Make 2018 the Year of Data Center Automation

This year is predicted to be a huge year for technology, with many predictions focusing on big data and analytics. It’s clear that the growth of data has just begun. Perhaps the biggest gain when it comes to data this year, is the rise of data center automation and its many benefits.

According to Cisco, there will be a 226% increase in global data center traffic, 4.7 to 15.3 ZB, from 2015 to 2020 and much of this will pass through the cloud. However, the cloud cannot power itself. Data centers are used to power this data force, making data center automation seem like a dream come true. After all, humans do have limits.

Automating some of the tedious tasks that exist within the data center can relieve the IT team of some responsibilities. Automation can also boost efficiency while remaining cost effective. For these reasons, you should consider data center automation this year. Let’s discuss why.

No More Repetition

Data entry takes time – and uses a ton of manpower. This manpower could be used on other tasks within your business that are critical to your success. Repetitive tasks are automated using data center automation, relieving your IT team without sacrificing data quality. The benefit doesn’t stop there. Data center automation tools can learn more about your data, recreating data entry processes for even more speed and agility, without a ton of work from you.

Automatic Upgrades and Refresh

The typical day of an IT team member may not end until the lights go off due to running maintenance checks and system upgrades while everyone else rests. Data center automation allows IT members to schedule upgrades and system maintenance when it is convenient, better yet, when it does not interrupt service for users.

IT centers that are completely overwhelmed with alerts from data monitoring systems will get a break as well. “The traditional approach of monitoring data centers results in reactive problem solving and more alerts than anyone can handle. As we move from reactively monitoring to proactively managing data centers, there will be fewer disruptions, faster resolution, and higher efficiencies.”

Complete with Tools Like Openstack

Known for superb infrastructure management, Openstack can be used to further manage using a control panel manage the storage, network and activities involved with data center automation. Having no control after automation is a myth, best dissolved by these types of tools.

Daniel Newman of Converge states, “Automation tools from SAP, Brocade, and HP, among others, provide automation support for many ongoing performance-affecting activities. SAP’s SAP HANA tool allows data center professionals to simulate processes and plan out activities without disrupting end-users or manually completing the process.”

These tools take your data center automation to the next level by putting the power in your hands to view, edit and collaborate easier than before. Numerous scripts and programs are a thing of the past.

Simpler Application Life Cycle Management

Currently, IT professionals use their data center environment to manage applications during their entire lifecycle. Certain automation tools from various vendors relieve some of the load by streamlining the process and adjusting workflows over the course of an application’s lifecycle. By allowing this intricate process to be automated, the quality is enhanced, which directly impacts downtime by decreasing it. By decreasing your downtime, you will create a higher level of customer service resulting a better customer satisfaction.

This year, 2018, can be the year you make improvements that change your data collecting and keeping for the future, while relieving your IT team to do more critical work and gaining out of this world efficiency. Are you motivated to get automated?