Tips

Tips

• How to sustain hard-won ITSM automation gains

  The ITSM automation gains you've reaped from your ITSM provider can vanish when you need to switch vendors. These five tips will prevent that from happening.  Continue Reading

• BPMS architecture modernizes legacy tech, makes IT more strategic

  The technology of the past put humans on the moon, but it's bringing businesses to a breaking point. Here's why CIOs should consider a BPMS architecture to modernize legacy systems.  Continue Reading

• AI in ITSM equals 'service intelligence' -- ITSM's next frontier

  AI in ITSM, or 'service intelligence,' is the next logical step in IT's mastery of professional service delivery. ITSM expert Jan-Willem Middelburg lays out four use cases.  Continue Reading

• 5 tips to improve ITSM SLAs in IT shops with multiple service providers

  How do CIOs develop ITSM SLAs that satisfy business expectations in today's complex environment of multiple service providers? David Clifford takes CIOs through five key steps.  Continue Reading

• 4 cloud-based e-discovery strategies to target containerized data

  A cloud migration requires evaluating any existing information governance programs. E-discovery in the cloud and for container-based data platforms requires a detailed strategy.  Continue Reading

• E-discovery in the cloud introduces security, compliance issues

  E-discovery is still reliable for organizing and preserving data for legal compliance, but e-discovery in the cloud and container-based storage complicate governance processes.  Continue Reading

• How automating feature engineering can help data scientists

  Feature Labs CEO Max Kanter explains how automating feature engineering for machine learning can help data scientists and why CIOs should care.  Continue Reading

• Deploy RPA bots to clean legacy data

  Got data cleaning issues? Business improvement expert Dan Morris shares how his team is experimenting with RPA bots to clean and reconcile data.  Continue Reading

• ITSM governance essential as new tech trends drive business processes

  New tech trends in AI, cloud and robotic process automation create capabilities that are reshaping ITSM. But for the innovations to reach their full potential, strong governance over ITSM processes are required.  Continue Reading

• IoT adoption gets a C+ from Cisco expert -- how can CIOs improve?

  Why is IoT adoption in trouble? Underestimating the disruption to the business is one reason, says Cisco's Jon Stanford, in this tip on the challenges and best practices for IoT adoption.  Continue Reading

• Benefits of ITSM: Use an ITSM portal as gateway to cloud services

  Requiring users to access the cloud via an ITSM portal will reduce spending, explains Andy Sealock in part two of his tip on leveraging the benefits of ITSM in cloud services.  Continue Reading

• ITSM in the cloud: Using ITSM best practices to optimize cloud usage

  Cloud-based services can't be beat for their ease of use, but companies often experience some 'unhappy surprises' when the bill comes due, says Andy Sealock. ITSM in the cloud can help.  Continue Reading

• 4 ways to use machine learning to improve customer experience

  There are many ways to use machine learning to improve customer experience. Gartner's Bill Delrieu offers four and names specific machine learning-based tools to help with each.  Continue Reading

• 4 factors to consider when making the shift to the cloud

  For CIOs assessing their organization's cloud readiness, Andrew Larkin discusses four factors to consider before moving their applications to the cloud.  Continue Reading

• 5 ways ITSM automation is driving business value

  Current trends in ITSM automation include the adoption of intelligent automation, ITSM as a service, digital labor, artificial intelligence and machine learning.  Continue Reading

• 3 stages of ITSM and 5 ways to enhance your ITSM strategy

  From help desk to service desk to business-aligned ITSM -- how evolved is your ITSM strategy? Dennis Drogseth explains ITSM's three stages and offers five tips for reaching maturity.  Continue Reading

• Cloud migration best practices: 4 potential problems to avoid

  Andrew Larkin, from the Cloud Academy, explains why successful cloud migration strategies require more than just a 'lift and shift' approach to maximize the benefits of the cloud.  Continue Reading

• 4 ITSM best practices for managing service vendors

  CIOs must align IT strategy to business KPIs, and so should their service vendors. In this ITSM best practices tip, experts explain how to tie vendor services to business outcomes.  Continue Reading

