With the turn of a new year comes the pressure to commit to some resolutions. This month we take a look at some of the most popular resolutions and how these can work equally well for a business.
Implement a new fitness regime
Often, people stick with the same exercise for years. Perhaps a mid-week game of squash and some sit ups combined with a run on the weekend. This may have worked well at first, but over time the effectiveness of these exercises will have declined and they may not fit with a changing lifestyle.
The same pattern can also be seen with many business networks. A network technology such as Frame Relay that initially worked well for a business can, over the years, become ineffective and no longer capable of coping with the demands placed on it. With the start of a new year, the time is right to take a look at modern networking technologies and the benefits they offer.
Ethernet is a prime example. Ongoing development has seen Ethernet evolve from a Local Area Network (LAN) technology to a Wide Area Network (WAN) technology capable of covering thousands of kilometers. This has opened up a new realm of networking possibilities. The flexibility of Ethernet means it can connect sites around the world in a point-to-point, point-to-multipoint or any-to-any configuration, giving a business the ability to choose a topology that really works for it.
In addition, Ethernet is cost effective and easy to deploy. ICT teams are often familiar with Ethernet as it has been used in the LAN for many years. As a result, there is no need to bring in new and expensive skills. Existing equipment can often be re-used, allowing a business to extract a greater return from its investment. Implementing a technology that teams are already familiar and comfortable with makes it far more likely that this resolution will succeed.
Be more organised
Like many resolutions, people quickly see the benefits of bringing a new organisational system into their lives. Life runs more efficiently, they can find what they are looking for and for the first time in years they remember their mother’s birthday. For a while it seems like everything is rosy, but a few months into the year the initial benefits have worn off and the new system looks like hard work.
For some CIOs this is their experience of virtualisation. The initial benefits of implementing server virtualisation are clear. Cost savings, improved control, reduced energy usage and greater hardware efficiency are just some of these. However, at some point down the line the shine can wear off and concerns around the long-term scalability and viability of virtualisation may creep in. At this point the temptation is to throw in the towel and go back to the way things were done before.
Instead, this is the time to take a realistic look at what has been accomplished so far and what needs to be implemented to move forward. Just as buying the latest personal organiser and never developing the skills to use it won’t have someone’s personal life functioning more efficiently, the correct skills are needed to ensure a virtualised environment runs smoothly. This may mean hiring new staff or engaging in a new partnership to access the required skills.
Asking if there is a need to invest in some new hardware can also help. While this expense may not have been clear at first, investing in new hardware in the short term could be what re-ignites your business’ belief in the benefits of virtualisation. This quick and simple review may be the step that ensures a business’ investment in virtualisation continues to deliver its needs well into the future.