Executive Summary
Created a comprehensive Power BI dashboard that provides enterprise-wide visibility into End-of-Life (EOL) risks across the IT landscape, enabling proactive risk management and strategic planning.
Business Challenge
The organization needed clear visibility into:
- Which applications were running on EOL software
- Database versions approaching end-of-support
- Server operating systems requiring upgrades
- Dependencies between applications, databases, and infrastructure
Without this visibility, the organization faced:
- Security vulnerabilities
- Compliance risks
- Unplanned downtime
- Emergency upgrade projects
Solution Architecture
Data Integration
Connected multiple data sources:
- ServiceNow CMDB: Application and CI relationships
- Database Discovery: Version and vendor information
- Server Inventory: OS versions and patch levels
- Vendor EOL Databases: Official end-of-life dates
Dashboard Structure
1. Executive Overview
- Total EOL assets by category
- Risk heat map
- Upcoming EOL deadlines (30/60/90 days)
- Trend analysis
2. Application Layer
- Applications by EOL status
- Business criticality mapping
- Application-to-database dependencies
- Owner assignments
3. Database Layer
- Database versions and EOL dates
- Server-to-database relationships
- Upgrade complexity scoring
- Licensing implications
4. Infrastructure Layer
- Server OS versions
- Physical vs. virtual breakdown
- Location and data center mapping
- Migration planning views
Key Features
The dashboard provides:
- Interactive Visualizations: Drill-down from high-level summaries to specific assets
- Risk Scoring: Automated calculation considering EOL proximity and business impact
- Relationship Mapping: Visual representation of dependencies
- Role-Based Access: Different views for executives, managers, and technical teams
- Automated Updates: Daily refresh to ensure current data
Results and Impact
Immediate Outcomes
- Identified hundreds of EOL assets across the enterprise
- Launched remediation program for critical systems
- Secured executive sponsorship for modernization initiatives
- Improved compliance posture through proactive management
Strategic Benefits
- Risk Prioritization: Data-driven decision making
- Budget Planning: Multi-year upgrade roadmap
- Stakeholder Alignment: Shared visibility across IT teams
- Audit Readiness: Comprehensive EOL documentation
Key Insights
- Data Quality Matters: CMDB accuracy directly impacted dashboard reliability
- Relationships Are Critical: Understanding dependencies prevented siloed decisions
- Visualization Drives Action: Executive-friendly visuals accelerated buy-in
- Automation Scales: Automated refreshes kept data current without manual effort
Future Enhancements
Planning to add:
- Predictive analytics for upgrade planning
- Cost modeling for remediation
- Integration with project management tools
- Automated alerting for upcoming EOL dates
This dashboard transformed EOL management from reactive fire-fighting to proactive strategic planning, demonstrating the power of data analytics in IT governance.