Excellence in IT: Journey of an Award-Winning Professional - Abiola Olomola July

Excellence in IT: Journey of an Award- Winning Professional - Abiola Olomola Abiola Olomola VOL-07 | ISSUE-03 | 2024 Senior manager, IT controls and SOX IHS Towers Abiola Olomola Driving Organizational Integrity through IT Compliance

A successful woman is one who can build a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at her.

Exemplary IT Leadership biola Olomola's dis?nguished career in IT is a aligning team strengths with organiza?onal goals, she has testament to her unwavering dedica?on and fostered a culture of innova?on and excellence within her A excep?onal exper?se in managing cyber risk under teams. stringent regulatory oversight. Armed with a robust academic background and a myriad of professional Abiola's advocacy for con?nuous learning and leveraging cer?fica?ons, Abiola has consistently raised the bar in IT technology to bolster compliance underscores her forward- opera?ons, focusing par?cularly on enhancing thinking approach. Her belief in the symbio?c rela?onship organiza?onal performance and compliance. between technology and regulatory compliance highlights her keen understanding of how IT can drive efficiency and From her early role as an IT Consultant at a prominent trust in organiza?onal prac?ces. audit firm to her current posi?on overseeing governance, risk, and compliance programs, Abiola has been pivotal in Abiola Olomola stands as an inspira?onal figure for aspiring shaping best prac?ces in IT controls. Her strategic IT professionals, embodying the values of perseverance, ini?a?ves have not only for?fied cybersecurity frameworks integrity, and diligence. Her journey serves as a beacon for but have also posi?oned her as a leader adept at naviga?ng those aiming to leave a las?ng impact in the IT sector, complex regulatory landscapes. guided by principles that emphasize professionalism and ethical leadership. A standout accomplishment in Abiola's career includes her leadership in overseeing expansive IT projects within In summa?on, Abiola Olomola's narra?ve not only Nigeria's power distribu?on sector. Her me?culous underscores individual achievement but also sets a approach ensured the successful implementa?on of smart precedent for excellence in IT governance and compliance. meter technology, impac?ng millions of consumers while Her steadfast commitment to advancing the field resonates adhering to stringent regulatory requirements. across industries, making her a formidable force in the realm of informa?on technology. Beyond technical prowess, Abiola champions a leadership philosophy rooted in collabora?on and empowerment. By Robert฀S. Editor’s Desk

Y 08 R Olomola O Driving Organizational Integrity through IT Compliance T S S R E L E 20 C IT Infrastructure V Building Blocks for Digital Success I O T C 24 R The Evolution of IT C O N T E N T S From Mainframes to Cloud A Compu?ng

FOLLOW US ON Merry D'Souza Editor-in-Chief www.facebook.com/chiefwomenleaders www.twitter.com/chiefwomenleaders Deputy Editor Robert S. Susan J. Executive Editor WE ARE ALSO AVAILABLE ON Assistant Editor Anish M. David King Visualizer CONTACT US ON Art & Design Director Peter K. Company Name Brief Featured Person Email Associate Designer James B. info@chiefwomenleaders.com As a dedicated professional, throughout her career, Abiola For Subscription has built track record in IT controls testing and design. Abiola Olomola IHS Towers Senior Sales Manager Daniel Thompson Her expertise includes implementing and managing IT Senior Manager, IT www.chiefwomenleaders.com.com ihstowers.com standards and frameworks cyber security, project Controls and SOX Marketing Manager John Matthew management and network operations. Copyright © 2024 Chief Women Leaders, All rights reserved. The content and Technical Head George K. As a bilingual female executive in the logistics industry, images used in this magazine Aria Logistics LLC Arelis Bonilla Franklin G. Arelis understands the intricate details of what it takes to SME-SMO Executive should not be reproduced or arialogistics.com Founder & CEO hustle and make a business great. transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, Thomas Clark Business Development Manager mechanical, photocopying, Demetra is a service-connected disabled veteran of the Dr. Demetra Adams Davis recording or otherwise, David, Alan United States Air Force. She serves as the Owner and CEO of Sales Executives Gordavi LLC Hummingbird and without prior permission from Gordavi, LLC. She attended classes for nursing while in the gordavi.com Business Development Executives Steve, Joe Yellow Rose Productions Chief Women Leaders. Reprint military where she was honorably discharged. rights remain solely with Chief Digital Marketing Manager Dominique T. Women Leaders. Senior leader with 25+ years of experience specializing in mission-driven innovative program designs through Impact Table Gretchen Villegas Research Analyst Frank Adams contact@chiefwomenleaders.com partnership development, impact scaling, and revenue impacttable.com Founding Member Circulation Manager growth. Robert Brown July, 2024 Database Management Stella Andrew Technology Consultant David Stokes Kristin is the Board Member of AECD Forum, a group of Kristin Bone AECD Forum experienced, and qualified teams of Businessmen, Board Member aecdf.com Entrepreneurs, Delegates, Diplomates, Charted Accountants, Advocates, and Legal Advisors from 190+ Countries.

