Virtualization has been mainstream for a while now, and most organizations have virtualized a significant portion of their server infrastructure. Server Resource Consolidation and Return on Investment are the main reasons for virtualizing, and this has played out well for reducing server infrastructure and improving management efficiency.
Not all is rosy, however, as companies have seen their storage systems grow in size and complexity, and the number of virtual machines have exploded so that VM sprawl has become a concern. To complicate the situation, there are now many options for IT to deliver services – multiple hypervisor platforms, container-based virtualization, cloud services, and managed services. Couple this with the enterprise need for speed and innovation — many business leaders can’t wait for the traditional rollout of new projects by IT, which can lead to shadow IT and loss of central control by the central IT group.
Where to go next?
Where does the IT group focus next? Virtualizing more, extending applications and services to the cloud, and leveraging managed services can speed IT’s response to requests and shorten the time to business for applications and services.
What is the downside?
Managing the new landscape is where the real issues will now occur. What was once a single IT infrastructure managed by a single group is now a collection of internal and external applications and services, all with their own management requirements, complexities and costs. Users from across the business are now able to deploy applications and services outside of IT with a browser and a credit card. How will all of this tie together?
IT as the services broker
The new focus for IT will be to become the broker for all of these services. The benefit for the business is to have control of how services are requested and accessed, the availability of these services, integrated security, control over where the company data is located, and the management of cost across all of these.
Where to get help?
Let FoxNet help you as you take on the new IT landscape. Our experience with Enterprise infrastructure and services, as well as staffing and managed services, will provide solid support as you take on the challenges of private, hybrid, and public cloud infrastructures and services to help drive your business.
