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.

Solution Set

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.

Solution Set

Organizations that use efficiency metrics to monitor, measure, and manage data center efficiency are more successful in lower operating expenses in the data center over time. Use this storyboard to develop a strategy, choose metrics, set...

Note

Organizations that use efficiency metrics to monitor, measure, and manage data center efficiency are more successful in lower operating expenses in the data center over time.

Solution Set

In order to avoid constant firefighting, an Infrastructure Manager must have a strategic plan in place. By developing and building an infrastructure roadmap, the IM can plan out that strategy and proactively put the actions in place that will...

Note

In order to avoid constant firefighting, an Infrastructure Manager (IM) must have a strategic plan in place. By developing and building an infrastructure roadmap, the IM can plan out that strategy and proactively put the actions in place that...

Solution Set

Many organizations collect metrics to validate they are keeping the lights on and the infrastructure running. But the Infrastructure Managers who are benefiting the most are taking steps to ensure they are getting the right metrics to help them...

Note

Many organizations collect metrics to validate they are keeping the lights on and the infrastructure running. But the Infrastructure Managers who are benefiting the most are taking steps to ensure they are getting the right metrics to help them...

Case Study

This case study showcases an organization that made better use of metrics by closely examining and eliminating more than 1500 metrics, making data more accurate and relevant to the running of the business, and enabling a savings of $2.7 million.

Tool

This template provides the means to track data on each metric to enable full lifecycle management. The definitions should be linked to a calendar for review frequency to ensure metrics remain relevant as the technology environment changes and...

Tool

Metrics are often collected using several tools and coming from several sources. Use this tool to centralize key metrics tracking and reporting.

Template/Policy

Infrastructure Managers are often blindsided by upcoming projects that were not accurately scoped in terms of impact on the infrastructure. Use this checklist to ensure you have the necessary details to plan changes to the infrastructure and...

Template/Policy

Establish quarterly metric reviews with your CIO to support capacity planning and management. Use this template to create a metrics report for your CIO.

Template/Policy

As an Infrastructure Manager, your time is scarce. Use this template to ensure that weekly metrics reviews are isolated to those facts you need to know about - SLA breaches, anomalies, and potential risks.

Vendor Research

This report will help vendors understand what partners want from vendor partner programs in terms of ease of doing business.

More businesses are finding that they require mission critical operations to support key applications. Mission critical means an application is operational when it is needed. This can range from 24/7 Website access to guaranteed ERP access...

Solution Set

Be sure that blades are really appropriate for enterprise server goals. Then decide which blade is best and which vendor's approach to consolidation and management is optimal.

Solution Set

This solution set will provide strategy for building a consolidated server infrastructure that will balance maximum capacity and utilize efficiency while limiting costs.

Template/Policy

The typical trigger for acquiring servers is hardware refresh; however, getting the most value out of server purchases requires a strategic context. This business plan template puts the server acquisition in the context of a server consolidation...

Tool

In four years, the proportion of server buyers looking to blade servers has grown from 9% to 37%. However, rack mount servers remain the majority (57%). Use this tool to decide if your enterprise is a blade candidate.

Note

Most enterprises have already seen success in virtualizing the low-hanging fruit in the data center. As the percentage of the data center that is virtualized increases, IT must focus on building an internal cloud that leverages virtualization...

Video

Lead Analyst John Sloan and Info-Tech client George Neill of Organic Valley Family of Farms talk about the strategic and practical implications of building an internal cloud.

Solution Set

E-Mail vendors release significant platform upgrades more often than organizations need to upgrade, creating pressure to upgrade twice as frequently as upgrades are really warranted.

Template/Policy

Deploying standard server configurations is a proven method of reducing operating risk. Implementing a server configuration policy is the best way to ensure that all servers have been hardened with consistent security configurations and processes.

(14-Jan-10) Demands for IT capacity are unrelenting and often unpredictable, making it difficult for CIOs in mid-market businesses to keep up with the pace of change. Growth from mergers, acquisitions and geographic expansion have resulted in...

Many enterprises perceive their IT departments as cost-centers, whereas some see IT as a strategic enabler. Some characteristics of a strategic enabler are going beyond low-hanging fruit when managing costs, using mid and long-term tactics to...

Tool

This tool is designed to help organizations determine top tactics for cost reduction within the server and storage service area. After the questions have been completed, the tool will generate guidance on which cost-saving actions to take, the...

The most popular areas to reduce IT costs are pretty predictable. However, many IT leaders are missing or avoiding major cost saving opportunities altogether. Move beyond low-hanging fruit and tackle more creative ways to cut the IT budget.

Many enterprises are tackling the usual and predictable when it comes to cutting IT costs. However, many significant cost-reduction opportunities are being missed or ignored outright. Move beyond the low-hanging fruit and scrutinize in-house...