Olomola Driving Organizational Integrity C O V E R S T O R Y through IT Compliance Abiola Olomola Senior manager, IT Controls and SOX Abiola’s primary mission across IHS Towers various roles has been to add value and drive organizational performance through effective IT governance and risk management. Abiola

Mastering IT Governance, Risk and Controls! Her primary objec?ve in any organiza?on she has been a part of is to add value and enhance the organiza?on’s he IT controls and governance industry plays a performance. crucial role in ensuring the protec?on and integrity T of informa?on systems within organiza?ons. This In her current role, her key responsibili?es include crea?ng industry is pivotal in protec?ng organiza?onal credibility and execu?ng an IT controls program, which encompasses and compliance, focusing on the integra?on of robust scoping, tes?ng, remedia?on, and repor?ng to execu?ve cybersecurity measures, adherence to regulatory management. She performs and delivers IT scoping requirements, and the seamless opera?on of IT systems. annually, covering systems and key reports. She also Professionals in this field are tasked with ensuring that provides annual and ongoing IT compliance training. organiza?ons comply with regulatory standards and op?mize their IT infrastructure to mi?gate risks and She spearheads the end-to-end design and building of the enhance overall performance. governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) program. She builds and nurtures robust professional rela?onships with Abiola Olomola, a seasoned expert in this domain, holds the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd lines of defense to report and the posi?on of Senior Manager, IT Controls and SOX. With manage cyber risk, all while opera?ng under considerable a solid academic founda?on in computer engineering and regulatory oversight. informa?on technology, accumulated by a leadership cer?fica?on from Harvard Business School, Abiola’s career From Computer Engineering to IT Consultancy spans over 15 years, during which she has acquired 12 professional cer?fica?ons. Her journey began as an IT Abiola, a young woman hailing from Lagos, Nigeria, had a consultant at a leading audit firm, where she refined her clear vision from her early years in basic school (known as skills in IT opera?ons, audit, and security. Abiola’s primary Primary School). Inspired by her father’s engineering mission across various roles has been to add value and career, she was determined to excel in the same field, drive organiza?onal performance through effec?ve IT embodying the spirit of the quote, “What a man can do, a governance and risk management. woman can do be?er.” Her ambi?on was to outshine her father and make him proud. Currently, Abiola leads the IT controls program at IHS C O V E R S T O R Y Towers. Her responsibili?es include the design and During her high school years (known as Secondary School), implementa?on of governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) she heard about two geniuses, Bill Gates and Paul G. Allen. frameworks, annual IT scoping, compliance training, and These boyhood friends from Sea?le had converted BASIC, a the management of key professional rela?onships. By popular mainframe computer programming language, for focusing on these areas, IHS Towers has been able to navigate complex regulatory environments and enhance its cyber risk management strategies. Abiola’s contribu?ons have been vital in establishing a robust IT compliance culture within the organiza?on, ensuring regulatory Abiola stays updated with adherence and opera?onal excellence. the latest trends within Let’s explore Abiola’s effec?ve IT leadership journey: IT controls and Managing Cyber Risk Under Regulatory Oversight compliance by interacting with like-minded Abiola holds a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering and a master’s degree in informa?on technology, along professionals, speaking in with a leadership cer?fica?on from Harvard Business seminars, and School. Over the course of her 15-year career, she has earned 12 professional cer?fica?ons. participating in webinars. She began her professional journey as an IT Consultant at one of the big four audit firms, where she honed her skills in IT Opera?ons, IT Audit, and Security.

