COSC EKCO CHC EEE EEE ELELEECS | B.K, SCHOOL OF PROFESSIONAL AND MANAGEMENT STUDIES B. K. School of Professional and Management Studies Gujarat University An Operations Project Report On “Contemporary issues in IT Operations” In partial fulfillment of the degree Master of Business Administration April 2023 Offered by Gujarat University Submitted by: Bhavinkumar Vora - 121113 Under the guidance of Prof. BRM Rao Sir Faculty, BK. School of Professional and Management Studies, Gujarat University, Ahmedabadee ee I'm Bhavinkumar Vora hereby declare that this dissertation entitled “Contemporary issues in IT Operations” submitted to the BK School of Professional and Management Studies, Gujarat University), Gujarat, in fulfillment of the award of the degree of Master of Business Administration, is an original project work done by me Talso declare that all the information collected from various secondary sources has been duly acknowledged in this project report. Talso hereby declare that this Research Report or any part of it has not been submitted to any other institution/university for the award of any degree, diploma or fellowship, Bhavinkumar Vora Date: 29!" April 2023,eee di ddiddddddddide ¢ Coos edd ede ‘This is to certify that Mr, Bhavinkumar Vora, student of Full time MBA Batch (2021- 2023) at B K School of Professional & Management Studieshas prepared a Project report on “Contemporary issues in IT Operations” in partial fulfillment of two years full time MBA program of Gujarat University. This report has been undertaken under the guidance of ‘Prof. BRM Rao’, professor at B K School of Professional & Management Studies, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad. Date: 29!” April 2023 BRM Rao Place: Ahmedabad PROFESSOR (BKSPMS, Gujarat University)SOoe ees ed ed eh did EK LELEE ABSTRACT ‘This report explores some of the contemporary issues in IT operations and their solutions. The report discusses various topics such as security threats, cloud computing, automation, data ‘management, and increasing complexity of technology systems. Each topic is examined in detail, highlighting the challenges faced in IT operations and how these issues can be addressed. For instance, security threats can be mitigated by implementing effective cybersecurity measures, while cloud computing can be made more secure by leveraging encryption, identity and access management. and other security best practices. Automation can help reduce manual errors and improve efficiency in IT operations, but organizations must also ensure that automation is properly implemented and monitored to avoid unintended consequences. Data management issues, such as data privacy and compliance, can be addressed by implementing a comprehensive data governance framework. Finally, the report concludes with a summary of the key insights and recommendations for IT professionals seeking to address contemporary issues in IT operations.CHOCO EHC HH HOEK THEE CHEE EECHEEH EWES TABLE OF CONTENT Sr. No PARTICULAR Page No DECLARATION CERTIFICATE ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION RESEARCH OBJECTIVES 10 CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN IT OPERATIONS CONCLUSION 20 REFERENCES 21INTRODUCTION IT Operations, also kno-vn as IT Ops, is the practice of managing the day-to-day operations of an organization's IT infrastructure. This includes managing servers, networks, applications, and other technology-related systems. IT Operations ensures that these systems are running efficiently and securely, and that they are able to support the business needs of the organization. ‘The main goal of IT Operations is to ensure that technology systems are always available and performing at their best. This requires constant monitoring and analysis of system data, as well as proactive measures to prevent downtime and other issues. IT Operations teams are also responsible for maintaining security and compliance with industry regulations and standards. With the increasing importance of technology in today's business environment, IT Operations has become a critical function for many organizations. Asa result, IT Operations professionals are in high demand and play a vital role in ensuring the smooth functioning of businesses and organizations across all industriesCeo ee eK eee ee HEEL LELEE TYPES OF IT OPERATIONS ‘There are several types of IT operations, each of which plays a crucial role in ensuring the smooth functioning of an organization's technology infrastructure. Some of the most common types of IT operations include: Network Operations: This involves the management and maintenance of an organiz: network infrastructure, including switches, routers, firewalls, and other network devices. System Operations: This involves the management and maintenance of an organization's server infrastructure, including operating system updates, application deployment, and patch management. Security Operations: This involves the management and maintenance of an organization's security infrastructure, including firewalls, intrusion detection and prevention systems, and other security tools. Data Center Operations: This involves the management and maintenance of an organization's data center infrastructure, including servers, storage devices, and backup systems, Application Operations: This involves the management and maintenance of an organization's application infrastructure, including