There’s little doubt that the evolution of the data center is here. We are now concentrating our efforts on reducing the hardware footprint and increasing data agility. The IT world is currently in a “data on demand” state where information is being delivered anywhere, anytime and on any device with an Internet connection. This type of shift has created new markets and interesting areas into which cloud computing, data center infrastructure and unified computing are all expanding.

Organizations are seeing the big benefits of moving towards more efficient environments capable of scaling upwards faster. With virtualization coming into play, its important to know where the data center is going and how you can keep up. In this podcast, I sat down with TechTarget and discussed what’s in store for 2012, unified computing architecture, and the integration of cloud computing. Enjoy!

**Listen to the entire podcast by clicking on the TechTarget link below!** (Run time: 15min)

Bill Kleyman
Virtualization Solutions Architect
MTM Technologies

*As seen on TechTarget.com*

When it comes to datacenter capacity planning remember this: Acting reactively may cost an environment more than a proactive stance, so advanced planning definitely pays dividends.

Virtualization, integrated with better storage solutions has helped environments save money and improve upon existing capacity needs. For example, workflow automation helps environments gauge needs and spin up servers as needed. With an automated environment, administrators are able to quickly provision and de-provision hardware and virtualized instances as needed.

Advanced technologies that come with new storage controllers allow administrators be much more creative with their environments. Manufacturers such as NetApp has developed a great onboard card utilizing intelligent caching. This 1 TB card, called FlashCache, is able to offload workloads off spinning disks. This, in turn, allows storage engineers to use their space more intelligently. Over-provisioning storage can be very expensive.

**Read more by clicking on the TechTarget link below!**

Bill Kleyman
Virtualization Solutions Architect
MTM Technologies

*As seen on the TechTarget.com Advisory Board Q&A*

The modern datacenter has evolved. Cloud computing has allowed IT administrators to take their technology far beyond their original physical walls. Over the past few years, technologists have seen infrastructures go from single-purpose physical systems to the adoption of virtualization to service-driven datacenters and now to the Cloud. Made mainstream by several media blitzes (i.e. IBM’s “I am the Cloud”), Cloud-based computing is still somewhat of a gray area for many IT professionals.

Currently, there are numerous organizations offering Cloud services (Amazon, Google, Salesforce) while many others are beginning to adopt their own private Cloud solutions. With that, IT managers are beginning to ask questions that will help them better understand the direct relationship between datacenter environments and a Cloud strategy.

**Read more by clicking on the TechTarget link below!**

Bill Kleyman
Virtualization Solutions Architect
MTM Technologies

It’s hard enough to coordinate meetings and projects among employees in different offices. When you have to do it for a workforce that’s constantly on the go, it can seem nearly impossible. Team members who spend more time in airport lounges than conference rooms may seem to cost you opportunities for direct engagement and collaboration. Asynchronous communication becomes the norm, and it’s effectiveness is limited.

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Have you ever wondered if Cisco TelePresence and Unified Communications can actually drive savings? It’s a legitimate concern. Before making a sizable investment, you want to know that you’ll attain the TCO and ROI benefits that you expect, and often, this forecasting is inexact. So, there’s no substitute for tangible results.

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Heterogeneous infrastructures are inherently costly and difficult to manage. The need to integrate different systems, maintain a wide spectrum of skill sets and engage multiple teams to diagnose and resolve problems requires a considerable investment in management and coordination. Simply marshaling the necessary resources can cut the time allowed for repair under your SLAs.

1. Internal consistency: Enhance IT operational efficiency throughout your datacenter with a unified solution that facilitates system integration and management, allowing you to alleviate IT team workloads and reallocate team members to higher-impact initiatives.

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The lure of cloud computing is multidimensional. Doubtless, it provides a high degree of datacenter agility and helps you extend the value of investments you’ve made in your infrastructure. The cost savings and flexibility, however, can be crucial to startups, where the importance of every dollar is magnified. Traditional cloud computing models may not be sufficient for some startups, though, especially if they are in sensitive or highly regulated industries. In these situations, a hybrid cloud computing model may be most appropriate.

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The easiest investments to justify are those that deliver a clear, straight and swift route to cost savings or a return. Some projects can take months (or longer) to generate value, making it difficult for company executives to accept the risk that that entails. VeraSMART Call Accounting, which integrates tightly with your Cisco voice infrastructure, delivers a compelling approach to managing costs and accelerating benefit to your organization. In fact, you can get from start to cost savings in four easy steps:

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A lot of letters are getting thrown about, as they always do in the IT business, but there are really only three that matter to you: ROI. Unless you can get a return on your IT investment, there isn’t much point to implementing a solution. Well, to get to ROI, a good place to start is with three other letters: UCS. The Cisco Unified Computing System streamlines your datacenter, making it easier for your organization to gain more value from existing staff and equipment.

Cisco UCS makes your infrastructure easier to manage and your team more efficient. Rather than pull together and integrate a variety of “best of breed” solutions – a process that entails a considerable amount of project and operational risk – UCS brings computing, networking, storage access and virtualization into a cohesive system. As a result, you can scale your infrastructure easily without having to add complexity at the same time.

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It’s easy for a company’s phone bill to creep up. Sure, you don’t want to get in the way of employee business calls, even if they can be costly: business has to move forward. The problem is that you may have a lot of little calls on the monthly tab that are adding up quickly. And, there are some calls that just aren’t necessary. Small costs can become big if left unchecked, creating an opportunity for you to generate significant cost savings.

Behavior modification, of course, is the easy answer. Write up a policy about using directory assistance, and instruct your staff to use the web to find phone numbers – or their company address books. That’ll work, right?

Of course not.

When employees are rushed or taking on multiple tasks at the same time, they’re going to rush to the easiest solution. It’s not just human nature; it’s practical. So, you need to provide a viable alternative that results in a lower cost to your company. VeraSMART eCAS Call Accounting is exactly what you need.

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