Devo Survey Highlights Time, Cost Benefits of Centralized Data Systems

With the increasing presence of data throughout the enterprise, many IT and business leaders are recognizing the value of centralized systems to collect, store, access and analyze business data, according to a recent survey from Devo Technology. The resulting report, titled “What’s Data Got to Do with It?” indicates that “single view” of data would result in faster analysis and greater IT agility. A centralized approach would also reduce costs by eliminating redundant storage systems, while saving time in accessing multiple data sources. An estimated 400 IT, security and business decision-makers took part in the research, which was conducted by Vanson Bourne. The following slideshow presents survey highlights, with charts provided courtesy of Devo Technology, which specializes in real-time analytics of machine data.

Three-quarters of survey respondents feel they should be more involved in deciding how data is shared/accessed. This sentiment is stronger within the tech department, as about four of five cyber-security and IT decisions makers feel this way.

The findings reveal that 44 percent of respondents overall said they are challenged by the fact that their organization’s data isn’t in a central location for easy access. In terms of job-specific roles, 40 percent of business decision-makers, 48 percent of IT decision-makers and 43 percent of cyber-security decision-makers agree with this statement.

Just over two-of-five respondents overall said they face challenges when data is saved in an incorrect system. In breaking down the responses by job function, 34 percent of business decision-makers, 41 percent of IT decision-makers and 51 percent of cyber-security decision-makers deal with this issue.

Nearly one-half of respondents said that the use of different systems for data storage and analysis increases expenses in the form of dual systems, data storage and other redundant system costs. Meanwhile 41 percent said this situation leads to an inability to combine data sources to make decisions.

With a single view of data, 46 percent of respondents said they’d conduct analysis faster. Increased IT agility has emerged as another advantage, as cited by 43 percent of respondents.

Another benefit of “single view” data capabilities is reduced costs, as cited by 39 percent of respondents. The same percentage feels that these capabilities would save time when accessing different data sources.

Two-thirds of respondents said they use data to make decisions about increasing operational efficiencies. Nearly three of five said they use it to track the behavior of current customers.

Devo reports that 57 percent of respondents said they depend upon data to identify new customers. In addition, 56 percent said it helps them respond more effectively to security issues.