Consolidation and Virtualization top Data Center strategies

Like intel is on its massive 130 data center consolidation and virtualization spree, and it might take them 8 or so years, to get there. Many other data centers, large and small, ought to realize that this is a massive undertaking. Don't lose focus and make sure that you are ready for the next phase while you are half-way down the line, doing this consolidation and virtualization:

• Staffing: You need to shuffle, train and hire some "Virtualization Aware" with strong business- and customer facing capabilities. Just start talking to your HR already to make sure you have agile staff to manage you highly agile, but also at the same time, vulnerable virtual data center.
• Security: I sure hope for you, that you are doing this right from day one. If not go ahead and look for vendors that can provide you that. Check out Bluelane, Reflex Security, Catbird and several others (that I may have missed out here), even consult your virtualization vendors (VMware, Citrix, Microsoft) for their advice.
• Are you current processes , ITIL, ITSM, Change Management, CMDB, Provisioning, SLA, etc , all aligned to go through this transformation?
• Did you consider DRP? Please do that as well from day 1!

This is by no means a complete list, but a mere reminder, that you are just getting started with this thing, a lot has to happen before you can look back and heave a sigh of relief. I am sorry but that's the way it is :-|

The report, based on surveys of datacentre managers in 14 countries including the UK by Ziff Davis Enterprise, said Global 2000 enterprises were spending more than £3.2bn annually to help manage datacentre complexity.

The report said server virtualisation and consolidation were considered top cost containment strategies for the majority of respondents, with half implementing virtualisation strategies and 58% implementing consolidation strategies.

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