From ChatGPT to CoPilot, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is proving it's not just buzzword or momentary trend. It's quickly becoming part of the fabric of how organisations operate. With Microsoft Ireland reporting that 49% of organisations are already using generative AI in some form, AIÂ tools are becoming integral to process, data management and security within our organisations.
"Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a game-changer, offering transformative opportunities for organisations across industries. From streamlining operations to enhancing customer experiences, AI has the potential to revolutionise the way businesses operate. However, for businesses to truly capitalise on the benefits of AI, it's essential to assess their readiness."
Finian Nally, Microsoft Practice Director.
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Below, we're delving into four critical questions every business should ask themselves to determine their AI readiness.Â
1.    Have You Migrated to the Cloud?
Embracing cloud technology is a foundational step towards AI readiness. Cloud platforms such as Azure provide the scalable infrastructure and advanced AI services necessary for deploying AI solutions effectively. Microsoft 365 and Microsoft Azure offer a comprehensive suite of productivity tools and collaboration solutions, facilitating seamless communication and workflow optimisation. By migrating to the cloud, businesses gain agility, scalability, and accessibility, laying a robust foundation for AI integration.
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2.   Have You Sufficiently Secured Your Environment and Do You Continuously Improve Your Microsoft 365 Azure Environments?
Security is critical for organisational resilience, especially when it comes to AI. Ensuring the security of your entire infrastructure and Microsoft 365 Azure environments is crucial for safeguarding sensitive data and mitigating cyber threats. Implementing robust security measures, such as identity and access management, threat detection, and encryption, is essential to protect against potential vulnerabilities. Ensuring that there are continuous improvements and proactive monitoring is key to stay ahead of evolving security threats and ensure the ongoing security of your environment.
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3.   Do You Have Effective Data Loss Prevention and Data Governance Controls?
Effective data management is fundamental for AI readiness. Implementing robust data loss prevention (DLP) and data governance controls helps organisations maintain the integrity, confidentiality and availability of their data assets. With AI relying heavily on data, establishing clear policies and protocols for data handling, storage, and access is important for all end-users within the organisation to leverage its benefits effectively. This also ensures compliance with regulations and mitigates the risk of data breaches. Investing in DLP solutions and implementing comprehensive data governance frameworks are critical steps towards AI readiness.
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4.   Do You Have a Team Assigned to Implement an AI Strategy?
Implementing an AI strategy requires a dedicated team with the expertise and resources to drive initiatives forward. According to a report by Microsoft Ireland and Trinity College Dublin, more education and support is required for organisations, especially SMEs. The study finds that firms with senior executives more aligned to generative AI and organisations with higher external training are better equipped to adopt and innovate through generative AI.
From data scientists and AI engineers to business analysts and IT professionals, assembling a multidisciplinary team equipped with the necessary skills is essential for successful AI adoption. This team will be responsible for defining AI objectives, identifying use cases, selecting appropriate AI technologies, and overseeing the implementation process. By assigning a dedicated team to lead AI initiatives, businesses can ensure a structured and strategic approach to AI implementation.
If you are looking for guidance on how best to ensure your organisation is AI ready, get in touch today by emailing hello@viatel.com.