At Systems Engineering, we have begun the financial conversation with our clients. Each year, we support them through their budgeting process, identifying technology priorities they should carefully consider in the coming year. Across our clients and industries, the following are 2020 technology investments we recommend due to the tremendous business advantages they offer:
For the last several years, we have been moving more and more workloads to the cloud. Reputable cloud-providers are doing a great job of securing their cloud infrastructures, a.k.a. “the back door.” The question is, “How are you securing your front door?”
In 2020, invest in identity-driven security features such as Multi-Factor Authentication, Single Sign-On, Conditional Access, Data Loss Prevention, and Mobile Application Management. These tools significantly improve your security stance and provide tremendous value for the investment.
If your organization is using the Microsoft cloud only for email and desktop software licensing, you are missing out on a world of efficiency-driving opportunities. Microsoft has really hit the ball out of the park with its SharePoint Online, OneDrive for Business, and Teams platforms, to name just a few. Cisco has also made tremendous advances into integrating content collaboration into your communications tools, bringing together your conference rooms with your PC users in a way not previously possible.
At Systems Engineering, our team is seeing significant benefits and time savings from real-time document collaboration. OneDrive Files-on-Demand is providing an intuitive experience for secure access to files stored in the cloud without the need for cumbersome remote access software.
Every organization has carrier services, whether it’s Internet and dial tone, or you are managing a thirty-site Wide Area Network (WAN). As organizations connect to more applications in the cloud, they are beginning to find their current network design lacking in the performance and security needed.
For some, SD-WAN can be achieved using on-premises devices such as firewalls and routers, which keeps you in full control of your data. Most carriers are offering SD-WAN managed services, sacrificing some control for organizations.
However, before going too deeply down the rabbit hole of redesigning your network, it’s imperative to design for where you are today and where you are headed. If you are three years into a contract with your carrier, your WAN design was based on what you knew in 2016. Don’t merely invest in bigger/better/faster if you plan to reduce or eliminate on-premises servers in the coming years—these decisions affect how you use your network.
By now, we should all be aware of January 14, 2020, which is the end-of-support date for Microsoft Windows 7, Server 2008, and Exchange 2010. If you have not migrated away from these platforms yet, this should be your top priority NOW. The further past the extended support end date, the higher the security and productivity risk is to your data.
In 2020, Office 2010 will reach its Extended Support End Date on October 13. As so many of us are now using Microsoft Office 365 for email and much more, this end-of-extended-support date makes it an excellent time to look at the advantages Microsoft's as-a-Service subscription model can bring. This model not only allows businesses to achieve more predictable budgeting; it also keeps your organization current with the latest feature enhancements and security updates.
"Systems Engineering Account Managers are responsible for the relationships with our clients. We gain a deep understanding of how each does business and help them create a unique competitive advantage using technology."