DevOps could become something that's utilised by a significant number of companies.

Next year could see strong DevOps growth.

Next year could see strong DevOps growth.

"In response to the rapid change in business today, DevOps can help organisations that are pushing to implement a bimodal strategy to support their digitalisation efforts," explained Gartner research director Laurie Wurster.

"Digital business is essentially software, which means that organisations that expect to thrive in a digital environment must have an improved competence in software delivery."

DevOps is the ideal development method, and it's easy to see just how beneficial it can actually be. As there is less room for communication breakdown, projects will commonly proceed far more smoothly.

As noted earlier, frameworks can play a critical role in adopting a new DevOps strategy. Staff will be equipped with the right processes to both put the new method in place and ensure that it constantly delivers business value.

To find out more about both IT frameworks and other methodologies across a range of topic areas, get in touch with ALC Training today or take a look at the list of courses online.