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Managing IT infrastructure has never been easy, but for modern enterprises, it’s become nearly impossible. Companies are drowning in data from IT systems, applications, and digital platforms with no end to the deluge in sight. With the post-pandemic shift toward more remote work and the explosive adoption of AI, global data volume is increasing exponentially: from a mere 1.2 zettabytes (ZB) in 2010, to 120 ZB in 2024, to a shocking projected 400 ZB by 2028. This isn’t just a technical problem anymore. At this scale, it’s an existential business challenge that demands immediate action.
The simple reality is that the growth in scale and complexity has made it impossible to tackle rising data volume with traditional IT approaches. Ignoring the problem isn’t an option. Letting data chaos grow unchecked leads to information overload, lost insights, slower decisions and stunted business growth. Tackling this existential problem means developing survival strategies that allow you to navigate an increasingly data-saturated workplace. That starts with AIOps, a discipline that transforms overwhelming data into a powerful strategic asset.
The True Cost of Outdated IT Management
Traditional approaches to IT management that rely on siloed data sources and manual processes are time-consuming, inefficient, and error-prone. This can result in lost productivity and frustrated customers, due to an overreliance on already stretched IT teams tasked with locating, securing, and leveraging an unmanageable tsunami of information.
While updating or replacing existing solutions requires a significant investment of both time and capital, the alternative—persisting with inefficient and outdated systems—guarantees the accumulation of “technical debt,” or the financial burden of constantly needing to update aspects of your digital infrastructure to meet the demands of new projects. Put simply, overlooking digital transformation can lead to recurring and expensive operational costs. To stay competitive, businesses need to move to proactive, intelligent IT management that scales with the pace of change.
AIOps: Turning Data Chaos into Business Intelligence
Organizations struggling with data overload have begun to turn to AIOps, which leverages machine learning and advanced analytics to deliver immediate operational benefits along with a long-term strategic advantage. Using AIOps, IT teams can proactively and automatically manage technical disruptions that would otherwise remain buried within increasingly complex IT environments. Modern observability platforms powered by AIOps provide a single, unified view into your IT ecosystem, reducing blind spots and surfacing predictive insights that keep performance on track.
For businesses to successfully implement technology that comprehensively monitors IT system behavior, information accessibility is non-negotiable. A unified data store is essential. Think of it like an office building: if every department stored its records in separate, locked rooms, finding critical documents would be a nightmare. A unified data store is the central filing system, ensuring that all necessary information is in one place, easily searchable and actionable.
Without this unified approach, IT teams must painstakingly search every siloed location. Implementing a robust data store consolidates all those fragmented datasets into a virtual warehouse where organizational information becomes immediately accessible, analyzable, and trackable. This digital asset can often be the difference between a successful or failed AI strategy.
Data stores do come with their own challenges: namely, scale. Datasets can be massive, and it’s not easy to build repositories expansive enough to account for exponential growth in data volume. To combat this issue, forward-thinking companies use pre-built infrastructures, allowing them to eliminate capacity concerns.
AIOps As Competitive Advantage
Companies cannot afford to treat data as an operational byproduct: not when their competitors are using it as a strategic asset that helps them identify trends faster, deliver better customer experiences, and unlock new levels of innovation. AIOps has emerged as a game-changer, accelerating digital transformation and making companies more agile and efficient. The numbers back it up: decision-makers across all industries believe in its potential, with a recent survey revealing that 91% of businesses agree that AI provides a competitive advantage.
Consider the concrete example of customer service: A public-facing business implementing AIOps—whether a retailer, financial institution, or airline—can rapidly resolve data bottlenecks that typically cause website downtime or transaction delays. As the organization establishes itself as a reliable digital presence, customer retention levels and the financial bottom line rise dramatically. Companies implementing AIOps report faster root cause analysis, reduced operational costs, and improved problem resolution. The investment impacts not just operational efficiency but also directly drives growth and revenue.
Enterprises overwhelmed by data are at a crossroads. Do you invest in AIOps now, or pay the steep competitive price later? The choice should be a simple one. Organizations that embrace AIOps are already unlocking higher levels of efficiency and innovation. For business leaders looking to make their smartest investment of 2025, AIOps offers that rare combination of immediate operational benefits and long-term strategic advantage. It’s the clear choice for forward-thinking organizations determined to turn the stress of data overload into sustained competitive advantage.
About the Author
Phil Lenton is Head of Product Management at Riverbed for AIOps and SaaS applications across the company’s observability portfolio. With over two decades of technology leadership, Phil has driven innovation in product, strategy, and customer success at global enterprises like Oracle, Infor, and startups he founded and scaled. He brings deep experience in application development, sales enablement, and enterprise SaaS, and has a proven track record of delivering impactful outcomes across complex organizations. Phil is passionate about leveraging AI-driven automation and intelligent observability to simplify operations and deliver real-time insights for modern digital enterprises.