Transforming the Data Center - Navigating the Journey from Virtualization to Private Clouds

The role of IT is evolving from that of a traditional cost center to a strategic organizational asset, able to facilitate transformation, drive competitive differentiation, and boost organizational agility in today’s business environment. IT organizations across Asia Pacific are actively seeking strategies for standardizing core infrastructure and improving the efficiency and responsiveness of IT operations. While benefits are significant, the path from infrastructure consolidation to virtualization and then to private/hybrid cloud deployment is not without risks. The business pressure for increased IT efficiency, improved agility and flexible service delivery will only increase with time. To effectively support changing business needs, successful IT organizations must move quickly to embrace private/hybrid cloud models alongside traditional data center strategies.

According to a study conducted by Forrester Consulting on behalf of Cisco and Wipro in May 2013, 86% of total APAC respondents consider virtualization extremely important for enabling private/hybrid cloud and recognize the primary role of virtualization as an enabler of infrastructure consolidation. Though, variations by vertical segment persist as can be seen below.

The study pointed out that though hybrid cloud use is becoming the new normal, organizational resistance to expanding internal IaaS use is mostly due to concerns over security and data management. It also confirms the Asia Pacific organizations’ growing concerns over the lack of cloud-related management skills. Despite this the businesses need to embrace private/hybrid cloud approaches are on the rise across the region. The primary drivers for this growth are cost reduction, improving IT operational efficiency and expanding existing virtualization investments.

Having said that, security tops the list of key capabilities that organizations believe, are vital to enable and manage private/hybrid clouds.

IT decision makers in APAC still need help navigating the journey from infrastructure consolidation to server virtualization and then to private/hybrid cloud deployment. But the benefits of embracing private/hybrid cloud for reducing infrastructure costs and enabling organizations to quickly ramp up business capabilities outweigh the risks.

IT decision-makers failing to consider all service-provisioning options – including private and hybrid approaches – will see their credibility wane and their ability to support business requirements suffer. Forrester states that organizations that embrace private/hybrid cloud approaches alongside traditional data center capabilities and approaches will be far better positioned to support and encourage innovation within their organizations based on simplified, more efficient access to compute resources and capabilities.

Do you think businesses are ready to put their faith in hybrid/private clouds? I would be happy to hear your thoughts

About the Author

Anuj Bhalla is the vice president and global business head for System Integration and Maintenance Services (SIMS) business unit, which is part of the newly formed Global Infrastructure Services of Wipro. Along with making forays into newer markets for this business, he also carries the P&L responsibility for SIMS. Prior to this role, Anuj was Business head for the Enterprise Services division of Wipro Infotech since 2007. Under his able and inspired leadership ES became one of the standout LOB during this time period. In a career spanning more than 15 years with rich and diverse experience across various domains and functions, Anuj has risen from ranks to handle multiple crucial and key roles in the organization including Regional Business Manager -MIT, Head Program Delivery - TOS, Staffing and Delivery Head - MIT to name a few

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