Progress towards full-stack observability took off in 2021 as technologists across industries sought to build on their existing monitoring tools to have a unified view on IT, applications and internet availability and performance across their landscape. In order to do so, many saw full-stack observability as a ‘must have’ asset in the armoury.
Our latest report “The Journey to Observability” reveals that more than half of organisations (54%) started out on the journey to full-stack observability, and a further 36% are planning to do so in the next 12 months. That means that a remarkable 90% of organisations will be somewhere along the journey to full-stack observability during 2022.
After several years of requests from technologists for solutions and strategies to manage and optimise availability and performance, talk has now turned into action. 88% of technologists share that appetite for full-stack observability within their organisation has increased over the last 12 months. And perhaps more critically, technologists are being heard as 93% reported that the wider business has been supportive of their efforts to implement enterprise-wide full-stack observability, providing the needed budget and resources to drive progress.
This shift in attitude and behaviour is remarkable. In 2020, many of our customers were still encountering huge obstacles when it came to convincing boardrooms and chief executives about the need for full-stack observability solutions and to secure the necessary sponsorship for implementation programs. Clearly, things have changed since then. Our latest research uncovers four key drivers that have ignited the desire for full-stack observability:
1. Growing complexity of IT and application landscape
Everyone in IT knows that the last two years have been challenging. The rapid innovation that was required to maintain operations and meet fluctuating customer needs left technologists managing an ever-more fragmented IT and application estate, across both legacy and cloud environments.
Unfortunately, few IT teams have full visibility into legacy on-premise architecture alongside cloud-native environments. While the use of multiple, disconnected, disparate tools may have served them well in the past, enabling them to identify and resolve issues in a specific domain, the lack of connection and interoperability between these tools means it’s now incredibly difficult to understand dependencies up and down the IT stack.
Technologists find themselves being overwhelmed by data and noise; without the means to identify which issues really matter and where to focus their efforts.
2. Increasing customer expectations around exceptional digital experiences
Our another study “The App Attention Index 2021”, more than 61% of consumers stated that their expectation of digital services has changed forever, and they will no longer tolerate poor digital performance. In fact, 57% of people only give brands ‘one shot to impress’ and if their application or digital service doesn’t perform, they won’t use them again. Consumers everywhere expect the ‘total application experience,’ a high-performing, reliable, digital service that is personalised to their preferences and needs and adds real value to their lives.
Indeed, the risks that a suboptimal digital service entails have become a top concern for not just tech teams, but also business leaders. High profile outages and service disruptions at major brands have served as a constant reminder to senior leadership teams of the potential consequences of something similar happening to their own organisation.
This is indisputably one big reason for why business stakeholders are welcoming full-stack observability. Showing solid commitment, many are ensuring that technologists have access to the necessary resources and budgets to accelerate their implementation programs.
3. Impact of remote and hybrid working
In addition to rapidly driving innovative projects that address changing customer needs, technologists have also been responsible for delivering new digital services to enable remote and hybrid work arrangements during lockdowns and various restrictions. As we emerge from the worst effects of the pandemic, it’s clear that working patterns have changed forever and so technologists will continue to have to provide digital services to a hybrid workforce that is only going to become more fluid and flexible in the future.
Employees now expect the same level of digital experiences from their employer as they get outside of work. They need to be able to use their own devices, and seamlessly access applications to work whenever and from wherever they are.
4. Ongoing pressure to accelerate digital transformation
Perhaps unsurprisingly, given the fact that IT and applications continue to be cited as a key strategic priority for business leaders in all sectors, the constant desire for digital transformation within most organisations is heaping pressure on IT departments. Technologists are being asked to deliver innovation at speed as part of everyday operations now, and this will be the case even when the pandemic is well and truly over. By embracing full-stack observability, IT teams have greater visibility, making it easier and faster for them to identify anomalies, understand root causes, and promptly resolve issues. This way, technologists can truly progress beyond the constant firefighting, and dedicate less resources to war rooms, manual remediation processes and NOC operations.
Essentially, tech teams will find themselves with more time and headspace for high-value, innovative and strategic priorities, such as accelerating digital transformation, or enhancing experiences for customers and employees. When IT departments are empowered to focus on more rewarding and fulfilling work, organisations will benefit from more innovation-led initiatives that will drive them forward.
The new (and decisive factor) driving full-stack observability
The case for full-stack observability is indisputable. To navigate growing demands and ever-changing challenges, technologists need unified, real-time visibility into IT availability and performance throughout the stack for compute, storage, network, and public internet, from the customer facing application to deep down in the back end. And when IT performance data is connected to business KPIs and outcomes, technologists can assess issues based on their potential business impact and prioritise actions accordingly.
Encouragingly, 86% of technologists have reported greater visibility across their IT stack over the last 12 months, with organisations already enjoying improved IT productivity, reduced operational costs, and a greater ability to deploy IT teams to more strategic work. As stakeholders get a taste of what full-stack observability can bring, many are looking forward to the next 12 months and beyond. Indeed, 85% of technologists believe that the shift to full-stack observability will be transformational for their business.
Internal and external drivers will continue to highlight the need for full visibility and to integrate existing tools for a unified view of IT availability and performance. As organisations recognise the potential impacts of these efforts on both the business as well as within IT departments, momentum is building, and technologists should rightfully be confident and excited about what they can deliver in 2022.
