Information governance has to adapt to the evolving technology user, as trends, including the consumption of applications, the emergence of social computing and the popularity of multi-network connected devices, make their way into the business environment.
Businesses would be amiss to ignore the impact of these trends on the way industry approaches information management and governance, warned Mark Lewis, chief strategy officer for EMC. He delivered his keynote address yesterday, at EMC Momentum 2010, in Lisbon, Portugal.
Lewis pointed to the emergence of social computing, highlighting how Facebook and Twitter usage have surpassed the use of e-mail.
He argued that, although many businesses still see this trend as part of employees' personal life, social media usage patterns are influencing the way in which the user approaches work.
As a result, a new kind of user has emerged, observed Lewis, not only as consumers of business applications, but as self-provisioning employees using applications to solve work-related problems.
He used the example of Salesforce.com being used for the purchase of on-demand applications, which the self-provisioning employee may purchase, in a personal capacity even, for a solution to a work problem.
This means, Lewis argued, that the role of IT in the organisation is changing as the new user commands more control of their computing needs. “IT has become more of a service and no longer has the power it used to have. The power now lies with the user.”
Choice computing
Beyond these changing usage patterns, argued Lewis, is the emergence of the mobile Internet. He explained that the new age user now wants their wireless device to have access to the company's network.
This, in turn, is redefining the relationship between the user and IT in the business. The user wants choice, open platforms and new information resources, he stated.
The border between work and personal life is completely blurred, he observed. This, in turn, is redefining firewalls and the way business manages information.
Information impact
The resultant effect of these new computing trends is changing the way businesses approach information management, noted Lewis.
He pointed to the emergence of 3D information growth, which is not only an increase in the volume of information, but also an increase in the content types of information and new sources of information.
Lewis maintained that businesses must look to a simpler information management technology stack to manage the new trends.
He pointed out that EMC would redefine its stack to comprise three simple layers: a simplified user interface layer, a composite application layer, and a cloud information services infrastructure layer.
Lewis argued that EMC's simplified approach would increase business flexibility and agility as it realigned the new age user with business needs and new cost models.
He reiterated that EMC will be a cloud-optimised solution provider, ultimately bringing the security of information governance and compliance to the cloud.
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