IT Departments: understanding technical IT debt for better management

challenges & risks of technical debt

IT technical debt is a major challenge for many Information Systems Departments (ISDs) in today's businesses.

It is often the result of a lack of understanding of the infrastructure, the silo organization of IT teams and the absence of history or documentation.

It is essential for IT Departments to understand the mechanisms and risks involved, in order to address and control them, and thus reduce their impact.

What are the causes of technical debt in IT Departments?

A major challenge for CIOs is the difficulty of understanding the existing infrastructure as a whole. Companies evolve rapidly, adopting new technologies and implementing complex systems, which can make it difficult to understand the overall infrastructure. This often leads to decisions being taken on the basis of incomplete knowledge, contributing to the accumulation of technical debt.

The silo organization of IT teams creates barriers to communication and coordination. Lack of proper collaboration between teams often leads to redundancies, inconsistencies and conflicts between different systems and applications. These unresolved problems turn into technical debt, making system maintenance and evolution more complex and costly in the long term.

Lack of history or proper documentation is another factor contributing to technical debt. When changes and updates are not properly recorded and documented, it becomes difficult for IT teams to understand the changes made over time. This can lead to configuration errors, compatibility problems and difficulties in diagnosing and resolving issues. The absence of adequate documentation exacerbates technical debt and makes maintenance and error correction processes more laborious.

What are the risks of technical debt within IT departments?

Technical debt creates significant security risks. Obsolete systems, unapplied security patches and non-optimized configurations are potential entry points for attacks and data breaches. Cybercriminals often exploit known security flaws, leaving companies vulnerable if they fail to manage their technical debt effectively.

Technical debt can lead to a deterioration in user experience. Systems and applications affected by technical debt may exhibit frequent bugs, high latency and poor overall performance. This can adversely affect user productivity and satisfaction, which in turn can have a negative impact on business activities.

Obsolete and poorly maintained systems are more prone to breakdowns and failures, leading to costly interruptions in production. Prolonged downtime can lead to significant financial losses and a decline in the company's reputation.

Technical debt complicates MCO management. When systems are not properly documented, updated and maintained, it becomes difficult for MCO teams to guarantee their availability and proper operation. This can lead to delays in problem resolution, longer response times and higher maintenance costs.

Technical debt favors the emergence of shadow IT. When in-house systems and applications fail to meet users' needs, they are tempted to seek alternative solutions not approved by the IT department. This creates additional security and compliance risks, while further complicating the management of the company's overall IT infrastructure.

IT technical debt is a complex challenge for CIOs, with varied causes and significant risks. To avoid excessive accumulation of technical debt, it is essential to invest in a thorough understanding of the existing infrastructure, promote close collaboration between IT teams, and implement rigorous documentation and monitoring processes. By effectively managing technical debt, CIOs can improve user experience, enhance security, minimize production downtime, facilitate MCO and eliminate shadow IT, thereby contributing to overall business performance.