software deployment, configuration, and support. Cloud Operations: This involves the management and maintenance of an organization's cloud infrastructure, including cloud-based servers, storage, and applications.These different types of IT operations may be managed by different teams within an ‘organization, or they may be combined into a single IT Operations team depending on the size and structure of the organization, IMPORTANCE OF IT OPERATIONS IT Operations is a crucial function in any organization that relies on technology to support its operations. Here are some reasons why IT Operations is important: Ensure smooth functioning of technology systems: IT Operations ensures that an organization's technology systems are always available and functioning properly. This includes monitoring the systems for potential issues, identifying and resolving problems, and performing routine maintenance to prevent downtime, Maintain security and compliance: TT Operations is responsible for maintaining the security and compliance of an organization's technology systems. This includes implementing security measures to protect against cyber threats and ensuring that the systems are compliant with industry regulations and standards, Support business needs: IT Operations supports the business needs of an organization by ensuring that the technology systems are aligned with the organization's goals and objectives. This may involve deploying new applications or systems, upgrading existing systems, or implementing new technologies to improve efficiency.yrevuveseoseeoee eee eee eeoaeoeeeeeenee ee Reduce costs: IT Operations can help to reduce costs by identifying and resolving issues before they cause downtime or other problems. By implementing proactive measures to prevent issues from occurring, 'T Operations can save an organization time and money. Improve customer satisfaction: IT Operations can improve customer satisfaction by ensuring that technology systems are available and functioning properly. This includes ensuring that customer-facing applications are working correctly and providing timely support when issues arise Overall, IT Operations plays a critical role in ensuring the smooth functioning of an organization's technology infrastructure. Without IT Operations, organizations may experience downtime, security breaches, and other issues that can negatively impact business operations and customer satisfaction.ws vey eFSsSeeeeeeoeee Ce CC eh KGC hte ehei€g sé To understand IT Operations To evalute different contempory issues in IT Operations. To examine the various remedies for the particular Contemporary Issue.CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN IT OPERATIONS Increasing Complexity Of’ Technology Systems As technology continues to advance, systems become more complex. ‘This can create challenges for IT operations teams who must manage, maintain, and troubleshoot these systems. Additionally, as more organizations adopt digital transformation strategies, there is ‘an increased demand for integrating disparate systems, which can further complicate IT operations. Data Security As technology becomes more integrated into business processes, the risk of eyber attacks and data breaches increases. IT operations teams must continually monitor systems for potential threats, patch vulnerabilities, and implenient robust security measures to protect against attacks. Cloud Compu is Many organizations are moving their operations to the cloud, which presents both opportunities and challenges for IT operations. While cloud computing can offer cost savings and scalability, it also requires new skills and tools to manage and monitor cloud infrastructure effectively. Automation Automation is becoming increasingly important in IT operations, as it can help teams to streamline processes and reduce the risk of human error. However, implementing automation ‘can be challenging, as it requires a deep understanding of systems and processes.Data Management The amount of data generated by organizations is growing at an unprecedented rate. IT operations teams must manage and store this data efficiently while ensuring its security and accessibility. ‘Overall, these contemporary issues require IT operations teams to stay up-to-date with the latest technologies, develop new skills, and work closely with other departments to ensure that technology systems are running efficiently and securely. Issues In Increasing Complexity of Technology Systems in It Issue: Technical debt Technical debt refers to the cost of maintaining and upgrading legacy systems and applications that are no longer efficient or effective. As technology systems become more complex, technical debt can accumulate, leading to higher maintenance costs and slower innovation. Solution: Strategic technology upgrades and modernization To address the issue of technical debt, businesses must implement strategic technology upgrades and modernization efforts. This includes assessing legacy systems and applications, identifying areas that need improvement, and developing a modernization plan that addresses technical debt while also al business goals. Issue: Integration challenges As technology systems become more complex, integrating them can become a significant challenge. Integrating different systems and applications can be time-consuming and expensive, and can also result in compatibility issues