infrastructures

Broadband crunch on the horizon for cable

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 06:59:59 -0400

ABI Research is projecting a huge squeeze on broadband resources over the next few years, as demand for pipe-hog applications like high-definition video, video on demand, online gaming, and large file downloads rises. The impact will be large on cable operators, who "in addition to dealing with potential bandwidth shortages" are trying to figure out what business models will best fund infrastructure upgrades and profits as we approach the end of the decade. This is a huge opportunity for any organization that is involved in either making broadband available (like fiber optic infrastructure shops) or optimizing the flow of data over existing infrastructures (such as next generation digital switching providers or algorithm developers).

See an analysis of ABI Research's findings:
- read the article at Ars Technica

Distinguishing between data and apps for SOA

Wed, 11 Jul 2007 20:01:38 -0400

One of the biggest challenges that Services Oriented Architectures pose for enterprise architects is managing the behavior of data and applications as they mix and match across the servers and virtual machines of next generation infrastructures. Ron Schmelzer of ZapThink, an SOA market research firm, tells InformationWeek that when a set of applications performs functions isolated as an independent service, the results can look a lot like data as they're passed off to another application. Likewise, a query to a service that triggers a stored procedure in the database yields results that look a lot like an outcome of application logic. In services, data ceases to exist as something distinct from the application logic.

For more on how enterprises are keeping track of apps and data:
- check out this InformationWeek article

Survey: Does hosted IT benefit small businesses?

Tue, 15 May 2007 20:01:38 -0400

A new survey of small business decision-makers from BizTechReports.com found that small businesses that use a hosted IT infrastructure are more likely to spend a smaller percentage of their annual revenue on technology than are their counterparts who manage IT internally. The report found that SMBs that outsource also are twice as likely to use new technologies such as software as a service (SaaS) applications. The study also found that businesses that rely on hosted IT don't have as many security issues or technical failures. Also noted was the fact that the rapidly shrinking shelf life of hardware makes investing in the technology a lot less appealing for SMBs. Outsourcing SMBs also added e-commerce applications to those business twice as often as companies that manage their own infrastructures, the study found.

Read more survey results:
- read the article at Small Business Computing

ALSO: read this on why hosted infrastructures are a cost-saver for small businesses

Small business storage woes

Wed, 09 May 2007 20:01:38 -0400

How should small companies deal with soaring storage capacity needs when they have little or no IT resources? What kind of storage should be added? How can this be done without under- or overbuying? If you work for a very small company, focus for the time being on relatively inexpensive, easy-to-use products that don't require IT participation but that can dramatically improve the storage situation. An example is consolidating data into a single repository; larger storage servers have a higher degree of scalability that allow for greater flexibility when more capacity, performance or connectivity is required. For slightly larger companies with about 50 employees, move to Network Attached Storage (NAS), which allows multiple servers to access a NAS box that holds the stored data. For companies with 100 or more employees, go for larger servers that can scale up to dozens of terabytes or storage arrays. Many companies are in this game, including Adaptec, EMC and NEC. To size your systems appropriately, ask how many other activities the file server handles, how many people make up the workgroup and what type of network traffic they generate, and how many files are hosted on a network share.

Read more about how to deal with storage issues at smaller companies:
- read the article at Small Business Computing

ALSO:
- read this on why storage virtualization is no panacea
- and this on why hosted IT infrastructures can save money for small businesses

The ROI of ITIL

Tue, 20 Mar 2007 20:01:38 -0400

The IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL), a service-oriented approach to IT development, can help organizations manage their IT infrastructures and assure the availability of IT services. Often, however, it's difficult to justify the large investment ITIL requires and to demonstrate the ROI. Setting milestones and measuring the value of each phase of an implementation can help prove the project's value and shape its focus.

Learn more about justifying the ROI of ITIL:
- download the white paper at SearchCIO

ALSO: read this on putting business ahead of technology

Hosted IT infrastructures a cost-saver for small businesses

Tue, 27 Feb 2007 19:01:38 -0500

Small businesses often don't have the expertise, staff or money to operate their own IT infrastructures. Subscribing to hosted IT infrastructure services can cut a small company's costs by as much as 75% while eliminating administrative headaches and improving the performance and quality of IT services.

Learn more about saving money through hosted IT infrastructure services:
- read the white paper at TechRepublic

Wasting money on IT is the rule, not the exception

Mon, 26 Feb 2007 19:01:38 -0500

Companies are wasting countless dollars buying IT equipment and services that they don't need, according to a Gartner executive. Companies spend unnecessarily on many things, such as over-provisioning of network bandwidth to corporate desktops and VoIP screen phones. By spending these unnecessary funds, companies often don't have the money to spend on increasing productivity. Instead of spending unnecessary money on equipment and services, IT executives should look inward and focus on adding value to their companies' business processes. One example is building networks and infrastructures that enable competitive advantage.

Read more about unnecessary spending on IT products and services:
- read the article at vnunet.com

Career option: Skills needed in a 'turnaround' CIO

Mon, 01 Jan 2007 19:01:36 -0500

Every CIO role is different, as every enterprise's tech needs are different. Therein lies the allure of 'turnaround CIOs' who step into interim roles to shake things up, revamp the old, and create invigorating, new IT infrastructures. As experts relate, change management skills are the essential tool for tech leaders in such a role. They're often heavily experienced, and have the strength to come in and make those necessary, and often very hard, decisions to make IT strong once again. Find out from current turnaruond CIOs what's needed to do the job and whether it might be a career option for you down the road as well.

For more on the role of the turnaround CIO:
- read this in-depth feature at CIO

IT spending healthier than ever

Sun, 16 Jul 2006 20:01:39 -0400

Despite the daily headlines of increasing violence overseas and the rising cost of oil, tech spend is expected to keep moving forward, according to a new report from AMR Research which just released its latest Tech Trends tracking study. Over two-thirds, or 76 percent, of IT leaders polled say they'll be boosting IT spending this year--the average IT budget will jump 19.5 percent, a pretty big increase over the 5.9-percent jump in 2005. The first budget focus will be on shoring up infrastructures, and then money will likely be spent on software management tools.

For more on the tech spend projections:
- check out this article at TechWeb

A good time to move to unified messaging

Thu, 06 Apr 2006 20:01:35 -0400

As current phone systems age out, legacy telecom systems begin creaking more loudly and networks buckle under increasing mobile connectivity demands, enterprises are looking toward unified messaging infrastructures to refresh, rebuild and replace today's systems. Unified messaging is viewed as an efficient way to manage all communications--from the fax to the phone to email--and let users stay in touch whether they're in the office or on the road. The best news is that there are lots of mature products and technologies already available to bring in, so there are many options and approaches to consider.

For more on going unified with messaging:
- read this article at CIO Today