Latest news with #InfoTechResearchGroup
Associated Press
2 days ago
- Business
- Associated Press
What Every IT Leader Needs to Know About AI and Solution Delivery: Insights Published By Info-Tech Research Group
Global research and advisory firm Info-Tech Research Group has published a new resource that details how AI can transform the way IT teams build, test, and deploy solutions. The firm's research insights highlight that by embedding AI into every stage of the delivery process, organizations can reduce inefficiencies, mitigate risks, and increase development velocity. The recently published research offers practical, scalable insights CIOs can leverage to meet rising business demands with greater clarity and control. TORONTO, June 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - Delivering solutions quickly while maintaining consistency and impact is a growing challenge for IT teams navigating complex environments and limited resources. To help organizations improve how they build and release solutions, Info-Tech Research Group has published new research Boost Solution Delivery Throughput With AI, which offers a focused approach to increasing throughput. The firm's blueprint outlines practical steps to guide organizations in embedding AI into their solution delivery teams, driving value, quality, and speed. By reducing inefficiencies, strengthening team capacity, and leveraging technology to improve delivery rhythm, the research insights can guide IT teams on how best to align with evolving business needs. 'Throughput has been and will continue to be the success factor of all solution delivery teams. Teams are expected to deliver high-value and high-quality features, fixes, and updates quickly and continuously. However, there are new headwinds getting in their way,' says Andrew Kum-Seun, research director at Info-Tech Research Group. 'Exponential technologies, democratized IT, security vulnerabilities, and other disruptors have made yesterday's status quo outdated. Enter AI as both the solution and the challenge.' Info-Tech's newly published research highlights the transformative potential of AI to enhance solution quality, accelerate delivery, and increase overall business value. The firm's findings emphasize that capabilities such as AI-assisted code generation can significantly boost developer productivity, synthetic data generation can enable more effective and scalable testing, and intelligent scanning tools can proactively identify issues before they impact delivery. However, to fully unlock these benefits, Info-Tech advises organizations to move beyond surface-level adoption. Andrew Kum-Seun, Application Delivery expert at Info-Tech Research Group, stresses that AI must be deeply embedded in the fabric of the solution delivery team, where every decision, action, and outcome is driven, supported, or executed by AI-enabled capabilities. In its recently published resource, Boost Solution Delivery Throughput With AI, Info-Tech outlines three specific areas where AI can directly address throughput challenges: The data-backed blueprint from the global research and advisory firm explains that successfully leveraging these AI capabilities requires more than just technology adoption; it demands overcoming internal resistance and organizational uncertainty. Info-Tech advises organizations to begin by addressing critical delivery challenges where AI can demonstrate a clear and immediate impact. Early successes build trust, ease concerns, and create the momentum necessary to confidently scale AI adoption across solution delivery teams. For exclusive and timely commentary from Andrew Kum-Seun, an expert in application delivery, and access to the complete Boost Solution Delivery Throughput With AI blueprint, please contact [email protected]. About Info-Tech Research Group Info-Tech Research Group is one of the world's leading research and advisory firms, serving over 30,000 IT and HR professionals. The company produces unbiased, highly relevant research and provides advisory services to help leaders make strategic, timely, and well-informed decisions. For nearly 30 years, Info-Tech has partnered closely with teams to provide them with everything they need, from actionable tools to analyst guidance, ensuring they deliver measurable results for their organizations. To learn more about Info-Tech's divisions, visit McLean & Company for HR research and advisory services and SoftwareReviews for software buying insights. Media professionals can register for unrestricted access to research across IT, HR, and software and hundreds of industry analysts through the firm's Media Insiders program. To gain access, contact [email protected]. For information about Info-Tech Research Group or to access the latest research, visit and connect via LinkedIn and X. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Info-Tech Research Group
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Lost in Microsoft's Security Tools? Info-Tech Research Group's Blueprint Helps IT Leaders Navigate With Confidence
