Register for our webMethods Event
Sterling Product Enhancement Feedback

HELP – My IT System Needs a Check-Up!

Just like your car needs a regular MOT to ensure it’s running smoothly, your IT systems also need regular health checks. Think of it like a visit to the doctor—everything might seem fine on the surface, but there could be underlying issues that, if left unchecked, can cause big problems down the road. Even if you’ve set up your IT infrastructure perfectly for your company’s needs, it’s still subject to wear and tear over time. You might not realize there are newer, better ways of doing things, or that your system is vulnerable to risks that could cost you both operationally and financially.

A System Health Check is your IT system’s version of a tune-up. It helps your organization spot the gremlins slowing down your processes, improves your overall performance, and gets you back to full speed. 

Why Your IT System Might Be Hitting Speed Bumps

Every IT system, no matter how well set up, can run into obstacles. These roadblocks come in many forms, from overworked hardware to inefficient resource allocation. But the two biggest culprits are outages caused by manual fixes and data breaches that can take down your operations faster than you can say ‘security patch.

OUTAGES – Too Much Manual Intervention is Like Fixing a Flat with Duct Tape

Over the last ten years, there’s been a massive shift from monolithic architecture (think of it like a giant, complicated machine) to microservices (smaller, more efficient machines that all work together). But with this shift comes a lot more complexity. According to Ars Technica, the amount of code developers manage today is 100 times greater than it was in the 2010s. And unfortunately, with that many lines of code comes a lot of room for errors—about 100 to 150 mistakes for every thousand lines, in fact!

Here’s the thing: just like you wouldn’t patch a flat tire with duct tape, your IT system can’t survive on quick fixes forever. These band-aid solutions might work temporarily, but they leave behind hidden issues that will eventually cause even bigger problems. Over time, your system slows down, causing unplanned outages, costing you time, money, and maybe even your customers’ trust.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. By incorporating AI-driven automation, you can take manual intervention off the table. Imagine having a digital mechanic that’s always on duty, spotting potential issues in real time and resolving them before they turn into full-blown system failures. It’s like having a pit crew on hand to keep your systems running at top speed.

Data Breaches: The Flat Tire You Didn’t See Coming 

When it comes to security, you can’t afford to wait until something goes wrong. According to IBM’s 19th Cost of Data Breaches Report, 83% of companies experienced more than one breach last year, with the global average cost hitting a staggering $4.45 million. And the worst part? 60% of those breaches led to higher prices for customers.

Now, think of a data breach as the equivalent of driving down the highway and suddenly blowing a tire—you’re stuck, and it’s going to be expensive. The frustrating part? Many of these breaches could have been prevented with some basic security fundamentals, like regularly updating your software, strengthening your password protections, or using stronger encryption standards.

But here’s where it gets exciting: AI-powered security tools can work like your GPS, scanning the road ahead and alerting you to potential threats long before they hit. These tools can continuously monitor your systems, automatically detect breaches, and stop them in their tracks. With AI-driven cybersecurity, it’s like having a 24/7 security team that never sleeps, ready to protect your most valuable data from costly attacks.

IT System Health Check: The Tune-Up Your System Needs  

Getting an IT Systems Health Check is like bringing your car in for a thorough inspection. Our experts look under the hood of your system, whether you’re using IBM Secure File Transfer, EDI, or Application Integration systems like IBM Sterling B2Bi, SFG, Connect:Direct, or IBM App Connect Enterprise.

We use advanced, AI-driven analysis to find those hidden bottlenecks, detect risks, and give you a custom roadmap for improving your system’s performance, security, and efficiency. It’s like having a master mechanic give your system a once-over and then handing you a list of improvements to keep your IT engine humming along smoothly.

Coliance to the Rescue: Case Study

Recently, Coliance helped a large US manufacturer that was stalling out—regular outages were hurting their reputation and slashing revenue. Despite their strong in-house IT team, they couldn’t find the root cause of the outages. After a comprehensive IT Systems Health Check, we found the issues: high memory utilization, incorrect database configuration, bad queue management, and poorly designed business processes. It was like uncovering a faulty engine part that had been causing all the trouble.

With just a few adjustments to their environment and code, Coliance got their system back on track. Outages dropped from four per month to zero, and their reputation for reliability was restored. Like a car that goes from constant breakdowns to smooth sailing, their system was finally back in gear—and their revenue followed.

Conclusion: Keep Your IT Systems Running Like a Well-Oiled Machine

Technology is constantly evolving, and your IT systems need regular check-ups to stay healthy. Whether it’s performance issues or security vulnerabilities, an IT Systems Health Check helps you reassess your baseline, find hidden problems, and make sure your systems are running at peak performance. Coliance is here to be your IT doctor—so why wait until something goes wrong?
Call us today and schedule your system’s tune-up. After all, it could save you a lot of headaches down the road—and maybe even your company’s reputation. 

Andrew Mahy
Senior Consultant

Related Articles

Let's get started

Book a consultation

Contact Us

Coliance © 2024 All rights reserved

Your Feedback Could Shape Future Products

As Gold partners of IBM for over 20 years, we have a direct line to the IBM Product Management Team. Share your feedback or Enhancement Request and we’ll relay it to IBM on your behalf.