that hinder performance.Solution: API-based integration and microservices architecture To address the issue of integration challenges, businesses must implement API-based integration and microservices architect:ze. This includes using APIs to connect different systems and applications and breaking down applications into smaller, more manageable microservices that can be easily integrated and updated. Issue: Data management As technology systems become more complex, managing the data generated by these systems can become overwhelming. Businesses must collect, store, and analyze large volumes of data, which can be difficult and time-consuming. Solution: Advanced data management tools and analytics To address the issue of data management, businesses must implement advanced data management tools and analytics. This includes using big data analytics tools, data warehouses, and machine learning algorithms to manage and analyze data effectively. Issue: Cybersecurity threats As technology systems become more complex, cybersecurity threats also. increase. Cybercriminals can exploit vulnerabilities in complex systems, leading to data breaches and other security incidents. Solution: Robust cybersecurity measures To address the issue of cybersecurity threats, businesses must implement robust cybersecurity measures. This includes using advanced security tools and techniques such as encryption,access controls, and multifactor authentication to protect against cyber threats. Issues in Cloud Computing, Cloud computing has rapidly transformed the way businesses operate by enabling on-demand access to computing :2sources over the internet. However, it also presents several challenges that businesses must address. Here are some details on the contemporary issues in cloud computing: Issue: Security and privacy One of the major concerns with cloud computing is the security and privacy of data stored on cloud servers. Cloud services are vulnerable to cyber threats and data breaches, and businesses must ensure that their data is secure when using cloud technologies. Solution: Implementing cloud security measures To address the issue of cloud security, businesses must implement cloud security measures that address specific risks related to cloud technologies. This includes implementing strong access controls, encryption, and data backup and recovery procedures. It also involves selecting cloud -e providers that have a strong track record of reliability and security. Issue: Compliance with regulations ‘As more businesses move their data to the cloud, compliance with regulations related to data privacy and security, such as GDPR and HIPAA, has become a major concen, Non- compliance can lead to fines, legal action, and other negative consequences. Solution: Implementing compliance programs To address the issue of compliance with regulations, businesses must implement compliancePrograms that align with regulatory requirements. This includes implementing policies and procedures that address specific regulatory requirements, as well as implementing regular audits and assessments to ensure ongoing compliance. Issue: Vendor lock-in Vendor lock-in is a concern with cloud computing, as businesses may become dependent on a specific cloud service provider for their computing needs. T ty and increase costs, Solution: Implementing multi-cloud strategies ‘To address the issue of vendor lock-in, businesses can implement multi-cloud strategies, which involve using multiple cloud service providers for their computing needs. This provides greater flexibil ty and reduces the risk of becoming dependent on a single provider. Issue: Performance and reliability Cloud comput ng relies on the availability and reliability of intemet connections and cloud services. Any interruption or downtime can have a significant impact on business operations. Solution: Implementing disaster recovery and business continuity plans To address the issue of perforthance and reliability, businesses must implement disaster recovery and business continuity plans. This involves having backup systems and procedures in place to ensure that eri al business functions can continue in the event of an interruption or downtime. By addressing these issues, businesses can effectively leverage the benefits of cloud computingwhile mitigating the associated risks, Automation IT can bring significant benefits, such as increased efficiency, reduced costs, and improved accuracy, However, there are also several issues in automation in IT that businesses must address: Issue: Lack of flexibility Automated systems can lack flexibility, meaning that they may not be able to adapt to changing circumstances or unexpected events. This can limit the ability of IT systems to meet business. needs and respond to emerging threats. Solution .gile development methodologies To address the issue of inflexibility, businesses can implement agile development methodologies for their automated systems. This involves breaking down large projects into smaller, more manageable tasks, and buil ie in flexi ty to respond to changing requirements. Issue: Integration challenges Automated systems can also face integration challenges, particularly when integrating legacy systems or external appl ins. This can create inefficiencies and errors in the IT system. Solution: Robust integration testing To address the issue of integration challenges, businesses can