With Microsoft's extensive range of security offerings, many IT teams face challenges in determining the right tools and configurations for their needs. Without a clear plan, organizations risk leaving gaps in their defenses and overspending on tools they don't need. To help leaders align security capabilities with their actual organizational needs, global research and advisory firm Info-Tech Research Group has published new research insights and guidance for building a robust security architecture with Microsoft technologies. TORONTO, June 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - Global research and advisory firm Info-Tech Research Group's recently published research insights articulate that many organizations have access to a wide range of Microsoft's powerful security features yet still struggle with overlap, underuse, and unclear integration. While turning on a security tool can be easy, building a secure and well-structured architecture with Microsoft technologies requires IT strategy and clarity. To support IT leaders navigating implementation, Info-Tech Research Group's new resource Build a Robust Security Architecture With Microsoft Technologies offers practical guidance to make the most of organizations' existing Microsoft tools, close critical gaps, and create a cohesive security environment that fits their needs. As Microsoft's Security Landscape Grows, Info-Tech Recommends a Capability-First Strategy to Close Gaps "The cybersecurity landscape is constantly evolving, with new threats emerging daily. In this environment, organizations are increasingly looking to standardize their security platforms to simplify management, reduce costs, and improve their overall security posture," says Fred Chagnon, principal research director at Info-Tech Research Group. "Though Microsoft provides a comprehensive suite of security products, users of the product struggle to map all these provided capabilities to their own unique needs. The result is suboptimal deployment leading to security defense gaps, unintentional technology complexity, and wasted spending." Keeping pace with frequent product changes, shifting licensing models, tool integration challenges, and internal silos remains a significant challenge for many organizations. Info-Tech's newly published research highlights how best to navigate Microsoft's vast and constantly evolving security landscape. According to Chagnon, one of the firm's cybersecurity experts, approaches that focus solely on cost consolidation can fall short, as they risk overlooking critical security gaps. To address this, he recommends in the firm's new blueprint that taking a capability-first approach breaks down the Microsoft security stack into manageable components, which can help organizations align tools with real security needs rather than just budgets. A Four-Step Framework for Optimizing Microsoft Security Tools To assist IT leaders in applying a capability-focused review of Microsoft security products, Info-Tech outlines a four-step framework in Build a Robust Security Architecture With Microsoft Technologies: Conduct a security technology capability assessment to uncover hidden gaps, potential overlaps, and opportunities for optimization. Optimize the existing security posture by identifying essential capabilities that are currently not implemented or operating optimally. Eliminate duplication to fund new capabilities by making a cost comparison between desired Microsoft capabilities and non-Microsoft tools. Justify unused capabilities and overlaps by documenting the use of alternative solutions in place of Microsoft offerings and a clear rationale for each. Info-Tech's approach, detailed in this blueprint, is designed to empower organizations to optimize their security posture, reduce costs, and build a more robust defense against cyberthreats. The firm advises that by prioritizing security capabilities instead of software products and conducting a thorough assessment of the Microsoft security stack, organizations can gain a clear understanding of their existing tools, identify gaps and overlaps, and make informed decisions. For exclusive and timely commentary from Fred Chagnon, a cybersecurity expert, and access to the complete Build a Robust Security Architecture With Microsoft Technologies blueprint, please contact pr@ About Info-Tech Research Group Info-Tech Research Group is one of the world's leading research and advisory firms, serving over 30,000 IT and HR professionals. The company produces unbiased, highly relevant research and provides advisory services to help leaders make strategic, timely, and well-informed decisions. For nearly 30 years, Info-Tech has partnered closely with teams to provide them with everything they need, from actionable tools to analyst guidance, ensuring they deliver measurable results for their organizations. To learn more about Info-Tech's divisions, visit McLean & Company for HR research and advisory services and SoftwareReviews for software buying insights. Media professionals can register for unrestricted access to research across IT, HR, and software and hundreds of industry analysts through the firm's Media Insiders program. To gain access, contact pr@ For information about Info-Tech Research Group or to access the latest research, visit and connect via LinkedIn and X. 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Forbes
6 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Navigating The Generative AI Technology Stack
