If you’re looking for a solution to better understand and optimize your IT operations, Splunk is an excellent choice. But a successful implementation requires understanding the overall Splunk architecture as well as best practices for Splunk deployment and adoption. In this post, we’ll discuss some of the most common mistakes enterprise IT organizations make when starting out with Splunk – and how to avoid them.
Reduce Inessential IT Complexity First
Failing to understand how Splunk works is one of the most common mistakes organizations make. Splunk architecture is designed around a simple, yet powerful, concept: data collection and analysis. Data can come from anywhere – log files, packets, sensors, change events – and Splunk will index it and make it searchable.
As you may have guessed, this requires a lot of data processing. And the more complex your IT environment, the more data will need to be processed. Larger data streams mean a most costly Splunk implementation.
That’s why before launching a Splunk deployment, we recommend IT teams take a realistic look at your environment as a whole. The more needlessly complex your IT ecosystem, the more challenging it will be from the perspective of observability. In some cases, tackling an interim project to streamline your IT operations first can save you considerable time and money over the long run when you implement Splunk.
Need a real world example? Check out this Splunk Roadmap.
Think Bigger When It Comes to Splunk Machine Learning
Another common mistake is not taking advantage of Splunk’s machine learning capabilities. Splunk can help you identify patterns and trends in your data, but it can also do much more. With the right configuration, Splunk can automatically apply changes to your environment – without any intervention from you or your team. This can save you a lot of time. These efficiencies add up, helping to offset the cost of a Splunk implementation.
Don’t Forget About the Cloud
If you’re not using Splunk in the cloud, you’re missing out. The cloud offers many advantages, including lower costs, scalability, and flexibility. If you’re not sure where to start, consider using a hybrid deployment model that combines on-premises and cloud-based Splunk deployments.
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Still have more questions about Splunk deployment best practices? Our team of experts can help. Schedule a consultation today.
In the meantime, check out this case study on Laying the Groundwork for a Successful Splunk Roadmap.
