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How to Launch an IT Automation Strategy in 90 Days
As organizations develop automation strategies, implementing a 90-day playbook on how to approach it makes the process more manageable. Starting small and scaling smart is a key part of an automation playbook. It involves first putting all the instrumentation in place and “baselining” to get a sense of how a system is performing, says Corey Ercanbrack, chief product technology officer for Vasion, a serverless printing and orchestrated automation company. Here Ercanbrack takes us through a 90-day plan companies can follow to create an automation playbook. Month 1: Discovery & Prioritization During the discovery phase of the automation process, organizations build momentum and trust for what follows, according to Ercanbrack. In the first month, he recommends building a cross-functional discovery team that includes representatives from IT, operations and business. “This ensures you capture diverse perspectives on pain points,” Ercanbrack said. “At Vasion, we include team members who perfo

Predictive Maintenance, Real Career Gains: AI Reshapes IT Support Jobs
In IT support, success has traditionally been measured by how fast you can respond when something breaks. But as AI moves deeper into operations, the job is shifting from reactive troubleshooting to proactive problem prevention. Predictive maintenance—using AI to monitor systems, analyze telemetry data, and forecast potential failures—is turning IT support into a data-driven discipline that can deliver measurable business outcomes. This transformation is not just changing workflows—it’s rewriting career trajectories. The next generation of IT support professionals will be valued less for firefighting and more for foresight. Those who can harness AI-driven insights, interpret data, and communicate results in business terms will find themselves well-positioned for advancement into reliability, DevOps, or leadership roles. “AI-driven predictive maintenance is reshaping IT support from a reactive function into a proactive, strategic one,” says Derek Ashmore, AI enablement principal at Aspe

AI, Data Breaches Driving Need for More Skilled Cybersecurity Pros
Artificial intelligence’s influence on cybersecurity continues to increase as more companies invest in these platforms. A report released on Oct. 8 from Sapio Research and Fortinet found that a large majority – 97 percent – of global enterprises use or plan to deploy security tools that leverage some type of AI. While AI – whether it's generative AI, agentic AI, or another variation – is having a significant effect on enterprise decision-making and cybersecurity strategy, the research also found that executives are concerned about how cybercriminals can exploit AI against their organizations. This has led many executives to question whether their cyber teams have the skill sets to properly implement these AI platforms and ensure that they are operating effectively. The survey noted that about half of those surveyed – 48 percent – reported that a lack of staff with sufficient AI expertise remains the biggest challenge for these decision makers when it comes to deploying AI in cybersecur

Cyber Pros: What Changes in Federal Hiring Mean for Skill Development
Over the years, chief information security officers (CISOs) have faced increasing scrutiny as data breaches and other incidents have increasingly affected business performance. In many cases, cyber executives are under pressure to keep incidents quiet, despite a growing body of government regulations and compliance standards that now require greater transparency and disclosure. A survey released by cybersecurity firm Bitdefender illustrates the pressure cyber leaders face. The report, based on 1,200 responses, found that 69 percent of C-level executives, including CISOs and CIOs, reported being told to stay silent about a breach. Mid-level security managers are encountering the same issue, with 46 percent reporting that they have faced similar orders. One of the primary factors driving CISOs and other security leaders to stay silent about breaches and attacks is the increasing number of regulations that companies now face. “In an era of increased regulation and sharper scrutiny, organi

How to Incorporate Architectural Thinking into Your Tech Role
Whether your goal is to find a new job, increase your job security, or grow within your current field, integrating architectural thinking into your role and daily activities can give you a holistic, strategic, and collaborative approach to problem-solving and an edge in the marketplace. Looking at problems from a coding perspective is important but limiting explained Mark Richards, hands-on software architect, co-author of “The Fundamentals of Software Architecture: An Engineering Approach,” and founder of DeveloperToArchitect.com. Being able to view problems with an architect's eye means looking beyond the surface. It changes your perspective by allowing you to understand the business drivers and trade-offs, leading to better solution development Richards explained. In a nutshell, possessing this mindset can help you become more effective and have greater wisdom, reasoning and value than your peers. Even better, the process of learning to think like an architect helps you develop valu