Blade Systems Insight Summit 2010

IT efficiency has become paramount to companies during recent lean times

Computerworld - While the recession has prompted many companies to put IT projects on hold, MasterCard Inc. moved ahead with plans to create an IT service management program aimed at improving service delivery and cutting costs.

Plans For Moving To The Cloud Are Not Complete Without Thorough Assessment & Examination

Key Points

Although cloud computing serves a huge number of enterprise needs, managers must still determine whether cloud services will in fact meet their particular requirements.

Without availability, any cloud foundation can crumble, so look closely at a potential provider's physical infrastructure to ensure it can deliver on its promises.

Cloud considerations should include examination of support and extensibility options offered by cloud providers, similar to considerations involved with evaluations for internal IT deployments.
Cloud computing has gradually transformed from a niche option into a full-bore opportunity for organizations to offload nearly every element of their data center infrastructures. But jumping into the cloud without a solid perspective on the key issues around the concept can be a perilous experience, particularly if you choose to rely on the cloud for business-critical applications.

A Look At Countermeasures IT Should Take

Key Points

Web 2.0 and social networking sites have changed the nature of Internet usage from mere information consumption to bidirectional information sharing by end users-a transformation that renders traditional enterprise Web-filtering solutions obsolete.

Social networks create new avenues for data loss from malware infections, targeted phishing attacks, or data leakage from employees posting sensitive information.

User awareness to new attack methods and security vulnerabilities posed by social networks is the first line of defense. However, IT should redouble efforts to ensure proper PC and Internet hygiene.

Consider Your Options When Planning For Improvements

A recent Forsythe survey revealed that data center labor and materials costs are at 2007 prices, which is appealing to enterprises considering data center upgrades.

If possible, purchase energy-efficient servers with the money the enterprise saves on a build. This action will result in lower electricity costs, as well.

Don't expect to bargain for a new electrical contractor. When doing a build or an upgrade, it's smart to stick with the contractor you've worked with in the past because he'll already know much about your setup.
Thinking about expanding your present data center or building a new one? Contrary to what you might think, now is the time small and midsized enterprises should consider forging ahead with these plans rather than putting them on hold.

Measuring Up Amidst The Challenges

Key Points

When creating a disaster recovery plan, one of the biggest challenges includes backing up large amounts of storage and restoring it on demand, quickly and effectively.

Disaster recovery plans should be tested on everything that has changed in a backup environment.

With the cloud, IT administrators have more flexibility to develop disaster recovery plans that cover all facets of their infrastructures. Moving to disaster recovery plans that adapt to change makes sense.