Investment in intelligent business systems and automation is well under way, according to a global study, by analyst firm Freeform Dynamics, for Ipswitch, an IT management software company. The survey examined attitudes and readiness of IT decision makers about intelligent machines and business systems (machines with decision making and learning capabilities). Exploring the fast-paced adoption of these systems, the report looks at the impacts already in the commercial world and the potential barriers to further mainstream adoption over the next decade.
According to the research, top current application deployment areas cited by respondents include digital customer engagement systems (55 per cent), process automation and workflow systems (52 per cent), and automated risk monitoring and management solutions (50 per cent). The research found that:
•45 per cent have adopted intelligent IoT (Internet of Things) platforms and services, with 34 per cent saying these technologies are on the agenda
•42 per cent are using autonomous apps and bots, and 32 per cent say they plan to do so
•45 per cent are using cognitive computing and inference engines and a further 30 per cent are looking to deploy in the near future
•40 per cent are using complex event processing (CEP) technology and a further 34 per cent plan to soon
Despite the speed of adoption, the study suggested that IT decision makers are finding it difficult to assess the full extent of the risks, challenges and threats posed by intelligent business systems. Security concerns (33 per cent), funding constraints (30 per cent) and lack of knowledge (24 per cent) were all identified as areas of worry and named as primary obstacles to adoption and use. To give just one example, a fifth of respondents (20 per cent) said increased ‘noise’ on the network is making it harder to detect malicious activity, with automated/bot access to APIs causing system/application issues and creating unexpected security exposures.
When questioned further, more than two-thirds (68 per cent) of respondents confessed their current network security and access management capabilities were already inadequate or needed strengthening to cope with new intelligent machines, while 72 per cent revealed network traffic monitoring and analysis capabilities also required reinforcing. 72 per cent of respondents said the same applied to their file and document level security and access management systems and protocols. Looking to the future, the survey found IT professionals were also concerned about how to counter the potential impact of intelligent systems activity – including external third party bots, agents and internet-connected ‘things’ – on enterprise networks and infrastructures.
Tony Lock, Distinguished Analyst at Freeform Dynamics, said: “Organisations are harnessing the transformative powers of intelligent systems to gain competitive advantage. But IT decision makers recognise that, while a force for good, these technologies also expose the enterprise to new internal and external risk vectors. As the pace of adoption increases, there will be no escaping the impact of intelligent systems on the enterprise – regardless of whether or not organisations directly invest in such technologies.”
The research also highlighted the impact of intelligent systems is being felt right now, with IT professionals braced for further challenges:
•A quarter expected fully autonomous self-learning robots to be functioning independently within a business setting in less than three years, with a further third saying this will happen within 10 years
•Rogue decision-making resulting in direct commercial damage and an over reliance on machines, ultimately leading to complacency were cited as current or future concerns that need addressing; one fifth of respondents confirm a lack of human oversight and de-skilling, to the point where no one in the IT team understands the logic or processes underpinning systems, is a problem today
•76 per cent believe these solutions will remove drudgery from IT operations, while just 32 per cent are concerned intelligent systems may eventually put them out of a job
Michael Hack, SVP of EMEA Operations at Ipswitch, said: “IT professionals should approach intelligent machines with their eyes wide open. As network managers grow more confident with intelligent systems, they will become increasingly willing to tackle more complex applications. However, they need to ensure they have the right tools in place to enable intelligent systems and support the IT team to manage the impact of internal and external intelligent automation effectively.”
