IT operations processes, such as IT disaster recovery (DR), cloud migration, and release management, are complex. They require multiple teams to perform hundreds or thousands of tasks across months or even years. And, system architecture and interdependencies can compound the complexity even further.
IT orchestration and automation provide efficiency and cost savings and reduce risk. This article provides an overview of the key differences between IT orchestration, IT automation, and cloud DR automation, and explains how runbook automation software can help enterprises.
What is IT automation?
In simplistic terms, IT automation is the use of technology (software) to perform a single, repetitive task that is otherwise performed by people. Typically, this is replicated for high volumes of tasks, significantly reducing manual effort.
As an example, here are some cloud disaster recovery (DR) tasks that are often automated:
- Data backup
- Instance provisioning
- Server replication
- Server decommission
What is IT orchestration?
Often confused with automation, IT orchestration is the coordinated execution of many tasks across multiple IT systems, applications, and services to ensure that processes are performed in the right order.
While orchestration relies on automation, typically business process automation or automated scripts, it focuses on the workflow or overall process, not individual tasks.
IT automation vs. orchestration: A comparison
In the context of IT operations, automation and orchestration are complementary yet fundamentally different ways to make improvements and gain efficiency. Typically, enterprises will incorporate both into their cloud disaster recovery strategy or other IT operations strategies. But, what are the key differences between IT automation vs IT orchestration?
Differences between IT orchestration vs automation
The main difference between IT orchestration and automation is that individual tasks are automated, while workflows or processes are orchestrated.
IT automation removes or replaces individual, manual tasks with software while IT orchestration is the action of coordinating or automating a series of tasks, manual or automated, in a process. Therefore, automation is typically less complex than orchestration.
Automation also follows predefined rules, removing any decision making, while orchestration allows for logic, branching, and adaptations. Additionally, IT orchestration can include any type of task - both manual and automated - while IT automation only encompasses tasks executed by software, scripts, etc.
IT orchestration utilizes automation, but automation doesn’t necessarily involve orchestration.
IT automation and IT orchestration benefits
IT automation and orchestration bring significant benefits to IT disaster recovery, cloud migration, release management and other IT operations processes. The benefits can vary depending on the breadth and depth of how they are applied. Here are some common benefits for cloud disaster recovery:
- Optimized cost savings by ensuring the process requires fewer people and compute resources
- Increased productivity by reducing manual tasks and potential errors
- Improved user experience by reducing ClickOps (meaning the amount of clicks required to complete a process)
- Minimized downtime by streamlining the recovery process and reducing delays between task completion
Cutover automated runbooks for IT automation and orchestration
Enterprises often use multiple point solutions to automate tasks and orchestrate IT operations processes. However, with highly complex processes you need a centralized platform to manage the end-to-end process.
Cutover’s SaaS platform brings teams and technology together to automate, standardize and accelerate IT operations. Cutover provides both IT automation and orchestration through runbook automation. Runbooks include both manual and automated tasks so you have one central location to manage the entire process. Read this article about 7 reasons to use Cutover when you have other open-source orchestration tools.
Here’s how Cutover helps streamline cloud disaster recovery processes:
Dynamic cloud DR runbook plans
Transform static recovery plans into executable Cutover runbook templates, providing standardization for your teams.
Cloud DR orchestration across all tasks
Unlike most orchestration tools, Cutover runbooks include a view of the entire workflow, including manual and automated tasks. This allows you to combine teams and technology, orchestrating tasks in the right order for a more holistic approach.
Automate manual cloud DR tasks
With Cutover’s open API and integration capabilities, you can automate any manual repetitive task, saving IT teams’ time and reducing potential errors.
Validate Recovery Time Actuals (RTAs)
Auto-capture RTAs in Cutover and compare it against recovery time objectives (RTOs), then make improvements to reduce downtime.
Real-time visibility of the cloud DR process
Get real-time data via dashboards and instantly understand how many tasks are completed, on time, or running late during a recovery.
Regulatory compliance
Validate who did what and when with the auto-generated audit log. Maintain it as an immutable record and share with regulators as proof for compliance.
Learn more by contacting Cutover today or scheduling a demo.