Monday, May 11, 2009

IT Optimization should focus beyond

In an IT Optimization initiative most enterprises focus only on their hardware infrastructure that deals only on computing resources, like servers, storage and some time they consider network. But to get maximum benefit out of optimization program, enterprise should go beyond infrastructure computing resources boundary. IT optimization predominantly an IT Infrastructure in a simplified environment that aligns with the enterprise’s business goals. It makes the IT environment interoperable, integrated and automated for greater efficiency, productivity and IT service quality. Optimized IT infrastructure primarily built on virtualization, automation and provisioning technologies along with system management and process management. Virtualization technology helps users to have a logical view of a complex heterogeneous IT environment. In a well implemented optimized IT environment, IT infrastructure should be able to support required business services through pool of virtualized resources that include servers, storage, and network along with operating systems, system management software, middleware and applications enablement software. Virtualization is one of the key solutions for optimizing the IT Infrastructure. Optimization should enable and should provide following benefits by:

  • Aligning IT execution with the needs of the business to ensure delivery of high value, modular solutions that rapidly respond to ever shifting business drivers.
  • Improving ability to deliver services to the business by automating IT management processes
  • Improving resource utilization and response time through a common pool of shared resources, including virtualized resources
  • Enabling IT infrastructure to respond to solution’s changing capacity needs
  • Utilizing proven methodologies and technologies to speed implementation of IT initiatives

It should also benefits business management by:

  • Providing an IT infrastructure that effectively supports the requirements of the business.

In a nutshell enterprise should get the most of any investment. Before investing in additional resources they need to be sure their current environment is as efficient as possible. Enterprise should be able to allocate effectively their excess capacity to where and when they need to respond to changing business needs. Businesses often over-provision on a per application basis or silo basis. Manual processes for managing and allocating all these diverse resources has serious impact on IT staff productivity. IT Optimization should eliminate these constraints.