Written by Ryan Kubacki, Chief Revenue Officer, Flexera

Enterprise architects are tasked with the analysis, design, planning and implementation of technologies that drive business transformation. When they have unreliable, missing or inconsistent data about the current IT landscape, they’re forced to do it blindfolded. Business outcomes miss their targets. Projects fall short of their potential.

Enterprise Application Suites (EAS) need a clear view of IT, and clean data is the only way they can get it. Clean data depends on a Configuration Management Database (CMDB) or an IT asset system of record that’s:

  • Consistent—The configuration management database must resolve any inconsistencies in how different inputs report data. 
  • Authoritative—All data should be deduplicated. Any conflicts must be resolved. The CMDB also requires change management to ensure that only authorized individuals can update it.
  • Rich—The CMDB should store all relevant information for configured items. That includes relationships among the items, end-of-service-life dates, Windows compatibility, virtualization compatibility, associated vulnerabilities and threats, hardware characteristics and other necessary attributes that fuel decisions across all constituents. 
  • Up to date—CMDB data must stay current and accurate even as the environment and external conditions change.

So what’s stopping your CMDB from getting the clean data it sorely needs?

For starters, it likely has too many IT data sources. The typical organization collects asset data from at least three sources, and they all look for different attributes, get different taxonomies and process data differently. Not every source has all aspects of the asset. No single source contains the whole truth. Vendors add to the complexity. With so much constant change, it’s easy to lose track of each IT asset and its attributes and vulnerabilities.

The result? Data is never ready, never complete and never reliable when you need it.

A sure-fire way to get clean, reliable data:

Data platforms deliver highest-quality data to systems of record and make curated market intelligence readily available to EAs. With data platforms, you have constant access to the best:

Data, all in one place. Data platforms consolidate data from a multitude of sources into one system of record that’s clean, relevant, deduplicated and normalized. They use one language to describe all IT systems (plus market data from outside IT) and communicate it across the whole organization.

Lifecycle management. Your time is too valuable to hunt for lifecycle data buried in vendors’ websites and forums. Data platforms locate end-of-service-life information and extended support dates for your organization’s key technology investments so that you don’t have to.

Get clear data on EOSL data based on your actual technology, all in one place.

Compatibility. Whether you’re dealing with Windows 10, Windows server intelligence or virtualization compatibility, the data platforms tell you what you need to know about every piece of your organization’s software. That way, it can migrate to new platforms and peacefully coexist in one system of record.

Rationalization. Data platform users report 75 percent reduction in time spent researching the data required to drive decisions about application rationalization. Data platforms don’t just cover software and the variety of categories—they also rationalize the most insecure, least compatible and most obsolete applications in your estate. Without it, those metrics are virtually impossible to gather in one location.

Audit response. Internal teams can leverage data platforms to respond to internal audits quickly and accurately, regardless of the angle or view. Number of desktops with an obsolete OS? Check. Deviation from standard tools? Check. Inventory location by region? Check. You get complete, correct results the first time. No problem.

It’s amazing how easy it is to drive business when you can see clearly.

About Ryan Kubacki, Chief Revenue Officer, Flexera

Ryan is a thought leader in go-to-market strategy, marketing, sales, and customer success. At Flexera,  the software company that helps organizations realize technology’s power to accelerate their business, Ryan is responsible for reimagining the customer experience to drive growth – innovating Flexera’s go-to-market approach and partnering with customers and partners to achieve their goals. Connect with Ryan on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryankubacki/.