• 4 GDPR strategy tips to bring IT processes up to speed

  The GDPR deadline has long passed, but U.S. companies remain behind on compliance. Experts provide GDPR compliance tips to make sure IT is on the right side of the privacy rules.  Continue Reading

• 4 best practices to maximize the value of your ITSM vendor

  If your ITSM vendor isn't living up to expectations, chances are you're ignoring these four ITSM best practices. ISG's Lois Coatney takes you through them, step by step.  Continue Reading

• Overcoming multi-cloud's risks, regulatory compliance challenges

  Companies adopting multi-cloud data management models face numerous regulatory compliance challenges, but IT governance strategies are helping them protect disparate information.  Continue Reading

• Building a service catalog management strategy: Where to start?

  The IT service catalog is the foundation of an effective ITSM program, but it's a complicated tool and hard to get right. Here's some expert advice on how to get started.  Continue Reading

• Business transformation project: Dealing with legacy data

  Business transformation requires a solid data foundation. Expert Dan Morris offers a near-term fix for your data-quality problems and the basis for a long-term approach to better data.  Continue Reading

• What steps can CIOs take to optimize their ITSM software?

  James Stanger of CompTIA dives into the reasons for ITSM software proliferation in the enterprise, why that's a problem and how sticking to a unified ITSM framework can help.  Continue Reading

• IT service desk vs. IT help desk: What's the difference?

  One came first and focused on IT fixes. The other got direction from ITIL. Users ask for one over the other. Today, something called ESM might just put both out to pasture.  Continue Reading

• Don't get caught up in the neural processing unit hype

  To differentiate new chip technology from existing GPUs, mobile tech companies (along with software titans) are slapping a 'neural' label on their products. Analysts say to be skeptical.  Continue Reading

• Resist 'garbage in, gospel out' doctrine -- defend data quality

  The 'garbage in, gospel out' approach to business analytics may be a valid approach for doing big data projects, but CIOs should resist it for business transformation.  Continue Reading

• How to start a blockchain project: Questions for IBM's Jerry Cuomo

  A blockchain project starts with a belief that business needs to be done in a different way. Here's what happens next, including the role CIOs play in a blockchain journey.  Continue Reading

• GDPR and AI: Data collection documentation essential to compliance

  It's important to remember that artificial intelligence data and AI algorithms must hold up against GDPR regulations. Here's where GDPR and AI intersect and what CIOs can do to remain compliant.  Continue Reading

• Bad data stops business process transformation in its tracks

  Dan Morris introduces his new eight-part series on exploring how bad data can sabotage business process transformation and what CIOs need to do to fix it.  Continue Reading

• Fostering human-machine collaboration is a CIO's job

  Uncover why human-machine collaboration was singled out in a Forrester Research report that says it's time for enterprises to embrace AI in the workplace -- and IT has a special role to play.  Continue Reading

• How CIOs can support black box testing techniques

  Ben Clark, Wayfair's chief architect, offers advice to CIOs on how to knowledgeably support AI endeavors in the enterprise, including the use of black box testing.  Continue Reading

• Using RPA development to bridge the gap between legacy and cloud apps

  RPA tech has evolved into sophisticated frameworks that automate IT tasks and rules-based processes. Now, RPA benefits are bridging the gap between legacy apps and modern ones.  Continue Reading

• How to measure usability when selecting an RPA tool

  If an RPA tool isn't user-friendly and isn't built for the long term, chances are the dividends won't be immediate. Read this before choosing your RPA tools.  Continue Reading

• Enterprise digitization's secret ingredient: Fusion teams

  Cross-functional or 'fusion' teams are critical to meeting fast-changing digital challenges. Here are the four must-have team attributes for successful enterprise digitization.  Continue Reading

• How to overcome multi-cloud disaster recovery challenges

  As multi-cloud environments proliferate, data backup and recovery tech is essential. Here's how to assess enterprise multi-cloud disaster recovery capabilities -- and limitations.  Continue Reading

