Technology can undoubtedly be a great investment. That is, of course, if you invest wisely. As technology these days changes faster than the time it takes to write out the letters I-T, it’s always smart to check to make sure the ideas you had a year ago are still valid today. So, let’s take a look at a few ideas that you should be taking into close consideration in order to avoid those common IT pitfalls.
Not Consulting an Expert During Cloud Migration
A year ago, everyone was saying that all businesses should have a cloud strategy. And, while this is still true today, it doesn’t mean that everyone should abandon on-premises software (on-prem) entirely. Those who have already migrated to and are executing cloud strategies are largely doing so with some form of hybrid cloud architecture, which is best done with the help of an expert.
The cloud is undeniably a fantastic resource, and most organizations are already using it in one way or another. It’s one more tool in the IT toolbox to provide the services your business needs. But, if you’re considering cloud, it’s important to evaluate the solution thoroughly for each aspect of your IT needs. You must weigh not only the cost but also the performance capabilities compared to your current on-prem solutions.
Over-Centralizing the Datacenter
Over the years, the use of centralized data centers and distributed datacenters seems to swing back and forth. Centralized was the preferred approach when cloud computing started becoming more mainstream. But, right now, with cloud computing, centralization is the preferred choice thanks to the rise of edge computing and micro-datacenters.
Centralization has become more attractive because it poses the potential to lower operational costs by consolidating systems under one roof. Of course, there are far better remote management systems available these days that can also lower operational costs of remote site infrastructure. Either way, it’s clear that the pendulum will continue to swing back and forth between these technologies, and we’ll likely see most organizations landing closer to the middle with a combination of solutions.
Using SAN Technology
Storage area networks (SAN) are high-speed sub-networks of shared storage devices. Once a staple of data center infrastructure, many experts will tell you that SAN is now a dying technology. Much of this is due to the rise of flash storage and storage speeds overtaking that of controller-based SAN architectures. Now, the new generation of flash storage is non-volatile memory express (NVMe). NVMe is designed to allow storage to interact directly with the central processing unit (CPU), bypassing storage protocols and controllers. We’re entering into an era where storage is no longer the slowest resource in the computer stack. This means in order to reach optimal speeds, architectures will need to clear the compute path of controllers and protocols.
If your business has fallen into any of these common pitfalls, don’t stress too much just yet. A misstep won’t break your IT department, but it may end up costing your organization in the long-run. Of course, only you know what will work best for your organization, but it’s important to consider your strategies carefully before you spend your entire IT budget.
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