Category: Blog

These days, the term “outsourcing” often comes with a hefty negative connotation. Yet when used correctly and appropriately, it can offer not only cost savings, but access to great new opportunities. Outsourcing may have spent a lot of time being PR poison, but there are ways to prosper from this concept without cratering a business in the process.The Benefits of Outsourcing ITThere are times when outsourcing just makes sense over any other alternative, including handling projects … [Read more...]

Demand for data has been frantically expanding for years, and it shows no sign of stopping. In response to that frantically expanding demand, we found ourselves building entire data centers to handle it all. As the cloud took over, the need for on-premise data centers started to fall off, and growth is actually declining. So what's the ultimate future of the on-premise data center?The On-Premise Data Center Yet to BeWhat does the future hold for the on-premise data center to come? It's a strange … [Read more...]

If you're weighing the pros and cons of handling your hardware maintenance in-house versus outsourcing it, this useful infographic can help you make up your mind. … [Read more...]

These days, it's almost unthinkable to not have some kind of cloud storage capability. That wasn't always so, however; when it got started, there were plenty who thought cloud storage was an open invitation to have your information stolen. To get a look at where it all started—and maybe get some insight into the future—let's run down the history of cloud storage.Cloud Storage in the BeginningBack in the earliest days of the computer, storage was mainly a local affair. Basic hard … [Read more...]

Ransomware is easily one of the most insidious new threats the IT security landscape faces today. No longer content to simply copy data, hackers use ransomware to seize control of that data and forbid its use to anyone who doesn't pay up. Even then, the data may be lost along with the ransom payment. Protecting against ransomware, however, can be a simple matter, and it all comes back to data center hardware maintenance.How Does Data Center Hardware Maintenance Protect Against Ransomware?The … [Read more...]

Big iron. It's a phrase to conjure within the IT market because, in many respects, it's where IT got its start. The days of the “big iron” mainframe may seem like they're gone for good, thanks to networks and the ubiquity of the PC, but they're making a comeback thanks to the cloud market. In fact, the growth of the mainframe and cloud markets can mean great things for those who want to optimize IT operations.The Mainframe and Cloud Markets Team up to Optimize IT OperationsSo what … [Read more...]

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...]