• Rapid prototyping process brings technology to life

  Carnegie Mellon University's Chris Harrison and his team are developing the user interfaces of the future. He explains why a rapid prototyping process is critical to building technology that changes lives.  Continue Reading

• Biometric security technology readies for corporate prime time

  Companies are turning to biometric security technology to improve user authentication and experience, but its use presents unique challenges that could slow enterprise adoption.  Continue Reading

• How to create the best RPA architecture

  Enterprises are embracing robotic process automation to automate rules-based, repetitive tasks in a cost-efficient manner. ROI depends on having the right RPA architecture.  Continue Reading

• Digital transformation plan: RPA and BPMS tools, better together

  A sound digital transformation plan gives companies the ability to change quickly. Business process management suites and robotic process automation -- used together -- do that.  Continue Reading

• Cloud ERP systems present 'business-critical' security challenges

  Where does the data live? Who -- the provider or the customer -- is responsible for securing what? They're vital questions to ask when mulling a cloud move, a new report posits.  Continue Reading

• How to prep for the GDPR breach notification rule

  As companies prep for GDPR compliance, its breach notification rule is making waves. Csaba Krasznay, security evangelist at Balabit, discusses how to prep for Article 33 of GDPR.  Continue Reading

• Blockchain implementation: Connecting the missing DLT links

  Blockchain implementation is helping streamline governance processes, but a few questions must be answered first to take full advantage of distributed ledger technology.  Continue Reading

• RM principles should guide compliance management system development

  Regulatory agencies offer broad guidance for compliance management system development, but companies may be best served by referring to widely accepted risk management principles.  Continue Reading

• Prepare now for an AI-assisted ITSM strategy

  What does it mean to have an AI-assisted ITSM strategy? Pink Elephant's Jennifer Wels outlines seven areas where AI can be applied to ITSM.  Continue Reading

• IT areas of focus in 2018 include outcome-based security services, data lakes

  Rahul Singh, managing director at IT outsourcing advisory Pace Harmon, dissects the 2018 trends in three important IT areas for CIOs.  Continue Reading

• Cloud computing economics: Juggling availability, performance and cost

  Companies must answer complicated questions about cloud computing economics as emerging platforms offer attractive IT capabilities that come with unexpected costs.  Continue Reading

• Why EA should take the lead on improving customer experience

  The business shift to digital goods and services gives IT a critical role in improving the customer experience. Here's why CIOs are assigning enterprise architecture the job.  Continue Reading

• Reshape the role of the PMO for the digital era

  The project management office needs a new mandate to be a player in digital transformation. Matt McWha offers advice on how to rethink the role of the PMO.  Continue Reading

• Get a grip on evaluating cloud management platforms

  Software for managing multicloud computing environments can help companies tame the tumult. An industry expert gives tips on how to assess products.  Continue Reading

• Data asset curation: The guidelines to determine information usability

  Keeping track of existing data assets is increasingly difficult, but detailed curation of this vital company information can help streamline evolving digital governance processes.  Continue Reading

• CIO strives to tie cloud metrics to business value

  As CIOs gain experience in cloud computing, the cloud metrics they use are changing. Read how one CIO makes business value a priority in deciding which cloud services make sense.  Continue Reading

• A cloud implementation methodology for legacy apps

  Maximizing the benefits of cloud while minimizing risk requires a fine-tuned migration strategy. Here, Scott Lowe lays out a cloud implementation methodology for legacy apps.  Continue Reading

• Executing strategies: Close the gap between vision and implementation

  That vision thing won't do CIOs much good if they fail to execute on strategy, management experts say. Here's how to overcome the hurdles that can get in the way of success.  Continue Reading

• Two IT leadership strategies that made me a successful CIO

  A new way to prioritize IT activities and an epiphany about leadership made all the difference in Niel Nickolaisen's career as an IT leader. Read about these two IT leadership strategies.  Continue Reading

• Break the bottleneck with this new IT/business engagement model

  CIO teams need to interact more directly with business stakeholders -- from the digital sophisticates to the digital naïfs. Here are five elements of a new business engagement model.  Continue Reading

