Nine out of 10 companies have little idea of their server
and storage capacities, according to the latest research from
analyst firm Butler Group.
The report said server and storage consolidation can deliver a
considerable return on investment but warned there are obstacles to
be overcome.
Mark Blowers, co-author of the report, said, "Before any
organisation can even contemplate an IT infrastructure optimisation
initiative, it is imperative that asset and inventory management
processes and common management tools are put in place."
He warned that companies need a clear picture of their environment.
"If, like nine out of 10 companies, you do not know what you have,
how do you know if the situation has improved?" he said.
According to Butler, the level of return on investment depends on
the scale of the consolidation, although suppliers often quote a
timescale of nine months to three years before investment is
recouped.
Sue Clarke, senior analyst at Butler, believes other factors will
come into play. "It also depends on how you calculate the ROI, such
as whether you take staff savings into account."