Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
some process, that is, optimize the data center for the applications it is being used for so
that it can produce more output in less time and with less power consumption. And some-
times even the opposite happens. You have to spend more to garner savings in the long run.
We'll now look at same factors in data centers, cloud or otherwise, that can be used to opti-
mize and cut costs.
In the following sections, we will discuss the importance of uptime and the realities
of downtime and its associated costs. You will be surprised at how most of us could just
downplay short downtimes when we should actually be worried about them.
The Cost of Data Center Downtime
As any output-oriented person will know, losing vital services that can hinder core business
processes is costly, to both the top line and the bottom line. Imagine not being able to pro-
cess hundreds of transactions simply because there is no power; millions in earnings would
be lost in a short period. That affects the top line, and with costs remaining the same or
even growing, the bottom line is heavily affected as well.
IT has become so ingrained into modern business that all industries—financial, bank-
ing, telecommunications, ISP, cloud services, and others—have relied on data centers, mak-
ing them evolve into a monetized commodity and no longer just a support system for core
business functions. The data center has become essential; many companies no longer use
it to simply support the internal organization but have customers who pay premiums for
access to a variety of IT applications and services.
Because of this reliance on IT systems, the connection between TCO and data center
availability has become stronger than ever. A single downtime event has now the potential
to severely impact the profitability of a company, or even worse its viability to future cus-
tomers. Availability and uptime have become such a given and so essential to customers
that downtime is now seen as almost unforgiveable. This is because, as mentioned earlier,
they do not understand the complexity and work involved with keeping data centers online
and available. Unfortunately, it seems that a lot of executive-level personnel do not under-
stand this as well. They do not understand the frequency and cost of data center downtime,
which severely impacts the way they view optimization efforts that can save money in the
long run simply because of capital costs.
A study conducted by Emerson Network Power and Ponemon Institute in 2011 showed
the differences in perception between C-suite or C-level executives and the rank-and-file
IT staff. The study found that 71 percent of senior executives believe that their company's
business model depends heavily on its data centers in order to generate revenue, while only
58 percent of the rank-and-file IT staff does. This shows a huge disconnect between how
executives and the IT staff look at the value of the data center. Because of this trend, IT
staff might view their responsibilities in a lesser light and might not perform as optimally
as possible.
It is often a good idea to follow industry white papers and research just to
keep up with technology trends. Who knows what precious little gems you
might find.
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