Bill Wong - AI Research Fellow, Info-Tech Research Group. Generative AI is transforming the technology landscape, introducing new large language models (LLMs), development tools and a range of new or enhanced applications. As adoption grows, organizations must focus on building a robust technology stack to support these applications—ensuring they meet performance and scalability demands. When evaluating vendor solutions for generative AI, it's important to understand the core components of the supporting technology stack. This stack includes several layers, with applications sitting at the top. Key layers and examples include: • Application Layer: Business applications such as CRM, ERP and marketing/sales tools, along with industry-specific solutions for sectors like healthcare, legal and financial services. • Data And AI Tools: Platforms and tools used for managing data and developing machine learning models, including LLMs. • LLMs: The foundational AI models that generate outputs, insights and recommendations. • Data Layer: Systems for storing and managing both structured and unstructured data, such as databases and data lakes. • Infrastructure Layer: The hardware and core software needed to support AI workloads—this includes compute, storage and networking resources. There are two primary approaches for delivering generative AI applications: 1. Component-Based (Loosely Coupled) Approach: In this model, the vendor provides the application itself but allows the client to choose the underlying components—such as the LLM, data platform and infrastructure. This approach offers maximum flexibility, enabling organizations to tailor the solution to their specific needs. However, it also requires more time, effort and resources to integrate the components and optimize performance. This is currently the most common approach in the market. 2. Integrated (Tightly Coupled) Approach: This model provides a complete, pre-integrated solution that includes the application, LLM, data platform and infrastructure. Often delivered as a software-as-a-service (SaaS) offering, this approach prioritizes ease of deployment and speed to value. While it offers less customization than the component-based approach, it reduces complexity for the client. While not an exhaustive list, examples of this model include Microsoft 365 Copilot, Salesforce Einstein and Amazon Q. Criteria For Evaluating Generative AI Applications When evaluating generative AI applications, it's essential to assess them against a core set of criteria to ensure they align with business goals and technical requirements. Key categories include: Selection should be driven by specific business needs and prioritized use cases. For example, when evaluating AI-powered CRM solutions, relevant capabilities might include customer segmentation, sentiment analysis, personalized content generation, predictive lead scoring and user experience factors (such as flexibility or ease of integration). Applications should meet required performance and scalability standards. Evaluation criteria may include response time or latency, ability to support concurrent users (concurrency), scalability across workloads and resource utilization. Cost considerations should factor in both initial and ongoing expenses, including licensing fees, support and maintenance costs, and infrastructure or usage-based charges (if applicable). Alignment To AI Guiding Principles Generative AI applications should align with your organization's broader AI and business strategies. These guiding principles help ensure that AI systems are deployed responsibly and effectively, while also providing a framework that IT can use to implement risk-mitigation measures. These should be tailored to fit the specific values and goals of your organization. Core principles typically include: • Safety And Security: AI systems must be resilient, secure and safe throughout their entire life cycle—from development through deployment and operation. • Data Privacy: Personal and sensitive company data must be protected to ensure anonymity, confidentiality and compliance with data protection regulations. • Explainability And Transparency: AI systems should be as transparent as possible in their operations and offer explanations that end users can understand and trust. • Fairness And Bias Detection: AI systems should be designed to identify and mitigate bias in data and algorithms, promoting fairness and improving decision accuracy. • Validity And Reliability: AI-generated outputs must be consistently accurate, reliable and valid. • Accountability: Clear responsibility must be established for AI system outcomes. Organizations should define who is accountable for the design, performance and oversight of each system. While some organizations may refer to these as "responsible AI principles," the specific terminology is less important than ensuring these principles are customized and aligned with organizational strategies and values. In Summary The evaluation framework should be tailored to reflect your organization's unique context—including its AI guiding principles, the specific use cases the solution is expected to address, performance and scalability SLAs, and the available budget for acquiring and operating the application. The degree of flexibility to optimize application performance will vary depending on the architecture of the solution—some applications offer limited configurability, while others provide significant control over components such as infrastructure and model selection. When assessing vendor solutions, it's important to prioritize evaluation criteria based on the organization's strategic goals. In my experience working with C-level executives, two factors consistently stand out as most critical in the selection process: business capabilities and the alignment with AI guiding principles, ensuring the solution reflects the organization's ethical, governance and risk frameworks for AI. Forbes Technology Council is an invitation-only community for world-class CIOs, CTOs and technology executives. Do I qualify?
