Why enterprise digital transformation must include the data center's bricks and mortar

[ServicesExperts]

A bridge between IT and facilities is essential for a modern, software-defined data center. Data center management services enable you to build it, and much more.

By Dr. Munther Salim, Distinguished Technologist, HPE Pointnext Services consulting

When you think about enterprise digital transformation, what first comes to mind is likely cloud computing and hybrid cloud infrastructure to power data modernization. But CIOs are increasingly finding that a modern, software-defined data center calls for an approach that includes not only IT assets and strategies, but also a range of processes that typically fall within the purview of Facilities teams. CIOs are looking for ways to integrate elements ranging from infrastructure utilization to energy efficiency, while enabling IT and Facilities teams to collaborate smoothly.

Data center management services (DCMS) does exactly that. I give a brief overview of DCMS, why it’s important, and what it does, in a recent CIO.com article: The Data Center Management Services Pyramid. From the foundation up, DCMS comprises four layers:

Layer 1: Supervision and data collection. This level includes systems that collect and organize data from networked devices, for example through Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP); data center supervision and monitoring software that controls the physical environment in the facility; and tools that supervise the middleware for functions such as virtualization and database management.

Layer 2: Operations management. This encompasses the knowledge, processes, and operational know-how needed to run the data center, whether those are supplied from in-house resources or a trusted partner like HPE Pointnext Services.

Layer 3: Intelligent management. This is the data center infrastructure management (DCIM) layer – the bridge between IT and facility management. DCIM platforms track both facility- and IT-related data, enabling you to optimize the infrastructure and manage for efficiency as well as reliability. DCIM simplifies planning for new equipment and the removal of old assets, and can provide energy benchmarking between multiple data centers.

Layer 4: Energy efficiency. A data center efficiency and service portal enables you to measure, manage and support global data center efficiency and provide the right information to the right stakeholders at the business, operational and executive levels.

I explore these layers in more detail in the CIO.com article, and I explain why HPE is unique as a technology vendor in that our solutions incorporate both compute and facilities technologies and practices. We can deliver “governing rules, operational intelligence and procedures, runbook-based documentation, staff selection guides and training, and performance measurement indicators for new and existing data centers.”

Learn more about HPE data center consulting services and how we deliver hybrid-infrastructure-ready data centers as an integrated aspect of your IT strategy.

Learn more about HPE technology services consulting - expert advice and implementation to take your digital transformation to the next level.

Dr. Munther Salim is a Distinguished Technologist, HPE Pointnext Services consulting. His focus includes data center green design, energy efficiency and sustainability, and operations consulting. He is an active participant and author in many industry organizations such as the Green Grid, 7x24 exchange, and ASHRAE.

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