Smart IT professionals keep a sharp eye on mainframe and other IT outsourcing trends. It’s not easy to keep up with the continuous flow of new innovations and ideas. And it can be even harder to discern how to apply what you’re learning to benefit…
Organizations for which millions of data transactions are just part of the normal business day continue to rely on mainframes as the cornerstone of their data center operations. But mainframe costs can get out of hand if you aren’t vigilant, and it’…
Over time, the popularity of outsourcing has grown tremendously for companies looking to capture financial and functional efficiencies. Mainframe outsourcing trends have evolved along with the overall business environment, which has been…
Recently we examined some IT outsourcing trends for 2014, noting that the underlying theme for all aspects of business today – not just IT – is that change is a constant. Outsourcing as a business management mechanism is now widespread, popular with…
CIOs and their C-suite colleagues have been wrestling with mainframe cost reduction for years. It’s an imperative that has stubbornly remained at the top of the must-do list for so long because mainframe operations costs continue to rise. If you’re…
Mainframes remain a foundational component of IT infrastructure for many companies, particularly very large and complex organizations that handle massive volumes of data. But in a wildly changing technology environment where cloud computing, mobile…
This year is well underway, but it’s never too late to consider what might unfold in the way of IT outsourcing trends as the year continues to evolve. One of the most interesting trends industry watchers seem to agree on is that DIY is on the…
Security remains a primary concern for enterprises working to integrate cloud computing and data centers. Moving toward the cloud can bring significant efficiencies and increased agility, but it brings new security challenges as well.
Some risks…
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…