Abiola Abiola faced her share of challenges, a major one being when she was appointed to manage one of the biggest projects in the power distribu?on industry in her home Abiola holds a firm belief country, Nigeria. The project involved installing prepaid energy meters for Nigerian ci?zens. Given the na?onal that technology significantly interest in verifying the success of the project and the enhances efficiency, highly regulated nature of the sector, she had to put the following measures in place: precision, and trustworthiness in reporting Ÿ She obtained management and regulatory buy-in for the success of the project. and fosters communication Ÿ Implemented governance processes around the project with regulators and by se?ng policies and procedures in place. Ÿ Automated manual processes around the installa?on of stakeholders. meters for ci?zens to effec?vely and efficiently deliver the project. Ÿ Established online real-?me repor?ng of the number of meters installed. use on an early personal computer (PC), the Altair. This Ÿ She put a feedback mechanism in place for customers story sparked her interest in computers and fueled her to provide their experience to improve performance. desire to contribute to making the world a safer and be?er place. Abiola was able to successfully deliver the project within ?me, scope, and budget. When she was admi?ed to the University, she didn’t hesitate to select “Computer Engineering” as her major. Aligning Core Competencies with Project Goals She realized that professional exams could enhance her chances of success in the specific IT profession she wanted Ÿ Abiola meets individually with team members to to focus on. To further her knowledge, she pursued a discuss their core competencies and strengths. She C O V E R S T O R Y master’s degree in informa?on technology. then acknowledges each strength and explores how these strengths might be applied to the project. This academic background facilitated her entry into the Ÿ She applies individual strengths to achieve the team’s professional world as an IT Consultant at one of the Big overall goals. She aids her team in understanding each Four audit firms. There, she was able to develop her skills other’s unique personali?es and strengths and how in IT Opera?ons, IT Governance, Risk, and Compliance. these talents unite to create a powerful picture and Abiola’s primary goal in any organiza?on she has worked improve teamwork skills. for is to add value and leave the organiza?on be?er than Ÿ She assigns team projects based on team members’ when she joined. strengths. Ÿ Once the strengths of her team members are Leading Large-Scale IT Projects in Power Distribu?on recognized, she incorporates these strengths into performance conversa?ons and reviews. This approach In her role as the Deputy General Manager for one of the makes it much easier to help them set goals based on largest power distribu?on companies, Abiola led a team of their core competencies. project managers on IT commercial projects. They were Ÿ She assists team members in aligning their strengths responsible for planning, execu?ng, controlling, and with the expecta?ons and responsibili?es of their roles. opera?ng commercial projects to meet business objec?ves, In best-case situa?ons, team member strengths will regulatory requirements, and health and safety align with expecta?ons. She nurtures and guides compliance. She oversaw the deployment of end-user individuals to focus on their core strengths and then smart meters for over 10 million customers across all gives them goals that align with their talents and franchise loca?ons in Nigeria. This enabled the organiza?on responsibili?es. As a result, she has happier, more to process payments worth $10 billion. commi?ed, and more produc?ve team members.

