Advances in technologies such as virtualisation will
mean that firms will be able to run datacentres unmanned according
to Fujitsu Siemens Computers.
According to Fujitsu strategists, techniques such as
virtualisation are making datacentre designs
simpler, allowing them to be run remotely. The IT supplier believes
that already a growing number of datacentres in the UK run on a
"lights out" basis where
operational management
is carried out remotely or automatically. Fujitsu predicts that if
current trends continue, unmanned datacentres will outnumber manned
datacentres as soon as 2012.
Commented Dave Pritchard, senior technology strategist at
Fujitsu Siemens Computers, said, "Tomorrow's datacentre will
resemble more of a "one man and a dog" set-up - the dog is there
for security and the man is there to feed the dog."
This trend is set to continue, he said. "Analysis, configuration
and optimisation, all
tasks that need personnel to be present, will gradually become part
of the software and systems, removing the need for people on site,"
he said.
This could adversely affect datacentre jobs, according to
Pritchard. "Datacentre managers, infrastructure managers,
engineers, analysts and technicians would all be impacted. IT staff
are no strangers to change, but these developments bring change
right into the heart of the IT department."