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IT directors and CIOs who want to do more with less are increasingly interested in outsourcing their data center maintenance. Here are 5 reasons why you shouldn’t wait. … [Read more...]

Henry David Thoreau, in “Walden,” noted “Our life is frittered away by detail. Simplify, simplify.” Sounds great, but like so much out there, is a lot harder to actually do than say. But what if there were a way to practice our Thoreau in the data center with just one addition? There's such an addition in play right now, and it's called hyperconverged infrastructure (HCI). HCI actually has a lot to offer, which is why firms like NetApp are putting it to use in its FlexPod … [Read more...]

Converged systems can offer companies a great deal of value, especially if used properly. The biggest issue facing companies who plan to use converged systems, though, is that they're not getting everything they could be getting from these systems. A company needs a proper foundation to build on if it's going to put converged systems to work and get the most out of them. A recent discussion from Dell EMC offered some insight into how to do it.Building a Converged Systems FoundationConverged … [Read more...]

It will likely surprise some to find that there are a few disadvantages to third-party hardware maintenance that need to factor into the calculus of deciding what kind of maintenance program to go with. There are pros and cons to everything; let's take a look at how third-party hardware maintenance is no different.There's a Bad Side to Third-Party Hardware Maintenance?It may be hard to believe, but third-party hardware maintenance does have some disadvantages, especially when compared to … [Read more...]

An underperforming asset is, often enough, not really an asset at all. Whether it's an analytics program that's more trouble than it's worth or a sales force that's more focused on getting commissions than keeping customers, improving the underperforming asset is well worth your while. Data centers are no different here, and improving data center performance will help get data where it needs to be faster and more effectively.Better Data Center Performance is a Few Basic Principles AwayIf you … [Read more...]

Many of the tasks businesses tackle each day are considered priorities. This includes activities such as measuring the effectiveness of a marketing campaign, tracking the rate of cash flow through the business, and a host of others operations. But how often do we consider the efficiency of hardware use in data center operations? For far too many businesses, the answer is never. How Can I Measure Efficiency of Hardware Use in Data Center Operations?If you can't measure it, you can't manage it, or … [Read more...]

Change is inevitable in the data center. Whether it's a new PC processor, a new operating system, or an advance related to data center operations such as new storage or networking technologies, everything has to work with what's already installed. Digital transformation is no different, and it means plenty of change for the data center.What Changes are Hitting the Data Center Due to Digital Transformation?Digital transformation is prompting several changes in the data center.Simplified … [Read more...]

“If you want something done right, do it yourself.” That old adage has carried a lot of people through a lot of situations, mainly because it's so often been right. There are, however, exceptions to just about every rule, and one of the best exceptions is the concept of third-party maintenance (TPM). Using TPM can make a big difference in everyday operations, benefiting your entire operation.Is Third-Party Maintenance Right for Your Business?There are several ways to tell if TPM can … [Read more...]

Any hardware needs a certain amount of maintenance in order to continue running at its peak for any length of time; any other plan is basically just a slippery slope to premature obsolescence. Yet there are a lot of different ways to carry out data center hardware maintenance, so take a closer look at the best practices in this field.How Do I Carry Out the Right Data Center Hardware Maintenance?Keep these points in mind to find the best course for your data center.Consider the value. Value is a … [Read more...]

“It's hard to find good help these days.” This old saw is often especially felt in IT, where a set of skills is required that takes years to develop fully. While it does tend to vary depending on the field in question, the talent gap is quite real to one extent or another, and third party maintenance—especially third party hardware maintenance—can fill the gap quite readily.How Can Third Party Maintenance Fill the Talent Gap?A report from LinkedIn and Capgemini found that … [Read more...]