Ÿ She requests that her organiza?on provide some “strength training” by inves?ng in a course to hone skills that iden?fy and op?mize the strengths of her team members. Ÿ She opens up career-growth opportuni?es or training for her team. She communicates to her team members Abiola’s primary goal in that she wants to support them if they have a strength any organization she has they’d like to develop. This encouragement may mo?vate team members to ac?vely discover their worked for is to add strengths and do what they need to develop their value and leave the professional skills. organization better than Remedia?ng IT Control Gaps when she joined. Abiola understands the key stakeholders, holds regular mee?ngs with them, and periodically reviews all the IT SOX-related controls to ensure compliance, then works with them to achieve the desired goal. strengthening compliance controls, enhancing their effec?veness, and mi?ga?ng risks, thereby assis?ng In a nutshell, her job is to make her organiza?on look great organiza?ons in consistently mee?ng their obliga?ons. “IT Control – wise” as perceived by the external and internal auditors. The goal is to achieve a 100% IT Controls Furthermore, technology has elevated the accuracy of ra?ng for her organiza?on. compliance by automa?ng the process of data collec?on and analysis. Automated underwri?ng systems, which She was able to achieve the above by doing the following: u?lize complex algorithms and machine learning, are employed to analyze data and iden?fy poten?al Ÿ Align all IT control frameworks with industry best compliance issues. prac?ces. C O V E R S T O R Y Ÿ Perform IT control readiness for newly deployed The Path to a Conducive Work Environment applica?ons and infrastructure. Ÿ Manage stakeholders (control owners, IT directors, and The most effec?ve method of goal communica?on is external and internal auditors) by collabora?ng with achieved through direct interac?on between first-line them to achieve the desired results. supervisors and their subordinates. In the process of Ÿ Remediate and close any iden?fied gaps associated formula?ng performance plans for employees, discussions with the review of IT controls before they are provided can be held between supervisors and employees on how to the external or internal auditors. the efforts of the employees contribute to the a?ainment of organiza?onal goals. Automa?ng Data Collec?on and Analysis for Compliance Furthermore, by encouraging open communica?on, In a fast-paced environment, Abiola believes that effec?ve recognizing individual strengths and weaknesses, endorsing ?me management is crucial. She priori?zes tasks, sets clear collabora?on, establishing clear expecta?ons, and offering goals, and uses produc?vity systems. Minimize distrac?ons, support and resources, a conducive work environment can delegate when possible, and avoid mul?tasking. She has be created. learned to say no to extra commitments, take regular breaks, and review progress regularly. Bridging Communica?on Gaps The Intersec?on of Technology and Regula?on Abiola employs the following strategies to ensure effec?ve communica?on with stakeholders across different levels of Abiola holds a firm belief that technology significantly the organiza?on: enhances efficiency, precision, and trustworthiness in repor?ng and fosters communica?on with regulators and stakeholders. This implies that technology is crucial for

Ÿ Making Communica?on a Two-Way Conversa?on important delegates and figures in her career, she must Ÿ Empathy is key be diligent in her work, with no shortcuts. Ÿ Conduc?ng a Stakeholder Analysis Ÿ Perseverance: She understands that there will always Ÿ Focusing on Mee?ng the Needs of Stakeholders be points in life when one experiences difficult In a fast-paced Ÿ Implemen?ng a Consistent Communica?on Medium situa?ons. Hence, she makes sure to persevere through Ÿ Determining the Ideal Channel these situa?ons to help her navigate the some?mes environment, Abiola Ÿ Keeping Conversa?ons Relevant and Engaging frustra?ng process of working through technical issues, believes that con?nuing to grapple with tough course material, and Con?nuous Learning comple?ng tasks and projects amidst every possible effective time distrac?on. management is Abiola stays updated with the latest trends within IT Ÿ Discipline: One important prac?ce she adheres to is controls and compliance by interac?ng with like-minded discipline. Promo?ng good discipline at work means crucial. professionals, speaking in seminars, and par?cipa?ng in that everyone follows the same rules and workplace webinars. She also takes up courses that are relevant to her ethics, in addi?on to comple?ng their responsibili?es career and consistently checks for new requirements from regularly. So, she tries as much as possible for her best prac?ces and regulators, ensuring adherence to them. ac?ons to be a great model that others around her can emulate. The Cornerstone of Trust and Accountability Balancing Budget and Technology The Path to Recogni?on Abiola believes that strong personal and professional Choosing enterprise technology involves a substan?al values are important for an individual to be seen as investment. It is crucial to consider the total cost of Her advice to someone who is just star?ng their career in trustworthy and genuine by those around them. Over the ownership, which includes licensing fees, implementa?on this field and aspires to achieve similar levels of excellence course of her career, the following aims and ideals have costs, maintenance costs, and support costs. Evalua?ng her and recogni?on is: guided her both as an individual and as a professional: organiza?on’s budget is essen?al to determining the most cost-effec?ve solu?on for her organiza?on. Ÿ “Ask yourself, What do you want to be remembered for Ÿ Politeness and respect for others: She ensures that she within your landscape? Have a target of what you want treats everyone, including her superiors, peers, and The Pillars of a Successful GRC Program to achieve in life, and don’t look back.” subordinates, with politeness and respect. This is an Ÿ “Know your stuff and be exceedingly great at it.” essen?al quality for building posi?ve rela?onships and C O V E R S T O R Y IT governance, risk, and compliance are all likely being Ÿ “Be yourself; don’t try to impress anyone.” a healthy society. She believes in trea?ng others with managed within the organiza?on in some way already. A Ÿ “If you make mistakes, try not to be too hard on kindness, considera?on, and manners, even in GRC program unifies governance, risk, and compliance yourself; remember that everyone makes mistakes. And challenging situa?ons. under a single strategy that aligns the organiza?on’s if you need help, don’t be ashamed to ask for it. It’s all Ÿ Integrity: She wants people to trust her and hold her security and compliance with business objec?ves. part of being human!” accountable for her ac?ons or words. She ensures that Ÿ “Above all, be good and kind to everyone around you.” she is honest, fair, responsible, and has the moral Key components of this strategy include: courage to do the right thing both inside and outside of the workspace. In her opinion, without integrity, an Ÿ Vision and principles individual will fall short of realizing their full poten?al. Ÿ Structure and processes Ÿ Accountability: To achieve personal and organiza?onal Ÿ Culture and communica?on objec?ves, she understands that she is responsible for Ÿ Performance and value her ac?ons, behaviors, and decisions. She also knows Ÿ Risk and compliance that accountability is linked to an increase in Ÿ Learning and innova?on commitment to work and employee morale, which leads to higher performance. Hence, accountability is Structuring Remedia?on Plans an aim and an ideal that has guided her, especially as a professional. Once compliance gaps are iden?fied and priori?zed, clear Ÿ Diligence: She is guided by the biblical quote, “Seest and ac?onable remedia?on plans are created. These plans thou a man diligent in his business? He shall stand should outline specific steps, responsibili?es, ?melines, before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.” As and milestones. It is ensured that they align with the a Chris?an, she believes in the word of God and organiza?on’s overall compliance strategy. understands that if she wants to stand before

