Top 5 IT Infrastructure Management Concerns

1. Emerging Trends

New and evolving technologies such as virtualized servers, cloud-based systems, web-based interfaces, and mobile infrastructure are growing. Hybrid operating systems are still a thing. Adopting emerging technologies and modernizing them while keeping up with data security and dependability is not easy. Innovation and modifications often take time and call for an additional cost. Adjustments must be made with an expectation and anticipation of future requirements. Technology upgrades need to be implemented fast, not to be already outdated once completed. Companies need to invest time and money associated with implementing new technologies and training.

2. Agility and Scalability

Creating a flexible, optimized IT infrastructure that can adapt to the growing needs of the business is a challenge. In the field of Information Technology scalability is defined as “having IT costs rise linearly with increases in IT capacity“. The ability to adjust data-processing capacity fast in response to growing or decreasing demand is the ultimate reflection of a scalable solution.  When IT infrastructure is scoped, integrated, and maintained, on-demand scalability protects against unexpected investment in IT infrastructure.

3. Capacity Planning

Predicting future capacity or computing requirements is not easy, even short-term. Business continuity, maintenance, provisions for data and user privacy, error tolerance, data integrity, and ongoing transaction monitoring for regulatory compliance all need to be accounted for before and during infrastructure modifications. Leveraging IT solutions for strategic business outcomes are vital.

4. Data Centers Expansion

Sufficient space for the growth of the data centers is significant when exploring and selecting options for the future rise of business needs. Data centers are often limited by physical constraints, such as space availability, square footage, electrical and HVAC capacity, and other factors. Modernization often demands at least one of 4 basic choices: building a new facility, retrofitting the existing facility, adding another facility, or contracting with a co-location provider.  Downtime and costs related to expansion are often complex and unpredictable.

5. Environment and Energy Challenges

Technology has been going green for a while now, and the trend is becoming a norm. Power & cooling are a very important priority for the infrastructure. Power consumption accounts for about 25% to 50% of data center costs. Equipment recycling laws are extra-tight, and the turnover of devices can be daunting. Even on a tight budget, companies must dedicate time and resources to being environment-friendly and compliant with local environmental regulations.