Well, here’s the story I’ve been watching for a while. Venture Beat covers “How AI is helping cut the risks of breaches with patch management.” AI/ML-driven patch management provides real-time risk assessments, helping prioritize critical patches. The GigaOm Radar for Patch Management Solutions Report evaluates 19 different providers. Leading vendors mentioned include Automox, ConnectWise, Flexera, Ivanti, Kaseya, SecPod, and Tanium. Tanium aims to eliminate “Patch Tuesdays” by staying ahead of threats using Autonomous Endpoint Management. Ivanti’s Neurons for Patch Management offers a shared platform for IT and security teams, prioritizing patches based on vulnerabilities and compliance guidelines.
IBM’s study reveals that pursuing generative AI distracts organizations from essential IT services, with confidence in IT effectiveness declining significantly since 2013. Many tech executives express concerns about their infrastructure’s readiness for AI demands, while a majority of CEOs believe their digital infrastructure is prepared. Additionally, there are challenges in filling key technology roles due to financial pressures, and transparency in AI usage is lacking.
Cloud infrastructure is rapidly evolving due to the generative AI boom, leading to a significant increase in capital expenditure for AI server hardware, projected to account for 66% of overall server spending this year. While AI servers represent only 19% of shipments, their high costs are prompting cloud providers to optimize existing non-AI infrastructure. Additionally, enterprises are increasingly considering in-house IT solutions, driven by rising public cloud costs and the need for better resource management. Despite these shifts, spending on cloud services remains robust, indicating that the cloud market will continue to thrive.
A survey by Cognizant and Oxford Economics reveals that many businesses are eager to implement generative AI but struggle to scale it effectively. Seventy percent of companies feel they are not adopting AI quickly enough, and 82% believe delays will hinder their competitiveness. The report predicts that 13% of businesses will adopt AI in the next three to four years, with 46% in the next decade.
Why do we care?
Patch management is the obvious use case for both AI and the outcome of Autonomous IT. Perform testing, validation, staged rollouts, and the like all using automation. Microsoft has been testing this themselves. And the goal should be autonomous implementations.
I found it interesting to note that AI might be a distraction too. Companies need to understand their data foundations and rethink business processes beyond simple AI tools like chatbots to ensure successful implementation. I’m not sure most have given this the proper thought, and that’s the opportunity for IT services.