• The power of positive four-letter words to unlock employee potential

  Four-letter words like can't and don't crush an employee's potential and quash creativity. Have the courage to use positive four-letter words and watch what happens.  Continue Reading

• Product line management is fundamental to the new IT operating model

  Digital transformation requires CIOs to rethink the way IT operates. At the center of the new IT operating model is product line management, explains CEB's Matt McWha.  Continue Reading

• Social movements offer CIOs a model for sustaining innovation

  How to sustain innovation is a challenge for startups and large companies alike. Studying the ties that bind social and political movements could help.  Continue Reading

• Become a change agent: Stop procrastinating

  Don't be like the white-haired bride and groom who put off the big event until they could afford it. Now is the time for action, says organizational agility expert Joseph Flahiff.  Continue Reading

• Mobile security issues and solutions

  Mobile technology usage is growing just as the number of threats facing mobile data is growing. CIOs must combat mobile security issues to stay ahead in the mobile-dominated world.  Continue Reading

• Aligning IT and compliance procedures increasingly a business priority

  Companies' regulatory management and tech teams often still operate independently, but businesses are starting to recognize the benefits of IT and compliance procedure alignment.  Continue Reading

• Delegator vs. micromanager: What kind of boss are you?

  Being a delegator is one of the hardest jobs for a leader. Joseph Flahiff explains.  Continue Reading

• Without IT process documentation, companies risk being held 'hostage' by IT

  As cybersecurity breaches surge, it's important that company leadership know what IT is up to. Kevin McDonald explains why IT process documentation is a must-have best practice.  Continue Reading

• Three keys to a good business reorganization

  The typical reorg evokes fear, stress and suspicion -- and kills productivity. Here's how to change that.  Continue Reading

• 8 free IT budget plan templates for CIOs

  Creating a reliable IT budget plan is no cinch, especially in today's digital age. Here, we've rounded up free, customizable IT budget templates to help.  Continue Reading

• The steps to effective cybersecurity incident response

  Planning and foresight are essential to any cybersecurity incident response plan. Follow these steps to make sure you're ready for a data breach.  Continue Reading

• How to test your DR/BC plan

  Woe to the IT organization that hasn't taken its DR/BC plan out for a spin. The right kind of testing will close the gaps and save IT and the business a lot of grief.  Continue Reading

• Writing a statement of work? Here's what you should include

  A project's success can hinge on having clear and specific details about it. Download this free checklist to see critical elements of a statement of work.  Continue Reading

• Free statement of work template examples for CIOs

  Statements of work are critical in helping CIOs keep projects on track and meet business goals. Check out these free statement of work template examples.  Continue Reading

• How organizational agility will save and destroy your company

  Aiming for organizational agility? Prepare to change how you scope work, structure teams, develop talent, practice leadership, and deliver and sell your products.  Continue Reading

• How to govern your IT outsourcing provider after the ITO deal is done

  The best ITO deals need tweaking as time goes on. Good governance ensures that you and your IT outsourcing provider are on the same page.  Continue Reading

• Infographic: Strategic IT plan checklist for CIOs

  A company's IT strategy can determine whether it sinks or floats in today's competitive marketplace. Download our free checklist to find out what components should be in your strategic IT plan.  Continue Reading

• Larry Wall's programmer virtues and 'vices'

  IT pros who are lazy, impatient and hubristic are just what CIOs need. Gartner analyst Danny Brian explains why in this SearchCIO tip.  Continue Reading

• Staff shortage impacted by security and compliance skills demand

  The data threat landscape has forced companies to rethink hiring processes before a staff shortage negatively impacts security and compliance.  Continue Reading

• Gartner: DevOps is good; DevSecOps is better

  Make way for DevSecOps. According to Gartner analyst David Cearley, CIOs need to add security professionals to their DevOps teams.  Continue Reading

• Loss of focus chief reason for startup failure

  Too much passion, too little passion, too many cooks -- there are many factors that can lead to loss of focus and, ultimately, to startup failure.  Continue Reading

