Tool

This assessment and roadmap development tool will help you create a roadmap for future development of a managed virtual infrastructure and internal cloud.

Note

Server virtualization has gone from hot emerging trend to a mainstream reality. As virtual infrastructure becomes core infrastructure, focus investment on getting the most benefit at the lowest total cost.

Solution Set

For many enterprises, server virtualization is moving beyond basic consolidation into a more managed virtual environment, and potentially to the internal Cloud. Understanding the benefits of each of these stages and their associated costs will...

Note

VMware continues to dominate the server virtualization landscape; however, challengers such as Microsoft, Citrix, and Red Hat are providing competitive features for consolidation and virtual infrastructure management.

Tool

This tool allows enterprises to generate a customized shortlist of vendors based on required capabilities and future requirements around server consolidation, virtual infrastructure management, and the internal cloud.

Case Study

The rise in usage of mobile devices means that enterprise business is no longer being conducted only within the confines of the physical building. Factor in personal device usage by employees and you've got the potential for security breaches...

Preparing internal IT staff for leadership will stimulate employees and prepare the IT department for the future. Identify those employees who want to grow into leadership positions and prepare them for those roles.

Note

Cloud computing will significantly impact the roles of infrastructure professionals and internal infrastructure processes. Taking ownership of the cloud and internal Infrastructure-as-a-Service is integral to proactively prepare and implement...

Template/Policy

This template is designed to provide server virtualization vendors with a consistent set of instructions, ensuring an objective comparison of product features, all while evaluating ease-of-use, and ease of setup and configuration. This template...

Tool

This TCO tool provides organizations with a framework for estimating the costs associated with deploying a server virtualization solution relative to a server refresh, or an alternate vendor.

Video

VMware continues to dominate, but selection isn't just about who is the leader. Competitors are providing legitimate alternatives for consolidation and virtual infrastructure management.

Template/Policy

Organizations embarking on the selection process for server virtualization may elect to issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) after determining their final selection criteria.

Tool

For organizations that have issued a formal Request for Proposal (RFP) to evaluate server virtualization vendors, gathering and scoring the various responses can be difficult and time consuming. This tool enables enterprises to evaluate and...

Tool

Info-Tech Research Group has established that savings through lower one-time and ongoing server acquisition costs is the strongest argument in a business case for server virtualization. Use this calculator to get a broad sense of the...

Premium Resource

Once project proposals have been submitted and collected, establish a process to identify the highest priority project proposals. This will include maintaining an inventory of proposed projects, applying ranking criteria, and establishing the...

Note

Many North American organizations inherit a global data center facility due to a merger or acquisition, greenfield expansion, or an upgrade to an existing facility in another country. Deciding what to tackle first can be an overwhelming...

Template/Policy

Managing a new global data center can be an overwhelming task. Focusing on communicating effectively with new foreign staff is necessary for a successful integration and global team.

Solution Set

To achieve greater likelihood that your project will stay on track, watch out for the four big pitfalls: Scope Creep, Failure to Obtain Stakeholder Commitment, Inability to Assemble a Team, and Failure to Plan.

Note

Fewer than 15% of projects deliver all requirements, on-time and on-budget. Avoid four common project pitfalls to greatly increase your chances of project success.

Tool

Use this tool to assess project vulnerability related to four critical challenges that sink many projects. Based on your answers, the tool will indicate which pitfalls threaten your project and what you should do about it.

Tool

Use this tool to track on-going project issues relative to four typical project management pitfalls. As problems arise, related to these pitfalls, track who will handle the problem and when.

Video

Use our strategies to avoid, detect, and mitigate four critical project management pitfalls to help keep your project on track.

Template/Policy

Regular and formal performance reviews are critical to maintaining overall productivity of your staff. Every organization has a unique method of administering performance appraisals, but many are based on a few simple templates. A commonly used...

Video

360-degree feedback can be an important tool for managers to contribute to an employee's performance appraisal. When used inappropriately, it can also dilute an employee's actual performance.

Establishing metrics can be a sizeable undertaking. New IT leaders need to get their hands on some solid numbers fast to help build credibility and identify key areas for change. Get a few descriptive metrics in place in your early weeks on the...

Executive IT committees can take a lot of pressure off new or existing IT leaders by forcing business leaders to set IT investment priorities. Learn the lessons offered by experienced IT leaders and use the Info-Tech charter-building template to...

Solution Set

New IT leaders are often met with political and skills-based challenges for which they aren't prepared.

(8-Feb-10) There probably isn't a week that goes by without an enterprise IT manager hearing one of their users lament "why can't I have one of those cool iMacs instead of this boring, grey PC?" It's enough to make even the strongest IT manager...

Impact Research

IT service management is the new normal. Organizations experiencing increasing business demands, inadequate IT/business alignment and poor performance will benefit from increased service management maturity. Achieving mature ITSM practices leads...

(18-Dec-09) Carlos Rosa’s IT infrastructure had everything he needed, and then some. But, he realized, the “and then some” was probably too much. Mahwah Township Public Schools’ eight-year-old network was top of the line. “That comes at a...