Forrester Research reported a couple of years ago that corporate executives typically cited security fears as the primary reason they were avoiding any IT changes that would include cloud computing service providers. But, at the same time,…
Lack of control is often the most worrisome concern expressed by CIOs and CEOs who are considering partnering with cloud computing service providers. Usually, they aren’t worried about giving up total control of IT operations, because with any…
Executives responsible for managing both government entities and large global private enterprises continue to look for ways virtualization can help cut IT operating costs, increase efficiencies and eliminate wasteful redundancy throughout their…
Cloud computing services can save your data center money. But transitioning to cloud computing can bring greater efficiencies to your business operations, too. And every efficiency you can generate also translates to money saved. With that broader…
In a recent blog post, we quoted industry giant Cisco, to the effect that “server and data center workloads are moving to the cloud, and they’re not coming back.” The question isn’t if or when, it’s how cloud computing services will impact your…
From global warming on down to the details of everyday living, sustainability seems to be on everyone’s mind. In many industries, going green has become as important for corporate reputations as for the environment. Cloud computing and data centers…
The problem with data center growth is that traditional architecture models are simply too costly in today’s business environment. That’s why companies are bringing cloud computing and data centers together, in a variety of ways, to optimize both…
Why do you hire anyone? After all, it costs money. Considering whether you should hire IT sourcing consultants follows the same reasoning as hiring additional permanent employees – you bring them in because they embody broader or deeper expertise…
Who needs a formal checklist? Your key IT staff have been with your company for years. They know your systems like the backs of their hands, right? Well, in the unlikely event that is actually 100% true, an IT infrastructure assessment checklist…
Change happens. Seemingly faster and faster, especially in the burgeoning realm of IT. Regular periodic review ensures you’re not falling behind, or inadvertently falling into an “obsolescence trap.” Reviewing your enterprise-wide IT status also…
In our last post, we offered five tips on how to reduce IT infrastructure costs. We noted there are myriad opportunities to curb expenses and gain efficiencies – certainly more than five – and we also noted that how you approach cost cutting can…
Determining how to reduce IT infrastructure costs can be something of a conundrum. Doing more with less has become a way of life for IT professionals, but as the complexity of your technology environment continues to escalate, response options…
Large global companies tend to have large, highly skilled IT staffs. So it’s understandable you might wonder what outsourcing consultants can offer that you don’t already have. However, IT outsourcing is a specialized world, and a highly complex…
Complexity, compliance, emerging technologies and best practices, picky customers, aging legacy systems, retiring veteran IT staff and rising costs all concern corporate executives these days. Outsourcing consultants can help you assess and overcome…
There’s nothing that says you have to hire an IT sourcing consultant. If you’ve decided transformation is in order, you can follow through on your own – figuring out what solution you want, finding the resources, contracting for those services.
But…
Transformation is top-of-mind with many IT managers these days, along with pressure from all sides to meet increasing – and increasingly diverse -- service demands. IBM mainframe solutions have traditionally been your mainstay, but also one of your…
If you’re like most large, global companies, you may have been using IBM mainframe solutions for several decades. You’ve come to rely heavily on your mainframes, and you trust them to keep your enterprise functioning.
But like all technology, IBM…
“Fit” can mean can have several meanings. Robust. Match. Appropriate. Prepared. When you’re investigating mainframe outsourcing providers, your goal should be to find one that meets every one of those definitions. That’s not an easy task.
Why do we…
Researching mainframe outsourcing providers should be an enlightening experience, not a rocky road. Here are some hints to smooth the way:
Hint #1: This one’s obvious, but easy to overlook.
Mainframe outsourcing providers differ widely in what they…
Cloud infrastructure management is the process of organizing and maintaining your IT underpinnings – at least some of them – virtually. You’re probably already drifting toward the cloud, and outsourcing, too, by using a commodity email or similar…
You could use some solid advice about IT transformation. You’re considering hiring an outsourcing consultant, but you know choosing the right one could be challenging. First, ask yourself what kind of help you want, because not all consultants…
Your enterprise may be similar to other large global companies in many respects, but it’s actually a unique organism. Pre-set formulas or “solution templates” may have some value for guiding IT planning, but they can’t possibly tell the whole story…
It's time to rethink, reinvent, and re-evaluate your business. We all need a platform to stand on and, ironically, the smart platform is the cloud. Cloud computing services helps your business cut costs while reducing the complexity of your data…
Not all mainframe outsourcing providers are created equal. Perhaps that seems obvious, but it’s an important fact to keep in mind as you’re considering your options. And you do have options. Your job is to sift and sort, to find the right fit with…
One of the financial considerations when contemplating mainframe outsourcing is indirect costs of things such as unfulfilled contracts. If you’ve been leasing mainframe equipment or data center facilities and you’re nearing the end of that lease,…
The corporate imperative to do more with less permeates every aspect of your planning and decision-making. Mainframe outsourcing can help you creatively and strategically address that challenge, but if you don’t approach outsourcing carefully, you…
Whether or not mainframe outsourcing is a useful tool for your company depends on your specific business drivers, culture and preferences. But when you consider the fact that leading global enterprises have adopted outsourcing to improve overall…
What will it cost? That’s a question you ask about any new purchase or endeavor. But when it comes to mainframe outsourcing pricing models, the answer is as complex as your enterprise-wide IT operations.
What you need to know now is that things…