Maximizing Scarce Data Storage Resources is Critical Amid Increasing Demands on IT Budgets for 2022

Better use of data center resources is going to be a top priority for virtually every enterprise CIO and IT leader in 2022. As exponential growth of unstructured data continues its trajectory into the upcoming year and beyond, bourgeoning demands on IT resources continue to mount. 

Forbes recently reported that 95% of businesses identified the need to manage unstructured data as a current problem for their business. IT leaders are exhausted from juggling increased budget allocation responsibility, compounding project demands, and timely sourcing of hardware, while at the same time searching for solutions to address their data management problem without sending their data center costs spiraling out of control amid the confluence of projects.

Maximizing Cost Control for the Evolving Data Center in 2022

Unstructured data growth continues to be a challenge, but it is important for IT leaders not to panic. 

The beauty of the evolving data center is its seemingly unlimited, customizable possibilities. Still, data center managers must remain focused on creating the most efficient operating environments for their organization. Whether an enterprise’s IT infrastructure employs an on-premises, cloud-based, or a hybrid model, there is no one-size-fits-all. 

Cloud transformation continues to be a primary tool for reducing costs in the data center because cloud solutions can offer speed, performance, and scalability. However, for most organizations, the on-premises data center is still the mission critical control tower for overall management of the many pieces of the data management puzzle, while cloud will likely always rely on the on-premises data center for its success.

Most experts agree the hybrid data center and hybrid cloud is the future of IT. Consequently, IT leaders are tasked with striking the right balance to meet the traditional on-premises compute requirements while folding in support from cloud and off-premises models, as needed for optimum performance and maximum cost benefit.

3 Practical Ways to Gain Data Center Efficiencies for Better Use of Resources

Data center equipment usage balance can change regularly, especially when juggling cloud storage/compute operations. Planning resource allocation to take advantage of new technology and the cloud during upgrades/phase outs is a never-ending process of inventory management and careful analysis of evolving demands. But even incremental optimizations can eliminate data center inefficiencies.

• Maximize Data Center Technology Refreshes: “Tech refreshes” are key to maintaining a most efficient, cost-effective, time saving data center. Regularly updating key elements of an organization’s IT infrastructure can maximize system performance and productivity, boost system functionality and scalability, and increase energy efficiency.
• Moving data to the cloud: As hinted above, moving data to the cloud comes with a host of benefits. From cost efficiency to increased mobility and collaboration, organizations supplementing on-premises infrastructure with the cloud can gain a step ahead in today’s fast-paced digital world at a reduced cost. 
• Deleting ROT data: ROT (redundant, obsolete, or trivial) data is composed of items organizations continue to hold onto even though the information that is documented has no business or legal value. It can create excess cost, hinder compliance regulation, and prevent employees from quickly accessing information. And it can add up to a significant percentage of the total data stored. Continually evaluating which data is unnecessary can free up needed space. 

Enterprise CIOs and IT leaders will need a solution to link the multiple disparate parts of the modern data center puzzle into a cohesive plan of action to enable IT leaders to produce tangible cost-conscious benefits for their business in 2022. Employing this type of solution can keep costs down, make use of scarce resources, and keep the headaches at a minimum to truly harness the power of unstructured data.