Infrastructure Optimization

Reduce Information Technology Infrastructure Cost while increasing its Contribution and Effectiveness

Your information technology (IT) infrastructure is a strategic asset and the critical foundation upon which software can deliver the services and user applications necessary for effective and successful operations. Growth and rapid developments in new technologies have resulted in overly complex and inflexible data center and desktop platforms that are difficult for many organizations to manage. Built-in costs are not only high, but somewhat fixed, regardless of changing business requirements.

An optimized IT infrastructure operating efficiently and productively is developed upon IT standards, ensures conformation to those IT standards and supports cost reduction, security and risk mitigation for the environment and its users.

Strategic Asset or Cost Center?

Data profiling completed by Microsoft of over 9,000 customer accounts show 61% were in a manual reactive state of IT management and maintenance, 36% operated with limited automation and minimal process and knowledge capture of the environment (still very reactive). Only 3% were driven by a well-managed highly secure infrastructure managed by a set of policies and operations with a current state of technology deployment and implementation.

Microsoft has developed three Infrastructure Optimization (IO) models to help customers optimize and secure their IT Infrastructure, create agility and reduce costs: Core IO, Business Productivity IOand Application Platform Optimization. These models map an enterprise’s level of infrastructure optimization and then build effective transition plans to help optimize the assets of the IT infrastructure — enabling realization of the IT infrastructure investment’s value while enabling key business solutions.

This model permits enterprises to negotiate the translation between business and technical imperatives and build their capabilities to the point of ingrained best practice, or “institutional memory.”

CoroWare has experience working with Microsoft® Infrastructure Optimization and related areas such as Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL®). CoroWare can assist you in plotting where your enterprise sits on the model and developing a transition plan for progress to further IO competency and maturity.

Transitioning to Infrastructure Optimization

The vision of Microsoft Infrastructure Optimization (IO) is to help customers realize the value of their investments in IT infrastructure, to make the IT infrastructure a strategic asset that enables agility within their organization and ultimately help them create an infrastructure for a "people-ready business."

The proper foundation for any enterprise is to establish an optimized core infrastructure and IT processes. Upon a solid foundation the strategic goals become attainable.

Achieving Infrastructure Optimization

CoroWare can assist you in determining where you sit on the “Core Infrastructure Model”, work with you to develop an actionable and business case justified migration plan and assist or manage the delivery of that plan. We would like to help you develop your IO maturity in the Core Implementation Services of Identity and Access Management; Desktop, Device and Server Management; and Data Protection and Recovery. Our key experts have partnered with in-depth consultants in related areas who can deep dive in the analysis and assist with subsequent deployment.

CoroWare Can Help

CoroWare can assist your enterprise in determining where you are in terms of Core Infrastructure, helping you understand what products and services are appropriate for you, what specific benefits that can accrue from proceeding with maturing along Core IO, and then developing a specific business case and deployment plan for implanting it. The following diagram illustrates the engagement process that will result in a number of key deliverables referred to as the “Core IO Deployment Transition Plan”. This set of documents includes your fit on the Core Infrastructure Maturity Model, a proposed target logical Core IO architectural model, target support processes and workflows, a business case identifying the key costs and benefits and the resulting RoI, and a phased deployment plan for the Core IO Maturity transition with the next steps in particular detail.

Through its extensive partner community CoroWare can assist you in the actual implementation of the Core IO Deployment Transition Plan. This assistance will take the form of the management and governance of the implementation program.