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Manufacturing's Next Big Challenge Isn't Tech; It's Talent, Says Info-Tech Research Group
With Industry 4.0 evolving into the more human-centric Industry 5.0, manufacturers are facing a skills crisis and must confront expanding IT talent shortages. A recently published resource from global research and advisory firm Info-Tech Research Group offers industry insights and practical talent strategies to close these gaps and drive sustainable growth within the manufacturing sector. TORONTO, June 18, 2025 /CNW/ - Manufacturers are reaching a tipping point as the next wave of industrial innovation collides with a widening IT talent gap. As emerging technologies like AI, IoT, and real-time data analytics redefine production environments, organizations are finding it increasingly difficult to source professionals who can bridge deep technical knowledge with modern problem-solving and ethical foresight. To address this evolving challenge, Info-Tech Research Group has published research insights and advisory in a new blueprint, Understand and Assess IT Skills Gaps for Industry 4.0 & 5.0. The recently released resource from the global research and advisory firm offers manufacturing IT leaders a structured approach to uncover critical skills gaps and build resilient, innovation-ready teams. Why Traditional Approaches Are Falling ShortInfo-Tech's newly published research insights highlight the growing IT skills gap in manufacturing as the sector transitions from the automation-driven focus of Industry 4.0 to the more human-centered demands of Industry 5.0. "The convergence of digitalization and human-centric technologies has redefined the skills landscape, requiring proficiency in data analytics, cybersecurity, digital technologies, and human-robot interaction," says Shreyas Shukla, principal research director at Info-Tech Research Group. "However, traditional hiring and upskilling practices have failed to keep pace with the velocity of technological change, leaving manufacturers grappling with a mismatch between available skills and emerging needs." While technical expertise remains essential, the need for creative thinking, ethical decision-making, and collaboration across roles is increasing rapidly. Info-Tech's data-backed resource examines the root causes of current skill shortages and offer practical strategies for leaders seeking to respond with purpose and urgency. The firm's findings, found in Understand and Assess IT Skills Gaps for Industry 4.0 & 5.0. show that investment in innovative manufacturing technology continues to grow year over year. Info-Tech explains digital transformation impacts every aspect of manufacturing, and offers organizations several competitive advantages, including: Improved Quality: Improved visibility, traceability, and monitoring ensure error-free processes and products. Increased Agility: Faster response to changing market conditions and customer needs. Increased Resilience: Improvement in the ability to anticipate and respond to changes and competition. Enhanced Security: Improved security posture through advanced measures such as MFA, encryption, and network segmentation. Sustainability: Reduction of manufacturing waste caused by sub-par practices. Cost Savings: Optimized costs related to manual labor, complex processes, and low quality & productivity. Competitive Advantage: Better decision-making using AI/ML, big data, and IoT. Improved Efficiency: Improvements via automation, defect reduction, and faster production times. As the manufacturing sector continues to modernize, having the right talent in place is as important as adopting the right technologies. Info-Tech's blueprint offers critical insights and helps organizations assess their workforce capabilities and plan for the future. The firm advises that by identifying critical IT skill gaps and addressing them through informed strategies, manufacturers can strengthen their competitive edge and remain resilient in the face of rapid change. For exclusive and timely commentary from Shreyas Shukla, an expert in the manufacturing sector, and access to the complete Understand and Assess IT Skills Gaps for Industry 4.0 & 5.0 blueprint, please contact pr@ About Info-Tech Research GroupInfo-Tech Research Group is one of the world's leading research and advisory firms, serving over 30,000 IT and HR professionals. The company produces unbiased, highly relevant research and provides advisory services to help leaders make strategic, timely, and well-informed decisions. For nearly 30 years, Info-Tech has partnered closely with teams to provide them with everything they need, from actionable tools to analyst guidance, ensuring they deliver measurable results for their organizations. To learn more about Info-Tech's divisions, visit McLean & Company for HR research and advisory services and SoftwareReviews for software buying insights. Media professionals can register for unrestricted access to research across IT, HR, and software and hundreds of industry analysts through the firm's Media Insiders program. To gain access, contact pr@ For information about Info-Tech Research Group or to access the latest research, visit and connect via LinkedIn and X. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Info-Tech Research Group View original content to download multimedia: Sign in to access your portfolio
Globe and Mail
13-06-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Info-Tech LIVE 2025 Day 3 Highlights: Talent Strategies, the Future of AI and Quantum, and Key Takeaways From Final Day of Major IT Conference
