Don't sweat obsolete IT assets, report says

MUMBAI, INDIA: Vulnerabilities are generally known but not effectively addressed; organizations need to align to published best practice standards to minimize risk; and more planning discipline is required in network asset management. The 2010 Network Barometer Report, which covers the results of 235 TLM Assessments, highlights these three key findings. The good news is that device security vulnerabilities have declined from 73 per cent (2009) to 38 per cent in 2010. However lifecycle milestones of IT assets are not being managed efficiently, with 35 per centof all network devices reaching technology obsolescence. The report also indicated that there are 40.7 configuration violations per network device. 

In 2008, Dimension Data developed the Technology Lifecycle Management (TLM) Assessment — an IP-based service that provides organizations with the compass they need to navigate and chart the IT assets on their networks, enabling fundamental security, configuration and end-of-life network device issues to be proactively addressed.

To stay abreast of the latest security issues and configuration trends in the network environment, a global Network Barometer report on the network readiness status is published annually to cover the results of these TLM Assessments. Datacraft is a wholly owned subsidiary of Dimension Data.

While many more organisations are waking up to the fact that such a mission critical infrastructure needs careful management, there remains a lack of understanding as to where attention and resources should be focused in order to effectively mitigate risk and maximise return on investment.

According to Matthew Gyde, General Manager for Network Integration and Security Solutions, Datacraft Asia, “Sweating network and IT assets beyond obsolescence places organisations at risk which could have an impact on overall business strategy, especially if organisations are looking for the cost efficiencies of cloud based services.”

“Networks are the backbone of an organization. Optimized networks ensure smooth business function, connectivity and provide a strong platform for taking advantage of cloud computing. While the cloud is an exciting development in the IT industry, organizations with less efficient networks may experience lags on the value of cloud based services,” explains Gyde.

Meanwhile, the Network Barometer Report 2010 highlights some additional positive findings. “In the past year alone, we’ve seen an uptake in the number of organizations wanting detailed assessments of their networks. This indicates that organizations are starting to adopt a philosophy towards network optimization. The reality is that organizations must pay more attention to their networks and adopt network planning as a tool for greater productivity,” Gyde concludes.