Template/Policy

Committing resources to establishing a set of formal procedures for monitoring and reporting on data center infrastructure service levels is a big investment. This SLA template will help you to document target service levels for the business if...

Note

60% of IT departments do not have a formal data center SLA, but recognize that the business has informal service expectations. Organization's that measure, monitor, and report on infrastructure service level metrics are more successful at...

Tool

Formally or informally, the business has expectations with regards to the service levels of the data center infrastructure. To begin the process of improving delivery of IT's services and transactions to the business, use this tool to help...

Solution Set

Service Level Agreements (SLA) are the intersection between the provisioning of bulk data center services at lowest cost, and the measurable (and unmeasurable) business service expectations. Data centers are structured to provide lowest-cost,...

Clear and unambiguous service level agreements (SLAs) help to set expectations in application maintenance outsourcing (AMO) initiatives, however many IT professionals are unclear about how to best structure their AMO SLAs. Achieve the right...

Template/Policy

Small enterprises that engage in application maintenance outsourcing (AMO) need solid service level agreements (SLAs) to start the relationship off on the right foot. Use this customizable AMO SLA template to ensure that the organization...

Performance scorecards (PSCs) provide an efficient way for small enterprises to track provider performance in application maintenance outsourcing (AMO) relationships. Successfully manage the AMO initiative by learning more about how to use PSCs...

Well-structured service level agreements (SLAs) help to ensure that application maintenance outsourcing (AMO) relationships run smoothly, efficiently, and deliver maximum value. Start the organization's AMO initiative off on the right foot by...

As the need for particular maintenance activities waxes and wanes, small enterprise IT managers who outsource their application maintenance often face the challenge of dealing with varying levels of resource demand. Move seamlessly through...

Video

Application maintenance outsourcing (AMO) often involves peaks and valleys in resource demand as the need for support activities waxes and wanes. This videocast highlights how several IT executives interviewed by Info-Tech manage fluctuations in...

It is definitely feasible for small enterprises to try and provide the same service levels as their larger counterparts. However, budget limitations, available work force, and limited vendor influence can make this a difficult challenge. In...

The higher the network availability metric, the more reliable the network should be. However, unless network resiliency and its direct impact on service levels are also addressed, even a high availability network can underperform. To maintain...

IT vendors and service providers continue to deal with the effects of a recession-based economy. Accordingly, enterprises should scrutinize key vendors and suppliers to verify if they can still provide the necessary services and support. Vendor...

Governance tools and processes provide IT with a platform for cost-management decisions. Without these tools and processes, a framework for meaningful dialogue between IT and the business is missing, which often results in wasted time and money....

Many enterprises fail to use a consistent methodology to determine and validate the service levels required by their business units. As a result, these network organizations incur excessive costs to maintain and support service levels that...

Tool

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

Note

Enterprises looking to reduce costs in the network and telephony services area can make significant headway in reducing expenses without reducing quality of service. First, determine which areas have potential for cost savings, then assess how...

Network vendors and service providers continue to deal with the effects of a poor economy. As a result, IT leaders should make it a priority to obtain current vendor information and make any required adjustments to future network plans. Complete...

Small enterprises are familiar with the increased costs associated with global network requirements. However, the ability to obtain the requisite service levels at all locations can be more difficult than anticipated and may be worth a premium...

IT departments must plan for enterprise-wide budget cutbacks to avoid being unable to meet service level expectations. Pre-empt spending cuts by rightsizing IT services.

IT organizations are continually challenged by users and senior management to prove they can ? and do ? deliver a strong value proposition. However, without a clear definition of the services that IT provides, this is a difficult task....

IT organizations are continually challenged by users and senior management to prove they can, and do, deliver a strong value proposition. However, without a clear definition of the services that IT provides, this is a difficult task....

When enterprises extend the scale or usage of data networks, they need to review not only the quantity of data to be transferred but also the quality of service (QoS) required. As they plan the delivery of business applications, IT departments...

The staff who provide network management and administration are an essential part of the IT team. Nevertheless, the size of the team and the skill mix may be inappropriate for the needs of the organization. By assessing performance relative to...

Enterprises can contract out an increasing number of services currently done in-house (or not at all) to reduce IT costs. Each of these initiatives creates dependency on suppliers. Follow Info-Tech's five-step process to improve the odds that a...

It is an excellent practice for IT to establish a Service Level Agreement (SLA) with the business units it serves. However, it is dangerous to establish targets that exceed current experience without ensuring additional resources and funding.