IT is an interesting part of the business. Though IT has it's hands completely in the technology pot, it rarely gets the opportunity to see the costs associated with purchasing and implementing technology. The costs are generally managed and tracked by the financial aspect of the business and rarely do the two business functions come together for planning until its budget time. IT has become a reactionary or adaptive function of the business. In a lot of cases, IT simply throws technology at an issue until the issue is resolved – a lot of the time duplicating technology, which, in turn, duplicates the costs required to run and manage the business technology. IT generally has no idea about the costs until the next budget cycle, when budgets are smaller than the previous year and they are left scratching their heads and wondering why.
What if IT could see the costs in a more real-time way? What if the IT side of the business could work together with the financial side in a more integral way all year long?
Let’s deconstruct a seemingly difficult topic and put it in more simple terms.
Let’s look at the difference between paper money and credit cards. If you start your shopping day out with a wad of cash in your pocket, you can physically track the pile getting smaller each time you make a purchase. Once the cash is gone, you stop shopping – and, you might even be a bit thriftier or more efficient with your purchases, bringing home more for your money. But, if all you have is a credit card, you can’t be sure exactly how much you spent until the monthly bill shows up in the mail. Which method helps you better monitor and limit your spending?
So, it seems that information is actually the key factor here. The more you know the better off you are and your choices become smarter ones.
If you read through the 2009 Server Energy and Efficiency Report, you can get a real, 3rd party perspective on the cost of servers, both physical and virtual, that are wasting energy and money. The report is a partnership between the Alliance to Save Energy and 1E. Here’s an eye-opening excerpt from the report:
An overwhelming 83% of IT Professionals admit they would benefit from a better grasp of their overall server utilization. But utilization itself means very little, it measures overall usage but does not reveal if the server is doing ‘Useful Work’. A server may appear to be busy at times when in fact it is only running management and maintenance processes.
The survey finds that organizations are not measuring – or do not have the tools to measure – server efficiency. Nearly three quarters (72%) reported using CPU utilization as a measure.
Also shown in the report, 1E’s NightWatchman Server Edition is the first power and efficiency management solution to analyze whether servers are providing Useful Work and then deliver actionable data that allows IT administrators to ensure that data centers are as efficient as they can be, reducing infrastructure and spending. NightWatchman Server Edition allows IT to understand the potential for server waste in the business, giving IT the ability to solve business issues efficiently while still being just as proactive and just as adaptive to the business needs. With NightWatchman Server Edition, IT can see the potential for cost savings and react to it, creating a more efficient, more agile, more organized, and better equipped business.
1E is all about aiding in the development of a sound business through IT Efficiency. 1E’s best-of-breed software is developed with the idea that IT can be as cost-efficient and as knowledgeable as the rest of the business. 1E provides the tools so that businesses keep more of their money. Investing in 1E solutions is actually an investment in the business based on the number of 1E customers who save millions annually. The idea is simple, and the return is huge.
Found out more about NightWatchman Server Edition:
http://www.1e.com/softwareproducts/nightwatchmanserver/index.aspx
Hear how 1E’s customers are making their IT organization more efficient and saving millions of dollars:
http://www.1e.com/customers/casestudies.aspx