• transformation - Data Center Management In a Shared, Multi-Customer Environment

    Data Center Management In a Shared, Multi-Customer Environment

    This paper is intended to provide an overview of the fundamental elements of data center management in the context of a multi-customer environment, which is generally characteristic of outsource data center providers, but also increasingly similar to in-sourced data centers providing services to multiple internal customers in a best practice, shared services organization model.

    November, 2010

  • Research Bytes - Training Best Way to Improve IT Staff Retention

    Training Best Way to Improve IT Staff Retention

    (IRVINE, Calif., August 11, 2008) IT organizations with the strongest education and training programs also have the lowest average turnover rates, according to a recently released Computer Economics study.

    August, 2008

  • sourcing - The Next Wave of Outsourcing: Remote Infrastructure Management

    The Next Wave of Outsourcing: Remote Infrastructure Management

    In the pre-cloud era, the rapid evolution in IT architecture and remote servermanagement technologies, changes in customer behavior and demand pattern, and maturity in the provider and offshore service delivery landscape has propelled the industry toward accelerated adoption of Remote Infrastructure Management (RIM). Emergence of digital, mobile and cloud based solutions has altered the way IT infrastructure is managed, thereby changing the very complexion of RIM strategies.

    July, 2008

  • Research Bytes - Consolidation is Key in Reducing ERP Support Costs

    Consolidation is Key in Reducing ERP Support Costs

    (IRVINE, Calif.) Organizations wanting to optimize their ERP support costs should strongly consider consolidating and standardizing on a single version and instance of their primary vendor's platform.

    April, 2008

  • Research Bytes - Few IT Organizations Make Users Pay

    Few IT Organizations Make Users Pay

    (IRVINE, Calif.) Despite the heated debate over chargeback practices in the earlier part of the decade, 42% of companies still do not charge back any portion of their IT budgets and less than a quarter engage in aggressive chargeback practices, according to a Computer Economics survey of IT managers.

    December, 2007

  • Research Bytes - IT Change Management Still Lacking in Many Organizations

    IT Change Management Still Lacking in Many Organizations

    Most problems in the data center are caused by changes that are introduced into the production environment. Change management, therefore, is arguably the most critical requirement for a successful IT organization. This article investigates the effectiveness of IT change management practices and considers the impact of staffing levels on the overall quality of this process. We also examine the issues that may arise by failing to adequately develop and staff an IT change management function. (5 pp., 3 figs.)

    October, 2006

  • Research Bytes - Overcoming Obstacles to Data Classification

    Overcoming Obstacles to Data Classification

    A formal data classification scheme is fundamental to information security. Yet, many organizations--even those that profess a commitment to protecting company and customer information--fail to implement data classification. This article looks at the reasons that data classification can be difficult to develop and implement in practice and offers several practical guidelines to overcome these obstacles.

    April, 2006