Success isn't about how much money you make; it's about the difference you make in people's lives.

IT Infrastructure Building Blocks for Building Blocks for Digital Success Digital Success n today's technology-driven business environment, robust IT infrastructure is crucial for digital success. Organiza- I ?ons must invest in the right combina?on of hardware, so?ware, and networking solu?ons to remain compe??ve, efficient, and innova?ve. This ar?cle explores the essen?al components of IT infrastructure and provides insights into how businesses can strategically build and maintain their digital founda?ons to achieve long-term success. The Founda?on: Hardware Components Hardware forms the backbone of IT infrastructure. It includes servers, storage devices, networking equipment, and end- user devices. Servers are cri?cal for hos?ng applica?ons, databases, and other resources. Choosing the right servers, whether on-premises or in the cloud, ensures op?mal performance and scalability. Storage solu?ons are equally important, as they store and manage data securely. With the exponen?al growth of data, businesses must consider high-capacity storage op?ons like Network A?ached Storage (NAS) and Storage Area Networks (SANs) to handle their needs. Addi?onally, solid-state drives (SSDs) offer faster data access compared to tradi?onal hard disk drives (HDDs), improving overall system performance. Networking equipment, such as routers, switches, and firewalls, enables seamless communica?on between devices and systems. High-speed, reliable network infrastructure is essen?al for efficient data transfer, reducing latency, and ensuring secure connec?ons. Businesses should also invest in end-user devices, including desktops, laptops, and mobile devices, to provide employees with the necessary tools to perform their tasks effec?vely. The Core: So?ware Solu?ons So?ware is the core of IT infrastructure, driving the func?onality of hardware components. Opera?ng systems JULY 2024 JULY 202 4 www.chiefwomenleaders.com www.chiefwomenleaders.com 20 21

