IT infrastructure broadly includes several assorted components, such as storage and servers, network and security structure, business applications, and operating systems, as well as databases. These core components require diligent management, which can often pose quite a challenge for any organization. CIOs have the significant need of developing responsive systems and bridging gaps between business and operations. IT infrastructure management is today conceived as a service model that is either handled by a chosen body of experts within the organization or outsourced to vendors who possess the expertise.
IT infrastructure has evolved from its conventional form to include high level service of customization and standardization, aligning IT costs with that of service usage and movement to cloud. However, there are still a number of challenges in infrastructure management that serve as yardsticks for an organization to evaluate its goals.
1. Pricing
There is a significant pressure on CIOs to bring down IT management costs by at least 20 percent. While pricing structure may be unique to an organization, some broad and common areas, such as eliminating little or never used applications, re-assessing application management costs, re-working related service levels, and procrastinating discretionary spending, can be addressed to lower costs.
2. Standardization
Standardizing processes and procedures increases interoperability of IT infrastructure. When the business environment is volatile it is all the more important to create processes that can adapt to changing scenarios. Standardization contributes to practical and adaptable practices in IT infrastructure services.
3. Flexibility in Space and Cost
Cloud storage architecture enables scalable and cost-effective best practices. Organizations must strategize to move to development of reliable and efficient data storage architectures, for long term space-saving solutions and cost efficiencies.
4. CSATs
Customer Satisfaction is imperative in all aspects of business, and infrastructure management is no exception to the rule. Regular surveys and usage of other customer satisfaction tools helps organizations forecast what customers are likely to want in the future, allowing them to make investment choices accordingly, rather than on assumed requirements.
5. Reliable Networking
With vast and diverse data being commonplace in organizations today, it is critical for data transfer to be optimized, using updated software and intelligence. In such scenarios, with sensible infrastructure management, the network will optimize its traffic delivery and thereby contribute to enhanced service and reduced costs.
CIOs have the herculean task of re-defining IT infrastructure, so as to trigger transformational growth in the organization. For this to materialize, IT must be aligned with business goals in order to create tangible results in service and cost efficiencies.
Photo credit: Matt Farrell
