What is IT orchestration?

IT Orchestration and IT automation are the same in terms of function, but vastly different in terms of scope. Here, we take a closer look at the factors that distinguish orchestration from automation:

Although the term automation is often used to describe any situation in which a machine can perform functions with minimal human input, in a technical sense automation tends to refer most specifically to situations where a machine is performing a single task. Each individual task being performed is its own automation.

Automation has been successfully applied to a range of IT processes and tasks, including creating service tickets, developing and deploying apps, auditing checks, user provisioning, application integration, and more. When used correctly, automation may significantly improve the speed, accuracy, and efficiency of otherwise time-intensive jobs.

As previously mentioned, orchestration is automation scaled up. Effective orchestration tools allow organizations to automate and support entire interconnected workflows, computer systems, services, and middleware within their computing environment. Orchestration is versatile and may be applied to distributed systems either in the cloud or on premises. In other words, orchestration handles entire groups of tasks from start to finish.

So, for example, if an organization wants to orchestrate creating an active directory, they will build an automated workflow for several interconnected tasks. These might include creating users, modifying users, creating groups, modifying groups, etc. Orchestration may also be applied to ensure that automated tasks are occurring in a predefined order. Orchestration is itself a complex endeavor and depends on a full understanding of all steps involved in the process to be orchestrated and tracking those steps across many different environments. That said, if a process consists of repeatable, automatable tasks, then it may be orchestrated.

Manual, repetitive tasks are not only time consuming, but they can also become mind numbing. And when employees are faced with performing the same tasks day in and day out, they may begin to make errors. Automated systems don’t become bored or lose their focus, which means that automated tasks are always capable of operating with complete accuracy. Orchestration helps eliminate errors from essential processes, for optimal consistency and reliability, and without the danger of human-introduced errors.

Manual processes represent considerable time commitments for many employees. And when trained experts are forced to spend their limited number of work hours performing important, yet-mundane tasks, they don’t have much time left for strategy or other vital concerns. Orchestration gives valuable professionals the freedom to focus on tasks that require human insight and creativity, allowing them to do and accomplish more.

Orchestration allows businesses to create standard processes for the full range of computing systems and services. This likewise improves reliability and consistency, and makes it easier to introduce new processes and get them up and running quickly.