(OS) are fundamental, as they manage hardware resources security measures, including firewalls, intrusion detec?on and provide a pla?orm for applica?ons. Popular choices systems (IDS), and intrusion preven?on systems (IPS), to include Windows, Linux, and macOS, each offering unique defend against cybera?acks. features and benefits. Endpoint security solu?ons, such as an?virus so?ware and Applica?on so?ware, tailored to specific business needs, endpoint detec?on and response (EDR) tools, safeguard enhances produc?vity and streamlines opera?ons. individual devices from malware and other threats. Regular Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, Customer so?ware updates and patch management are essen?al to Rela?onship Management (CRM) so?ware, and project address vulnerabili?es and maintain a secure IT environ- management tools are examples of applica?ons that ment. integrate various business func?ons and facilitate decision- making. Data encryp?on, both at rest and in transit, ensures that sensi?ve informa?on remains protected from unauthorized Virtualiza?on so?ware allows businesses to maximize the access. Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) and Transport Layer u?liza?on of their hardware resources by crea?ng mul?ple Security (TLS) protocols encrypt data transmi?ed over virtual machines on a single physical server. This technol- networks, while encryp?on so?ware protects stored data. ogy reduces costs, increases flexibility, and simplifies management. Hypervisors like VMware, Hyper-V, and KVM Cloud Integra?on: Extending Capabili?es are popular choices for virtualiza?on. Cloud compu?ng has become an integral part of IT Connec?vity: Networking and Communica?on infrastructure, offering scalable and cost-effec?ve solu?ons for businesses. Cloud services, such as Infrastructure as a Networking and communica?on technologies are essen?al Service (IaaS), Pla?orm as a Service (PaaS), and So?ware as a Service (SaaS), provide various op?ons for hos?ng for connec?ng various components of IT infrastructure. Local Area Networks (LANs) and Wide Area Networks applica?ons, storing data, and developing so?ware. (WANs) enable internal and external connec?vity, suppor?ng data exchange and collabora?on. Businesses Integra?ng cloud services with on-premises infrastructure should invest in high-speed internet connec?ons and creates a hybrid environment, combining the benefits of robust networking equipment to ensure reliable and both. This approach allows businesses to scale resources efficient communica?on. on demand, improve disaster recovery capabili?es, and reduce capital expenditures. Cloud providers like Amazon Wireless networking solu?ons, such as Wi-Fi, provide Web Services (AWS), Microso? Azure, and Google Cloud flexibility and mobility, allowing employees to connect to Pla?orm offer a wide range of services to meet business the network from anywhere within the organiza?on. needs. Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) offer secure remote access, enabling employees to work from remote loca?ons Conclusion, while maintaining data security. Building a robust IT infrastructure is fundamental to Unified Communica?on (UC) solu?ons integrate various achieving digital success. By inves?ng in the right communica?on channels, including voice, video, and hardware, so?ware, networking, and security solu?ons, messaging, into a single pla?orm. This approach enhances businesses can create a resilient and scalable founda?on collabora?on and improves produc?vity by providing that supports growth and innova?on. Effec?ve seamless communica?on across different devices and maintenance and management prac?ces ensure con?nuity, loca?ons. UC pla?orms like Microso? Teams, Zoom, and allowing organiza?ons to adapt to changing demands and Cisco Webex are widely used in business environments. stay ahead in a compe??ve market. As technology con?nues to advance, businesses must remain proac?ve in Security: Protec?ng Digital Assets op?mizing their IT infrastructure to meet future challenges and opportuni?es. Subscribe to CIO Women Leaders: A Platform of Security is a cri?cal aspect of IT infrastructure, protec?ng digital assets from threats and ensuring data integrity and diverse perspectives and experiences, showcasing privacy. Businesses must implement comprehensive leadership in all its forms. JULY 2024 www.chiefwomenleaders.com 22