The third and final day of Info-Tech LIVE 2025 in Las Vegas concluded the week by spotlighting bold leadership insights, forward-looking AI strategies, and transformative playbooks to guide IT organizations through exponential change over the coming year. TORONTO , June 13, 2025 /CNW/ - The final half-day of Info-Tech LIVE 2025 wrapped up with impactful keynotes focused on securing top talent, exploring groundbreaking technologies, and summarizing crucial insights gained over the course of the global research and advisory firm's annual conference. Thousands of IT leaders gathered at Bellagio in Las Vegas from June 10 to 12, 2025 , and received strategic guidance on harnessing emerging trends and fostering resilient organizations that are ready for future challenges. Together, these final keynotes distilled the spirit of Info-Tech LIVE 2025 in Las Vegas : future-ready leadership grounded in practical action. Whether redefining how to approach talent, embracing the frontier of quantum computing, or synthesizing the week's most essential insights, each session delivered tangible takeaways to help organizations move forward with purpose. Key Highlights From Info-Tech LIVE 2025 in Last Vegas Day 3: 1. The Race for Talent: Build Over Buy Speaker: Carlene McCubbin , AVP of Research Development, Info-Tech Research Group The final day's keynote addressed the persistent IT talent crisis, arguing that traditional approaches to talent, which focused heavily on hiring and certifications, are no longer viable in today's fast-evolving landscape. Despite rising expectations for IT to lead innovation, only a small percentage of organizations currently meet these demands, with staff capacity, skills, and engagement cited as the top pain points. To tackle these issues, Carlene McCubbin introduced the AI x Talent Flywheel, a compounding framework that helps organizations rethink and redesign their talent systems to match the pace of change. Key takeaways Automate to Reclaim Time: Eliminate low-value tasks and reinvest saved time into growth by using AI to "automate the friction." Embed Learning into Work: Shift from episodic training to continuous, embedded learning using the 60-30-10 rule: 60% in-flow learning, 30% peer intelligence, and 10% formal updates. Expand with AI Agents: Scale through centaur leadership models where AI and humans collaborate symbiotically, expanding output without additional headcount. Build the Human Advantage: Focus on adaptability, creativity, and empathy, traits AI can't replicate, to unlock performance and future-proof teams. 2. The Future of AI & Quantum: What to Expect Next Speaker: Felix Schmidt , CEO & Founder, GenAIus Inc. In this provocative keynote, Felix Schmidt explored the convergence of agentic AI and quantum computing and their transformative implications for businesses and society. Using vivid comparisons between classical and quantum computing, Schmidt showcased the radical capabilities of quantum chips, highlighting that problems that traditional supercomputers would take longer than the universe's age can now be solved in mere minutes. Schmidt introduced the concept of "Q Day," the moment quantum computing becomes publicly accessible, and emphasized the urgency of preparing for it. Schmidt warned that encryption methods, blockchain systems, and even national infrastructure could be at risk, urging IT leaders to audit their encryption and begin AI agentic pilots immediately. Key Takeaways: Quantum computing represents a paradigm shift, not just an upgrade, that can drastically outperform classical machines in both speed and scale. AI agents are already transforming enterprise operations, offering unprecedented productivity gains when deployed effectively. Executive digital twins are becoming a reality, streamlining workflows and redefining leadership efficiency. The acceleration toward "Q Day" demands that organizations start preparing now by piloting agentic AI, auditing encryption, and staying informed on quantum advancements. 3. Five Key Takeaways from Info-Tech LIVE 2025 Speaker: Jeremy Roberts , Senior Director, Research & Content, Info-Tech Research Group This closing keynote brought together the major themes of the conference, offering actionable insights to carry forward. Jeremy Roberts highlighted how IT leaders can seize the moment to lead with confidence and transform uncertainty into opportunity. Key takeaways Don't just survive; thrive. Uncontrollable external events will always occur, but bold leadership during times of uncertainty can turn crises into catalysts for progress . Organizations can't out-hire the pace of change; they must out-learn it. This means fostering continuous learning, building strong peer networks, and prioritizing a healthy workplace culture over quick fixes. IT must first get its own house in order. Structured frameworks, such as the CIO Playbook, enable IT departments to optimize their performance and support enterprise-wide growth. Make IT's value visible. If an impact isn't seen, it's as if it hasn't happened. Clearly linking metrics to business value ensures alignment with all stakeholders, from chief financial officers (CFOs) to chief executive officers (CEOs). AI agents are not plug-and-play. Effective implementation requires rigorous planning and prototyping to avoid the many technical, operational, and integration-related pitfalls. Media Access to Info-Tech LIVE 2025 For media inquiries, including requests for interviews with featured speakers and experts to discuss what has been launched and explored at LIVE 2025, or for access to session recordings and additional content, please contact pr@ For conference-related press releases and images, please visit the online Info-Tech LIVE 2025 Media Kit. About Info-Tech Research Group Info-Tech Research Group is one of the world's leading research and advisory firms, proudly serving over 30,000 IT and HR professionals. The company produces unbiased, highly relevant research and provides advisory services to help leaders make strategic, timely, and well-informed decisions. For nearly 30 years, Info-Tech has partnered closely with teams to provide them with everything they need, from actionable tools to analyst guidance, ensuring they deliver measurable results for their organizations. To learn more about Info-Tech's divisions, visit McLean & Company for HR research and advisory services and SoftwareReviews for software-buying insights. Media professionals can register for unrestricted access to research across IT, HR, and software and hundreds of industry analysts through the firm's Media Insiders program. To gain access, contact pr@ For information about Info-Tech Research Group or to access the latest research, visit and connect via LinkedIn and X. SOURCE Info-Tech Research Group
