The Critical Role of IT in Business Continuity
In the 21st Century, Information Technology is considered like a utility: always on. Just like water from a tap or light from a bulb, you only realise how much you rely on these services when there’s an outage. Recently, many businesses experienced this reality during the global CrowdStrike software glitch, which caused the dreaded Blue Screen of Death (BSOD), grounded flights, disrupted hospitals, and led to an estimated $15bn in losses. The sudden halt of operations reminded organisations just how dependent they are on seamless IT infrastructure to keep their systems, and their businesses, running smoothly.
This incident underlines the need for minimising downtime with Intel vPro® technology, which offers key tools to keep businesses operational even during large-scale IT crises.
How Intel vPro® Helped Companies Recover Faster
The widespread issue affected industries across the globe, ranging from healthcare to airlines, which were among the hardest hit. With thousands of flights cancelled and hospital systems paralysed, the situation highlighted the importance of robust IT management solutions. CrowdStrike's failure underscored the vulnerabilities that come with large-scale reliance on a single security platform, especially when the impact of such glitches reverberates across critical sectors.
However, companies running Intel vPro® technology via the Managed Activation Platform (MAP) were spared the worst of the downtime. Unlike other PC management platforms that struggled to recover from the chaos, those leveraging Intel vPro® experienced a much faster recovery time, getting back online in a matter of days rather than weeks.
This faster recovery was largely due to Intel vPro®'s remote manageability features, allowing IT administrators to remotely manage and repair systems, avoiding the need for time-consuming on-site intervention.
Intel vPro®’s Remote Management Capabilities
The key advantage of Intel vPro® lies in its advanced remote management capabilities. Intel Active Management Technology (AMT) allows IT administrators to diagnose and repair systems from afar, even if the operating system is unresponsive or completely down. This proved to be an invaluable asset during the CrowdStrike outage, when many systems were caught in a cycle of crashing and rebooting, with little hope of local recovery.
By using Intel vPro®'s out-of-band management features, administrators were able to reboot systems, update drivers, and roll back problematic updates remotely. This meant that businesses were able to restore functionality without waiting for on-site technicians, avoiding logistical headaches and costly delays.
In such scenarios, Intel Active Management Technology (AMT) ensures business continuity by enabling swift and efficient problem resolution.
Enhanced Security and Stability with Intel vPro®
Security and stability are also paramount when dealing with IT crises. Intel vPro® platforms are designed with hardware-enhanced security features that help protect systems from malware and other threats that could exacerbate outages. Features like Intel® Hardware Shield provide an additional layer of defence below the operating system, ensuring that critical business functions remain operational even when the software falters.
This level of security was crucial during the BSOD outbreak, as businesses leveraging Intel® Hardware Shield were able to prevent malware from further compromising their systems, maintaining stability in the face of such disruptions.
Proactive System Management with Intel vPro®
Moreover, Intel vPro® allows for proactive system management, preventing issues before they occur. Through regular patch management and performance monitoring, IT teams can identify potential risks early and take action to prevent major disruptions. This approach ensures that businesses can keep their systems secure and up-to-date without interrupting operations.
For IT departments, proactive patch management and performance monitoring are essential features of Intel vPro® that minimise the risk of encountering failures like the BSOD.
Why Businesses Need Intel vPro® and MAP for IT Continuity
In a world where businesses can’t afford extended downtime, Intel vPro® with MAP ensures that operations can continue with minimal disruption. By offering businesses a robust set of tools to manage their IT systems remotely, Intel vPro® and MAP protect companies from the cascading effects of IT failures, ultimately saving them from catastrophic financial losses.
As IT environments grow more complex and interconnected, the importance of reliable management platforms like MAP cannot be overstated. Those who leveraged Intel vPro® technology were able to turn a potential disaster into a manageable inconvenience, showcasing the critical role that advanced IT solutions play in maintaining business continuity.
