What AIOps and Lego® Kits Have in Common

The other day, one of our colleagues at ScienceLogic used an analogy that really stuck with me. When he talks to customers about the value an experienced integrator adds to an AIOps implementation, he compares it to building a castle out of Lego blocks. I think this analogy fits perfectly. The only slight change I'll make is to swap the castle-building kit for the Millennium Falcon (because this is tech, not the Middle Ages).

The building blocks of AIOps

For this article, I thought the WWT AIOps reference architecture graphic (that may be familiar to you as we often use it to introduce AIOps concepts) would be a good starting point. We developed this model because it helps easily identify and illustrate all the components that must fit together to form a complete AIOps solution. 

This graphic is like the picture shown on the front of a Lego set, with each blue box representing a section of a complete AIOps solution. Sometimes the boxes in the graphic represent one piece from one vendor solution, whereas sometimes, they represent multiple pieces from multiple vendor solutions. For example, in an article published earlier this year on the business benefits of AIOps, we talked about how ScienceLogic provides most of the necessary pieces in network and infrastructure monitoring however in other areas, what they provide can be augmented by other vendors' solutions.

If you assemble the components correctly, you get an AIOps solution that delivers the business results you're looking for. For most of our clients, that means increasing observability into IT Operations for better performance, reduced downtime and an improved cost structure.

Read: 5 Ways Observability in AIOps Helps IT to More with Less

As you might imagine, the challenge for most IT organizations is getting from vision to final destination, while in others just coming up with the vision can be the hurdle. Our colleagues at ScienceLogic liken this to dumping all the new pieces out on a table full of all your old Lego bricks. 

These old pieces represent pieces from your existing IT operations. Some may be highly sophisticated solutions with AI-augmented decisioning, advanced automation and the ability to integrate easily with other applications. Others may be less sophisticated, legacy applications that you'd rather not replace if you don't have to. Imagine several Duplo blocks and off-brand Legos mixed in. They can fit together, but it is not a seamless assembly. If you've been researching any of the boxes in the reference architecture, chances are you also have a short list (or maybe a long one) of applications you've been considering.

Now, imagine yourself looking at this stack of applications just as you would a mound of Legos you upended onto your dining room table. No doubt, you're asking yourself, "Where on Earth do I begin?" This is where a combination of experience and a great playground containing all the necessary components become important in creating that vision or following those assembly instructions. 

For the work we do with our customers, we rely heavily on our Advanced Technology Center, which is a resource that we have built over the last 20 years giving our engineers and our customer engineers hands-on access to the necessary components to assemble, test and reassemble your strategy. Imagine that TV-perfect older brother with his own Legos and experience building other versions of the Lego Millennium Falcon (because there is a new one every year) who notices your confusion and helps you assemble your Millennium Falcon without insisting on doing everything for you. Hence the role of an integration partner that has experience and tools to make this not only easier but ensures that business outcomes that you're  seeking.

• Decide which legacy applications still serve you well and which ones should be replaced.
• Select next-gen solutions that deliver on what they promise.
• Avoid over-investing in solutions you don't need.
• Identify missing pieces in your AIOps strategy.
• Figure out how all the pieces snap together. (Although, for most AIOps implementations, integration is a bit more complicated than that!)

Of course, unlike the Millennium Falcon made of Lego blocks, an AIOps platform developed and implemented in collaboration with WWT won't fall apart when you try to use it. That's because we also deliver dashboards that help your IT operations professionals focus on the metrics that matter and define processes to address those areas that need attention. 

Let's build it together

One more reason I like the Lego analogy is because building an AIOps solution for our clients is fun. I love assembling the pieces and watching their enthusiasm grow as the solution starts to develop. Even better is their excitement as they realize the AIOps solution they envisioned is just the beginning. Like the Star Wars universe, the AIOps universe is ever-expanding as solution developers find new ways to unlock the benefits of AI, machine learning, and automation to augment IT operations. 

If you're ready to explore, visit our resources page or reach out to us to discuss your vision.