In her article, “Observability Beyond IT,” Nasreen Dawood, Managing Director at Deloitte – Core Technology Operations, shares her perspective on how observability has evolved from a back-end IT function into a strategic imperative for organizations navigating today’s complex digital economy.
In today’s hyper-digital economy, the CIO’s agenda is dominated by growth, resilience, and innovation. Yet, beneath these ambitions lies a critical, often overlooked enabler: observability. Once the domain of IT operations, observability now sits at the heart of business performance, risk management, and competitive differentiation.
Why Observability Demands CIO Attention
- Digital Experiences Define the Brand
Every customer interaction—whether seamless or frustrating—is shaped by the underlying digital infrastructure. Observability provides the real-time insights needed to ensure flawless digital experiences, directly impacting customer satisfaction, retention, and revenue. In a world where a single outage can erode trust and market share, CIOs can’t afford blind spots. - Innovation at Speed and Scale
The pace of digital transformation is relentless. Continuous delivery, DevSecOps, and AI-driven products are table stakes for modern enterprises. Observability enables organizations to innovate rapidly and safely, surfacing issues before they impact customers and empowering teams to experiment without fear of catastrophic failure. - Risk, Resilience, and Regulatory Compliance
With growing cyber threats, regulatory scrutiny, and operational complexity, CIOs are ultimately accountable for business continuity and compliance. Observability is the early warning system—detecting anomalies, flagging vulnerabilities, and ensuring systems behave as intended. It’s a vital tool for managing risk in an always-on, always-audited world. - AI and Data-Driven Leadership
AI is transforming industries, but its promise is only realized when models are reliable, unbiased, and secure. Observability is foundational for responsible AI—enabling real-time monitoring for drift, bias, and performance, and ensuring that AI delivers measurable business value without unintended consequences.
From Data Overload to Business Insight
Many organizations have invested heavily in collecting telemetry—metrics, logs, traces—but are now drowning in data without actionable insight. This “observability overload” drives up costs and complexity, while failing to deliver the clarity leaders need.
What CIOs Need to Know:
- Actionable intelligence, not just data, drives outcomes.
- Observability must be governed, intentional, and business-aligned.
- A culture of cross-functional collaboration is essential for success.
The CIO’s Role: Championing Observability as a Strategic Asset
- Make Observability a Business Priority
Treat observability as a lever for growth, risk management, and innovation—not just an IT line item. - Demand Business-Outcome Alignment
Insist that observability investments are tied to customer experience, operational KPIs, and strategic goals. - Empower Cross-Functional Collaboration
Break down silos between IT, security, product, and business teams. Observability thrives in a culture of shared purpose and transparency. - Insist on Intelligent, Cost-Effective Approaches
Encourage the shift from “collect everything” to “collect what matters.” Support investments in platforms and practices that deliver actionable insights, not just more data. - Prepare for the AI-Driven Future
Recognize that observability is the foundation for trustworthy, scalable AI. Ensure your organization is ready for the next wave of automation and analytics.
Conclusion:
Observability is no longer a technical afterthought—it’s a strategic necessity. CIOs who champion observability position their organizations to deliver exceptional digital experiences, accelerate innovation, manage risk, and unlock the full value of AI. In the race for digital leadership, observability is the CIO’s secret weapon.