Alexandr Vishniakov: How Automation is Changing the Future of Modern Technologies

The experience of IT architect Alexandr Vishniakov in the development of automation and its perspectives for society.

In the modern world, where technologies are advancing at a rapid pace, the automation of processes becomes an integral element of the successful functioning of society. Not only businesses and organizations but humanity as a whole requires systems capable of processing information and performing tasks more efficiently and quickly. Without automated processes, humanity is limited in its ability to make the next technological leap. This assertion is confirmed by the experience of IT architect Alexandr Vishniakov.

Alexandr is working in the United States at Digital IQ as an Senior Systems Architect.. He successfully attained the high levels of certification for each vendor: achieving the top tier in Cloud technologies from IBM, the top engineer level from GitLab, the top engineer certification status from Portworx, and the prestigious X level in infrastructure technologies from Red Hat. In the course of his professional career, he trained over 100 specialists across diverse sectors, including banking, oil and gas, and retail.

Furthermore, he established and led a team of highly qualified professionals from various IT fields that participated in the implementation of more than 30 large-scale projects. He also has experience in implementing projects involving the migrating of critical applications to Clouds and Container Platforms, such as Openshift. His approach not only focuses on technical proficiency but also underscores strategic thinking within the realm of information technology.

"Automation is not just a tool for optimizing processes; it is a strategic direction for the development of companies on a global scale," notes Alexandr Vishniakov. "In a world where business processes are becoming increasingly complex, without automation, we risk falling behind the demands of modernity."

An increasing number of organizations are realizing that the incorporating of automated solutions not only enhances operational efficiency but also provides a competitive advantage. Many aspects of business, from manufacturing to resource management and customer service, are undergoing automation. Collaborating with global giants, Alexandr has not only confirmed this trend but has also made significant contributions to the intersection of technology and business in its most effective form.

"I have successfully implemented technological solutions for companies such as Anthem, Avangrid, Delta Air Lines, Sempra Energy, Broadcom. Modern organizations actively invest in automation, recognizing it as not only a means of cost reduction but also a key element in increasing efficiency and ensuring high-quality customer service," shares the IT architect.

Cloud platforms play an important role in automating various aspects of business processes, allowing businesses to avoid manual initialization and reduce operational expenses. These platforms enable the automated deployment and management of computing resources, including the creation of virtual machines, containers, data storage, and other resources. Automation allows for scaling infrastructure based on changing needs without manual intervention.

"While serving as a Lead Engineer at the leading IT company Croc Incorporated, I have developed a cloud platform based on IBM POWER architecture for deploying virtual machines. This platform included monitoring, reporting, writing a custom console and billings. Such a comprehensive solution addresses a wide range of tasks. It is in these innovative projects that the foundation is laid for the effective functioning of modern information technologies, ultimately contributing to the success of companies in the dynamically evolving digital world," emphasizes the expert.

Automation also streamlines processes in software development. Implementing automated solutions at various development stages, from testing to deployment, allows for time savings, reduces routine operations, and enhances the quality of the final product. According to Alexandr, automation speeds up processes, shortening the time from code writing to release, optimizes resource utilization, lowers costs, detects and fixes errors at early development stages, reducing testing time and providing feedback to developers.

"In my engagement with Anthem, my role was multifaceted and centered around enhancing their cloud infrastructure.  This contributes to a faster and more reliable deployment cycle, allowing developers to promptly and securely implement changes to the application infrastructure," shares Alexandr.

Moreover, according to him, the GitLab/Jenkins/Azure Pipelines tool facilitates the adoption of the "infrastructure as code" concept, reducing the organization's dependence on IT specialists and empowering developers to independently manage the infrastructure.

Automation contributes to optimizing processes and reducing human intervention. Designing automated systems enables the creation of intelligent scenarios and processes that automatically respond to events, reducing the risk of errors and ensuring stable operation.

For instance, automating monitoring systems enables the tracking of application, server, and other system component performance. Monitoring tools provide information on performance, availability, and resource status, facilitating the prompt identification of issues and resolution of specific tasks.

"I applied this concept during my engagement with Avangrid in the development and implementation of a high-performance computing cluster used for weather forecasting. In such a system, monitoring tracks the operation of each node, collecting data on workload, processor temperatures, and resource availability, recording results of previous forecasts, and observation data. Automated processes in this cluster include the automatic scaling of computational power based on data volume or changes in weather conditions. Additionally, the system can automatically initiate model training processes to improve forecast accuracy," explains Alexandr.

Examining the high-performance computing cluster for weather forecasting provides insight into how these solutions are capable of addressing complex tasks, such as processing large volumes of data and providing accurate forecasts. This is crucial for various fields, including science, ecology, agriculture, and even the economy.

Another crucial aspect of Alexandr Vishniakov's work has been leading the development of automation for banking and healthcare companies.

"The banking and healthcare sectors are areas where every mistake can have serious consequences. Automation not only increases the efficiency of these industries but also contributes to improving the quality of services and ensuring data security. Processes related to transaction processing, customer data management, risk analytics, and even customer interaction can all be optimized and accelerated through automation. This reduces the risk of errors and enables a prompt response to market condition changes," notes Alexandr Vishniakov.

The executed projects of automated solutions under Alexandr Vishniakov's guidance stand as a clear illustration of how well-designed and implemented automation tools can significantly enhance the performance of a company's IT infrastructure. His initiative for education not only contributes to elevating the overall competence within companies but also plays a role in building a talent pool in the field of automation.

"My experience gives me the possibility to develop and teach author's courses about Operation systems, High availability and High Performance clusters. My students are allowed to get real examples and best practices for applying these technologies, as the industry demands highly qualified professionals capable of implementing innovations," shares the specialist.

One of the most innovative aspects of Vishniakov's approach to automation is the integration with large language models, akin to ChatGPT. According to the expert, this provides a significantly new level of service, opening up possibilities for automating non-linear tasks.

"The use of large language models expands the range of automatable tasks. Such tools can not only analyze data and generate text but also integrate into complex business processes, providing a level of flexibility and dynamism previously unattainable," emphasizes Vishniakov.

The expert is confident that numerous challenges in modern industries can find solutions in artificial intelligence systems. These innovative technologies provide unique opportunities to address numerous issues faced by society. Alexandr Vishniakov also views artificial intelligence systems as the key to the future.

"Artificial intelligence becomes a real assistant in daily life, relieving people of monotonous tasks. Over the next decade, the application of artificial intelligence will be a relevant trend not only in scientific and technical domains such as medicine, robotics, and aviation but also in everyday life. This technology is capable of liberating people from routine actions and increasing efficiency across various life domains," adds the expert.

Alexandr Vishniakov's expertise and perspectives emphasize that automation is not just an improvement of work processes but a catalyst for global changes and innovative solutions. Modern language models elevate automation to a new level, providing tools to solve complex tasks and dynamically respond to the challenges of the modern world. Looking ahead, the merger of these technologies holds the promise of not only heightened productivity but also the creation of new horizons of possibilities beyond the bounds of today's imagination.