Application Management

An IT professional who specializes in application management is responsible for overseeing and maintaining the various software applications used within an organization. This role is critical for ensuring that applications run smoothly, are up to date, and meet the needs of the business.

Overall, the role of an application management specialist is critical for ensuring that software applications within an organization are reliable, secure, and aligned with the business’s needs and objectives. They contribute to the efficiency, productivity, and competitiveness of the organization by managing its software assets effectively.

They will have various different types job responsibilities based upon their organization and their role. Sometimes it is part of another part of IT, sometimes they are part of a team. So these are some guidelines, knowing that from organization to organization, it may be different.

Also, Software as a Service (SaaS) negates a lot of these needs, as the vendor is responsible for testing, performance monitoring, etc.

• Application Deployment: They are responsible for installing, configuring, and deploying software applications across the organization’s network or servers. This may involve setting up the software on individual user devices or managing it in a centralized server environment where the new software and/or updates are pushed out through a managed processes.
• Software Updates and Patch Management: Application managers ensure that software applications are kept up to date with the latest patches, updates, and security fixes to protect against vulnerabilities and maintain optimal performance. They will often need to test the updates to make sure it doesn’t conflict with other software, that the machines are capable of running the software, and the new updates don’t create more/bigger problems than they solve.
• Performance Monitoring: They monitor the performance of applications to identify and address issues, such as slow response times, crashes, or other performance-related problems. This may involve the use of monitoring tools and performance analysis. This is more of an issue with networked applications, which more and more are now a days, although with SaaS, this is normally handled by the vendor.
• Troubleshooting and Issue Resolution: When application-related issues arise, application managers are responsible for troubleshooting and resolving them promptly. They may work with end-users or other IT professionals to diagnose and fix problems. This include calling the vendors support service. I’ve worked in organizations where only certain people were allowed to called a vendor for a support case – in others, anyone could call.
• User Support and Training: Application managers may provide support to end-users who have questions or encounter difficulties when using software applications. They may also offer training and documentation to help users make the most of the software.
• License Management: Ensuring that the organization complies with software licensing agreements is another important responsibility. Application managers may oversee the procurement of software licenses and ensure that the organization is using software within the terms of the license.
• Security and Compliance: They play a role in ensuring that applications adhere to security standards and compliance requirements. This includes implementing security measures, managing user access, and safeguarding sensitive data.
• Backup and Recovery: Application managers are responsible for creating and maintaining backup and recovery strategies to protect data and ensure business continuity in the event of system failures or data loss. At a large enough organization, this may be it’s own role however.
• Documentation: Keeping detailed records and documentation related to application configurations, updates, and troubleshooting is essential for tracking changes and resolving issues efficiently.
• Vendor Relations: Building and maintaining relationships with software vendors to stay informed about updates, resolve issues, and negotiate contracts.

Application Management was originally found on Access 2 Learn