47 buy such capacity on a pay as you use basis from a service provider ? Is it better to host a particular application inhouse , or can it be better delivered via the cloud ?
DCIM
47 buy such capacity on a pay as you use basis from a service provider ? Is it better to host a particular application inhouse , or can it be better delivered via the cloud ?
Answering these questions will demand ever tighter integration between different management applications from a host of vendors and service providers . As IDC puts it : “ The definition of DCIM continues to be broad and fluid , and further refinement and market education will be necessary to define the root of problems in data centre management and the best solutions to overcome these problems .”
The ‘ fluidity ’ of the definition of DCIM is dictated by the fact that data centre managers now require to interrogate many different , and continuously evolving tools to get the answers they need . Much investment is being driven by the need to extend DCIM visibility from physical infrastructure down to IT applications layers .
DCIM have been traditionally tools to manage physical capacity , today it is fundamental to manage the overall computing and storage capacity ( physical and in private and public cloud ).
IDC points out that as recently as 2014 most services sold with DCIM software were used to set up the solution and populate the database . Much time was spent on the physical inventory to ensure the accuracy of the data . Today , however , while these tasks still fundamental requirements , more attention goes on integrating the DCIM database with IT Services Management platforms and other infrastructure management software such as building management and power management systems .
The evolution of DCIM The changing nature of what is required from a DCIM and IT management solutions point of view , has prevented the achievement the ‘ single pane of glass ’ that the industry has been demanding since the early days of DCIM . It ’ s inevitable that many data centres are still running multiple software solutions . Although there is an obvious need and desire to streamline these solutions to improve operational efficiency and capacity management , there are inevitable challenges to be faced , not just of technical nature . Political reluctance to relinquish influence and control can be as much of an inhibitor as challenging technical barriers .
Despite the presented challenges , the demand for DCIM solutions remains strong and is driven by the following trends :
• Digital transformation is a top priority for all industries today , and is continuously driving demand for data centre services .
• Energy efficiency is a perennial concern for data centre managers , both in terms of reducing operating
costs and complying with environmental regulations that are only likely to become more stringent over time .
• The Internet of Things is boosting demand for low latency data centre at the Edge as well as big data storage and analytics in the cloud .
Making decisions on how best to deliver the IT services requires data centre managers to have detailed knowledge of the costs entailed across physical assets owned , and services bought-in from multiple providers . Fully integrated DCIM solutions are essential for gathering the necessary information to make sound and informed decisions to boost efficiency and reduce overall energy consumption .
Demand is strong Although the evolution of data centres into complex hybrid infrastructures has demanded IT managers to adopt a multitude of management tools , and prevented to deliver on the ambition of DCIM as ‘ single pane of glass ’, the requirement for DCIM solutions is still strong . Digital transformation and the IoT are revolutionising all the industries , demanding increasing IT services and capacity .
Integration of multiple management into DCIM will be a fundamental enabler for data centre managers to make quick and informed decision across a multitude of physical assets and cloud services . Data centres are becoming truly software-defined ! n
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