Given the ever-increasing business demands for IT services, physical space is at a premium in many data center facilities. On the other hand, a number of organizations are looking to consolidate their data centers in order to save money, streamline operations and improve energy efficiency.
There are a number of drivers for data center consolidation projects. In some cases, the organization grew through mergers and acquisitions, inheriting multiple data centers that replicate services. In addition, many organizations have effectively reduced their IT footprint through virtualization and the adoption of hyper-converged infrastructure solutions. These technologies make it possible to eliminate underutilized equipment and replace what remains with smaller form factors.
The rationalization of data center services can also facilitate consolidation. This has been a priority within the federal government through the Federal Data Center Consolidation Initiative. Federal agencies have been working to reduce the cost of their data center operations by eliminating waste and implementing a shared services model.
Similar efforts are underway at the state level. According to the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO), 42 percent of states had completed data center consolidation projects in 2016, up from just 14 percent in 2007. In addition, 47 percent of states are currently working on consolidation projects, and 11 percent are in the planning stages.
That data comes from a newly released report, “Shrinking State Data Centers: A Playbook for Enterprise Data Center Consolidation.” The report notes that consolidation enables centralization of data center infrastructure, which streamlines maintenance and strengthens security. Consolidation also offers an opportunity to introduce standards, better integrate systems and applications, improve support for legacy systems and enhance business continuity.
There are, of course, challenges. Resistance to change is always a huge hurdle — one that only intensifies when technical problems emerge or consolidation doesn’t meet business needs. In some instances, costs are higher than anticipated and regulatory compliance requirements aren’t met.
To help minimize risk, the NASCIO playbook recommends 10 steps organizations should take in a consolidation initiative:
While public sector agencies are leading the charge for data center consolidation, organizations across industry sectors can benefit from rationalizing and rightsizing their operations. Rahi Systems can help you identify opportunities for consolidation and develop a plan that will take your data center into the future.
Rahi is a Global IT Solutions Provider. We are uniquely capable of combining data center, IT and audio/video solutions to create an integrated environment that drives efficiencies, enhances customer service and creates competitive advantages. We offer a full suite of products in physical infrastructure, storage, compute, networking, power and cooling, and audio / video. In addition, Rahi offers professional and managed services to aid customers in logistics, delivery, set-up, and ongoing support of their technology solutions.
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