implement robust integration testing processes to ensure that automated systems can effectively integrate with existing IT infrastructure. This involves testing both the technical and functional aspects of integration toidentify and resolve issues. Issue: Data quality Automated systems rely heavily on data, meaning that data quality is critical to the effectiveness of the system. Poor data quality can lead to errors and inaccuracies in automated decision-making processes. Solution: Data governance and quality control To address the issue of data quality, businesses must implement robust data governance and quality control processes. This involves establishing clear guidelines for data collection, management, and use, and implementing quality contro! processes to ensure that data is accurate and reliable. Issue: Lack of human oversight Automated systems can be vulnerable to errors and biases if there is a lack of human oversight. This can be particularly problematic in areas such as cybersecurity and decision-making. Solution: Human oversight and auditing To address the ssue of lack of human oversight, businesses must implement processes for human oversight and auditing of automated systems. This involves ensuring that there are human operators responsible for monitoring and managing the system, as well as regular auditing to identify and address errors and biases. Issues In Data Security Data security in IT is a critical concern for businesses, and there are several issues that must beaddressed to ensure that data is secur Issue: Data breaches ive data, such Data breaches occur when cybercriminals gain unauthorized access to sensi customer data or financial information. Data breaches can have severe consequences for businesses, inchiding damage to reputation and financial losses. Solution: Robust cybersecurity measures To address the issue of data breaches, businesses must implement robust cybersecurity measures. This includes using advanced security tools and techniques such as encryption, access controls, and multi-factor authentication to protect against cyber threats. Issue: Insider threats Insider threats occur when employees or contractors misuse or intentionally disclose sensitive data. Insider threats can be difficult to detect and prevent, and they can also cause significant damage to businesses. Solution: Employee training and access controls, To address the issue of insider threats, businesses must provide employee training on data security best practices and implement access controls that limit access to sensitive data. This includes using tools such as data loss prevention (DLP) solutions and identity and access management (IAM) systems to monitor and control access to sensitive data. Issue: Third-party data security Businesses often work with third-party vendors and partners, which can introduce additional19 security risks. Third-party vendors may have weaker security measures in place, which ean make it easier for cybercriminals to gain access to sensitive data. Solution: Vendor risk management, To address the issue of third-party data security, businesses must implement vendor risk management practices. This includes assessing the security practices of third-party vendors and partners and ensuring that they adhere to security standards and best pra Issue: Data privacy regulations Data privacy regulations, such as GDPR and CCPA, impose strict requirements on businesses regarding the collection, storage, and use of personal data. Failure to comply with these regulations can result in significant fines and legal consequences. Solution: Compliance management and data protection To address the issue of data privacy regulations, businesses must implement compliance management practices and data protection measures. This includes implementing policies and procedures that comply with relevant data privacy regulations, such as GDPR and CPA, and using data protection technologies such as encryption and data masking to protect personal data20 In conclusion, IT operations face several contemporary issues that can have significant implications for businesses, These issues include increasing complexity of technology systems, sccurity threats, cloud computing, automation, data management, and data security. To address these issues, businesses must implement robust solutions that include a combination of technological tools and best practices. This includes implementing advanced security Measures to protect against cyber threats, providing employee training on data security best practices, implementing access controls and data loss prevention solutions to prevent insider threats, implementing vendor risk management practices to address third-party data security risks, and implementing compliance management practices and data protection measures to address data privacy regulations. By effectively addressing these contemporary issues, businesses can improve their IT operations, protect against cyber threats and data breaches, and ensure compliance with relevant data privacy regulations, ultimately leading to improved business outcomes and success.REFERENCES Kshetri, N. (2018). Blockchain’s roles in meeting key supply chain management objectives. International Journal ~—of_ Information Management, 39,8089. hups://doi.org/10. 10164. ijinfomgt.2017.12.003. Mell, P., & Grance, T. (2011). 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