(OS) are fundamental, as they manage hardware resources security measures, including firewalls, intrusion detec?on and provide a pla?orm for applica?ons. Popular choices systems (IDS), and intrusion preven?on systems (IPS), to include Windows, Linux, and macOS, each offering unique defend against cybera?acks. features and benefits. Endpoint security solu?ons, such as an?virus so?ware and Applica?on so?ware, tailored to specific business needs, endpoint detec?on and response (EDR) tools, safeguard enhances produc?vity and streamlines opera?ons. individual devices from malware and other threats. Regular Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, Customer so?ware updates and patch management are essen?al to Rela?onship Management (CRM) so?ware, and project address vulnerabili?es and maintain a secure IT environ- management tools are examples of applica?ons that ment. integrate various business func?ons and facilitate decision- making. Data encryp?on, both at rest and in transit, ensures that sensi?ve informa?on remains protected from unauthorized Virtualiza?on so?ware allows businesses to maximize the access. Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) and Transport Layer u?liza?on of their hardware resources by crea?ng mul?ple Security (TLS) protocols encrypt data transmi?ed over virtual machines on a single physical server. This technol- networks, while encryp?on so?ware protects stored data. ogy reduces costs, increases flexibility, and simplifies management. Hypervisors like VMware, Hyper-V, and KVM Cloud Integra?on: Extending Capabili?es are popular choices for virtualiza?on. Cloud compu?ng has become an integral part of IT Connec?vity: Networking and Communica?on infrastructure, offering scalable and cost-effec?ve solu?ons for businesses. Cloud services, such as Infrastructure as a Networking and communica?on technologies are essen?al Service (IaaS), Pla?orm as a Service (PaaS), and So?ware as a Service (SaaS), provide various op?ons for hos?ng for connec?ng various components of IT infrastructure. Local Area Networks (LANs) and Wide Area Networks applica?ons, storing data, and developing so?ware. (WANs) enable internal and external connec?vity, suppor?ng data exchange and collabora?on. Businesses Integra?ng cloud services with on-premises infrastructure should invest in high-speed internet connec?ons and creates a hybrid environment, combining the benefits of robust networking equipment to ensure reliable and both. This approach allows businesses to scale resources efficient communica?on. on demand, improve disaster recovery capabili?es, and reduce capital expenditures. Cloud providers like Amazon Wireless networking solu?ons, such as Wi-Fi, provide Web Services (AWS), Microso? Azure, and Google Cloud flexibility and mobility, allowing employees to connect to Pla?orm offer a wide range of services to meet business the network from anywhere within the organiza?on. needs. Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) offer secure remote access, enabling employees to work from remote loca?ons Conclusion, while maintaining data security. Building a robust IT infrastructure is fundamental to Unified Communica?on (UC) solu?ons integrate various achieving digital success. By inves?ng in the right communica?on channels, including voice, video, and hardware, so?ware, networking, and security solu?ons, messaging, into a single pla?orm. This approach enhances businesses can create a resilient and scalable founda?on collabora?on and improves produc?vity by providing that supports growth and innova?on. Effec?ve seamless communica?on across different devices and maintenance and management prac?ces ensure con?nuity, loca?ons. UC pla?orms like Microso? Teams, Zoom, and allowing organiza?ons to adapt to changing demands and Cisco Webex are widely used in business environments. stay ahead in a compe??ve market. As technology con?nues to advance, businesses must remain proac?ve in Security: Protec?ng Digital Assets op?mizing their IT infrastructure to meet future challenges Subscribe to CIO Women Leaders: A Platform of Security is a cri?cal aspect of IT infrastructure, protec?ng digital assets from threats and ensuring data integrity and diverse perspectives and experiences, showcasing privacy. Businesses must implement comprehensive leadership in all its forms. JULY 2024 www.chiefwomenleaders.com 22 and opportuni?es.S

The Evolution of IT From Mainframes to Cloud Computing he journey of Informa?on Technology (IT) from the era of mainframes to the advent of cloud T compu?ng represents a transforma?ve shi? in how businesses operate and manage their data. This evolu?on has fundamentally changed the business world, driving efficiency, scalability, and innova?on. Understanding this progression offers valuable insights into the future of IT and how organiza?ons can strategically adapt to ongoing changes. The Mainframe Era: The Birth of Centralized Compu?ng In the 1950s and 1960s, the advent of mainframes marked the beginning of centralized compu?ng. These large, powerful machines were the backbone of corporate data processing, capable of handling vast amounts of data and complex calcula?ons. Companies such as IBM dominated this era, providing the hardware and so?ware that enabled businesses to automate processes and improve opera?onal efficiency. The mainframes were housed in large, climate- controlled rooms and required specialized staff for maintenance and opera?on. Despite their size and complexity, they provided unprecedented computa- ?onal power, enabling businesses to perform tasks that were previously unimaginable. The Rise of Personal Computers: Decentraliza?on Begins The 1980s and 1990s saw the emergence of personal computers (PCs), which shi?ed compu?ng power from centralized mainframes to individual users. This decentraliza?on allowed employees to have their own compu?ng resources, increasing produc?vity and enabling more flexible work environments. The introduc?on of graphical user interfaces (GUIs) made computers more accessible to non-technical users, broadening their adop?on across various business func?ons. JULY 2024 JULY 202 4 www.chiefwomenleaders.com www.chiefwomenleaders.com 24 25

