Benefits and Challenges of Data Center Consolidation

Given the ever-growing business demands for IT offerings, physical space is at a top class in many facts center centers. on the other hand, some of businesses are looking to consolidate their data centers with a view to keep cash, streamline operations and enhance energy efficiency.

There are a number of drivers for consolidation projects. In a few instances, the enterprise grew thru mergers and acquisitions, inheriting more than one statistics centers that replicate offerings. in addition, many agencies have correctly reduced their IT footprint via virtualization and the adoption of hyper-converged infrastructure answers. these technologies make it feasible to dispose of underutilized system and update what stays with smaller shape elements.

The clarification of those services also can facilitate consolidation. This has been a priority in the federal government through the Federal records middle Consolidation Initiative. Federal businesses were running to lessen the fee in their information operations through doing away with waste and enforcing a shared services model.

similar efforts are underway on the nation degree. according to the country wide association of country leader statistics officers (NASCIO), forty two percentage of states had finished records consolidation projects in 2016, up from simply 14 percentage in 2007. further, forty seven percent of states are presently operating on consolidation initiatives, and eleven percent are within the making plans levels.

That facts comes from a newly released report, "Shrinking nation facts centers: A Playbook for employer records center Consolidation." The record notes that consolidation allows centralization of records infrastructure, which streamlines preservation and strengthens protection. Consolidation also gives an possibility to introduce requirements, higher integrate systems and programs, enhance guide for legacy structures and decorate commercial enterprise continuity.

There are, of route, demanding situations. Resistance to change is usually a big hurdle - one that handiest intensifies whilst technical problems emerge or consolidation doesn't meet enterprise needs. In a few instances, prices are better than predicted and regulatory compliance requirements are not met.

To help minimize risk, the NASCIO playbook recommends 9 steps businesses must take in a consolidation initiative:

• behavior a desires evaluation. IT have to meet with enterprise stakeholders to discuss their contemporary requirements as well as expected increase.

• stay engaged with stakeholders at some point of the undertaking. Making stakeholders sense they are part of the manner enables minimize resistance to exchange.

• Plan cautiously but continue to be bendy. The undertaking plan ought to perceive all influences and provide enough flexibility to house unforeseen troubles.

• file existing property. Thorough documentation helps identify underutilized or unneeded sources, possibilities for reuse, and any useful resource gaps.

• behavior a fee evaluation. with the aid of expertise present day expenses, the organisation can better calculate the financial savings afforded via consolidation.

• put in force standards anyplace feasible. requirements such as ITMS and ITIL assist increase efficiency and safety and similarly lessen expenses.

• anticipate the fine but prepare for the worst. preserve steady communication with stakeholders to manipulate expectancies.

• Get buy-in. If all stakeholders are on board for the undertaking, it's miles much more likely to supply lengthy-term benefits.

• file successes. display the agency how lots money has been saved, and the more efficiencies and safety which are won.

whilst public area companies are main the charge for statistics middle consolidation, organizations throughout industry sectors can advantage from rationalizing and rightsizing their operations.