• Private cloud termination agreement: What CIOs need to know

  Relationships between companies and their cloud providers can be fleeting. Knowing this, it's important for CIOs to think about exit strategies before they sign that cloud contract. David Rutchik, a partner at Pace Harmon LLC, offers advice.  Continue Reading

• SOX compliance reliant on data governance strategy, with IT support

  SOX compliance hinges on an effective data governance strategy, but much needed help is available from information technology tools and processes.  Continue Reading

• Free RFP template examples for ERP

  Use these free RFP template examples for ERP to make the best use of your business' technology resources.  Continue Reading

• Three steps to keep IT policies and procedures regulatory compliant

  Corporate compliance and risk management expert Jeffrey Jenkins shares how he ensures IT policies and procedures remain in sync with current compliance regulations.  Continue Reading

• Four elements of creating business agility

  Organizational agility expert Joseph Flahiff lays out four practices that lead to business agility.  Continue Reading

• Free IT templates for CIOs and technology managers

  SearchCIO rounded up free IT templates from around the Web to help technology managers organize their IT departments, projects and service offerings.  Continue Reading

• Free project management template examples for strategic IT planning

  These free project management template examples from around the Web provide project guidelines and strategic IT planning tools to CIOs and IT leaders.  Continue Reading

• Best project management practices for CIOs and IT managers

  The best project management practices emphasize efficiency over chaos, so we've gathered some top project management tips from our sister sites.  Continue Reading

• Preparation underway for Dodd-Frank conflict mineral disclosures

  Dodd-Frank conflict mineral provisions create new disclosure rules for public companies. In this tip, learn how to prepare for the regulations.  Continue Reading

• CIO tip: Learn how to present a risk-management plan to the board

  CIO tip: Companies are getting serious about risk management plans -- and leaning on CIOs to help them.  Continue Reading

• Three strategies to align organizational compliance and security goals

  Compliance and security departments sometimes have an adversarial relationship, but organizations can benefit from aligning their strategic goals.  Continue Reading

• Free technology roadmap template examples for CIOs

  These free technology roadmap templates and examples will clear up your organization's strategic vision, combining detail with overarching goals.  Continue Reading

• Four steps to defining and articulating the role of risk management

  Risk management programs are under pressure from all quarters. Here are four steps to defining and articulating the role of risk management.  Continue Reading

• Free cost-benefit analysis template examples for CIOs

  Check out this collection of free cost-benefit analysis examples to determine, in a systematic way, which decision or project is the most beneficial to your organization.  Continue Reading

• Project management lessons learned shouldn't be limited to postmortems

  Making project lessons learned part of the project management lifecycle through Agile best practices.  Continue Reading

• Data storage strategy: Pre- and post-cloud computing

  CIO Niel Nickolaisen lays out how the cloud has simplified his data storage strategy … and satisfied his company's data dumping resistance.  Continue Reading

• Free mobile device policy template examples for CIOs

  Is the influx of mobile devices out of control at your organization? These free mobile device policy template examples can help you create guidelines.  Continue Reading

• Free IT organizational structure chart templates for the CIO

  Use these free IT organizational structure chart templates to illustrate the relationships and hierarchy between various IT roles in your enterprise.  Continue Reading

• Free IT department budget template examples for strategic investments

  Making strategic tech investments could help your business stay afloat. Take a look at these free IT department budget templates from around the Web.  Continue Reading

• Making a business case for data storage and backup

  CIO Niel Nickolaisen lays out how he gets the business to invest in storage and backup technologies starting with a business case for the value of data.  Continue Reading

• Free IT service catalog templates for the CIO

  Creating and updating an IT service catalog can keep your business running smoothly. Check out these free IT service catalog templates on the Web.  Continue Reading

• Eliminating change management process chokeholds

  Learn which aspects of the change management process cause bottlenecks, as well as ways to get around them.  Continue Reading

• Five tips to help guide green compliance at your organization

  As more industries push for environmentally friendly processes, green compliance is a major concern. Here are tips to help incorporate the right green IT practices at your organization.  Continue Reading