Companies like Microso? and Apple played pivotal roles Major cloud service providers like Amazon Web Services during this period, developing opera?ng systems and (AWS), Microso? Azure, and Google Cloud Pla?orm have applica?ons that became staples in offices worldwide. The revolu?onized the IT industry by offering a wide range of rise of networking technologies further enhanced the services, from infrastructure as a service (IaaS) to so?ware capabili?es of PCs, allowing them to connect to local and as a service (SaaS). Businesses can now deploy applica- wide-area networks, share resources, and access central- ?ons, store data, and perform analy?cs without inves?ng ized databases. in expensive hardware or managing complex infrastructure. The Internet Revolu?on: Connec?vity and Collabora?on The Future of IT: Beyond the Cloud The mid-1990s brought the internet revolu?on, connec?ng As we look to the future, IT con?nues to evolve, driven by computers globally and crea?ng a new paradigm for advancements in ar?ficial intelligence (AI), machine communica?on and collabora?on. The World Wide Web learning, and the Internet of Things (IoT). These technolo- became a pla?orm for businesses to reach customers, gies promise to further transform business opera?ons, share informa?on, and conduct transac?ons. E-commerce offering new opportuni?es for automa?on, data analysis, emerged as a new business model, with companies like and connec?vity. Amazon and eBay leading the way. AI and machine learning are enabling businesses to derive For businesses, the internet has facilitated more efficient insights from vast amounts of data, automate rou?ne supply chain management, enhanced customer service tasks, and improve decision-making processes. IoT is through online support, and enabled remote work and connec?ng devices and systems, crea?ng smart telecommu?ng. Email replaced tradi?onal mail for business environments that enhance efficiency and provide real- ?me data for be?er management. communica?on, and websites became essen?al marke?ng tools. Edge compu?ng is emerging as a complement to cloud The Advent of Virtualiza?on: Op?mizing Resources compu?ng, bringing processing power closer to the source of data genera?on. This approach reduces latency and In the early 2000s, virtualiza?on technology emerged as a bandwidth usage, making it ideal for applica?ons that game-changer for IT infrastructure. Virtualiza?on allows require real-?me processing, such as autonomous vehicles mul?ple virtual machines to run on a single physical and industrial automa?on. machine, op?mizing hardware u?liza?on and reducing costs. This technology made it easier to manage and scale Conclusion, IT resources, providing greater flexibility and efficiency. The evolu?on of IT from mainframes to cloud compu?ng Virtualiza?on paved the way for the development of data highlights the relentless pace of technological change and centers, where businesses could consolidate their IT its profound impact on business opera?ons. Each stage of infrastructure and achieve economies of scale. Companies this evolu?on has brought new capabili?es and opportuni- could now provide resources on demand, improving agility ?es, enabling businesses to operate more efficiently, and responsiveness to changing business needs. respond to market demands, and innovate con?nuously. As we move forward, staying abreast of technological Cloud Compu?ng: The New IT Paradigm advancements and strategically embracing new IT para- digms will be crucial for businesses aiming to maintain a Cloud compu?ng, which gained prominence in the late compe??ve edge. 2000s, represents a fundamental shi? in how IT services are delivered and consumed. Instead of owning and maintaining physical hardware and so?ware, businesses The empowered woman is can access compu?ng resources over the internet on a pay- as-you-go basis. This model offers significant advantages, power?l beyond measure and including cost savings, scalability, and flexibility. beauti?l beyond description. JULY 2024 www.chiefwomenleaders.com 26

Excellence in IT: Journey of an Award-Winning Professional - Abiola Olomola July

Excellence in IT: Journey of an Award-Winning Professional - Abiola Olomola July

Presentation Transcript

Journey to Professional Excellence

Trevor Patzer Is An Award Winning Individual

award winning architects

The Journey To Winning The Award For Excellence in Community Action

Award-Winning Faculty

Award Winning Seals

Brewery Award of Excellence

Creating an Award Winning Cover Letter

Five Winning Quality of Professional IT Consultant in UK

Award Winning Author……..

Award Winning Lawyer

Award Winning Realtors in Southlake

Helium creative an award winning company

Award Winning IT Support Company in Melbourne

Award-Winning Plumber In Beaumaris

Award Winning Architects in UK

AWARD-WINNING HOSPITALITY

Award Winning Products

Award winning technologies

Award winning

Award Winning Photography in Madurai

Award Winning Insurance