Automation

IT automation is a set of software tools and methods employed across a business to reduce human workload through workflow, replicable sequences, and tasks. Its ability to transform not only IT environments but also the jobs of the IT operations team make it a cornerstone of many digital transformation initiatives and programs. Automation platforms have many important uses, including the reduction of errors and increased efficiency.

In this article, we’re going to explore the quantifiable benefits of using IT automation. In addition, we will explain its potential scope within (and across) organizations, highlight several use cases, and touch on where automation is headed in the future.

Definition of IT Automation Categories

IT automation comes in all different shapes, sizes, and even on different scales. The main categories are outlined below:

• Automating Tasks: In the most simplistic use case, an organization will automate an IT task. A task, put plainly, is one technology-related action. An example would be the creation of a user account in an operating system. Basic automation tools will automate simple tasks such as these. However, they are only able to do so within a specific environment or operating system. Job scheduling software is typically used for the automation of basic IT tasks and processes (sequences of tasks). Most often, tasks are scheduled in batch for a certain time of day or day of the week.
• Automating Workflows: IT workflows are slightly more sophisticated, generally involving the completion of a series of related IT tasks. Workflows can still utilize basic job scheduling software to perform linear flows of tasks and processes set to begin at a certain time. An example would be running a script to validate current operating systems installed on the network.  Or workflows can grow more complex with the aid of a workload automation solution.
• Automating Workloads: Workload automation (WLA) solutions enable IT process automation across platforms and various applications. The goal is to expand the capacity and control of IT operations. A WLA workflow could involve, for example, monitoring a shared drive for disk space utilization. Once the utilization hits a certain percentage threshold (the trigger), additional storage is set to automatically be added. This is done via an event trigger that is completed in real-time, rather than according to a time-based schedule.