Uptime Institute Efficient IT:

DCIM Consulting

Expert guidance in deploying and optimizing a DCIM system

to achieve efficiency and ROI goals
The majority of DCIM buyers spend over six months evaluating potential suppliers, and then an additional
six to twelve months deploying the chosen solution. This results in significant staff costs and unnecessary
delays if an organizations business requirements demand a DCIM solution. Once the systems are
finally up and running, only 17% of enterprise data centers expect to see a short-term return on DCIM
investment, and 49% say they cannot justify a return on investment at all*more wasted money and effort.

When employed effectively, DCIM systems have been
shown to be invaluable tools for integrating key data,
increasing efficiency, and helping organizations plan
and reduce resource usage. The cost savings benefits
can be substantial. But with a multitude of vendors
and deployment options in the market, finding the
right solution for your organization and implementing it
successfully can be a challenge.
The Gap Between DCIM Promise and Reality
Savvy IT executives know that you cant manage
what you dont measure. The potential benefit of
DCIM systems is clear. These tools offer a way to
measure and integrate key IT and facility data, helping
organizations to respond effectively to increasing
market, economic, and leadership demands for
efficiency and improved resource management in their
data center operations.
Yet when it comes to deploying and using DCIM
systems, many data centers have found it challenging
to achieve these ideals. The industry has struggled
to successfully adopt DCIM software. DCIM promises
to drive out data center inefficiencies, help operators
build a credible model for capacity planning, and tie
together the IT and facilities management teams.
However, the path to reaping those benefits cannot be
realized by simply purchasing a software product.
As the messy work of implementation begins, many
IT organizations have found DCIM tools to be more
difficult to deploy and more expensive than expected.
Some IT organizations have waited, evaluating
the market, considering the right time to make an
investment. Others have already adopted DCIM tools,
spending budget and staff resources for a system that
provides limited benefits. All too often, organizations
find that DCIM takes too long to purchase, costs too
much, and does not perform to its full potential.
How can your organzation avoid wasting time and
money procuring and implementing DCIM? How
can you ensure you select and configure the right
solution to achieve your goals for transparency,
efficiency, and ROI?
Uptime Institute DCIM Consulting
To help organizations avoid disappointing outcomes,
Uptime Institute provides direct consulting and
advisory support for DCIM decision making,
deployment, and optimization. Based on multiple years
of research and market analysis, DCIM Consulting
services help data center executives understand the
vendor landscape, deploy on a timely schedule, and
avoid overspending.
Our independent experts have guided leading
IT organizations through the purchase and
implementation process, helping them avoid
common pitfalls. We provide a framework for
defining requirements and establishing justification
for DCIM investments, and offer vendor-neutral
assistance in solution evaluation. Uptime Institute
is uniquely positioned to provide the support
data center executives need to navigate this
significant investment.

*Source: Uptime Institute 2015 Data Center Survey of 1,000 operators and IT professionals
Navigating the DCIM Process
The DCIM market is sprawling and varied, with a range
of suppliers from longstanding equipment vendors
to startup companies. The reported functionality
and integration of the various tools is often subject
to interpretation and does not always stand up to
scrutiny. One companys success with a tool does not
translate to universal success. Often, organizations
fail to define business requirements or dont evaluate
options in a holistic and consistent framework. Some
find the need to purchase multiple commercial DCIM
tools. This can prove to be a successful strategy for
companies applying an incremental approach; or it can
be a wasted effort and major embarrassment when a
large investment does not meet expectations.
Let Uptime Institute experts help you develop
strategies for aligning DCIM with business needs, and
provide a high-level methodology for evaluating and
deploying DCIM tools. DCIM consulting engagements
are delivered in three phases:
Defining Requirements & Planning Phase
Consultants lead workshops with DCIM stakeholders
to determine organizational objectives, help codify the
decision making process, and define the workflow.
We assess all existing assets, including monitoring
tools and tracking and management dashboards, to
identify the gaps between current capabilities and
organizational objectives. Youll receive a summary
of findings and preliminary justification for a DCIM
solution, with a table of requirements for use in the
RFP process.
Fulfilling the Promise of Value from DCIM
Dont waste energy, resources, and money on ill-
fitting DCIM projects. Let Uptime Institute experts
help you hone a DCIM strategy thats suited to your
organization, select a solution that is right sized for
your data center, and define system operation and
execution plans so you can launch without delay and
start reaping the rewards sooner.
Building on a Legacy of Innovation
For more than 20 years, Uptime Institute has been
leading the way in improving availability and efficiency
in the data center and IT industry, focusing efforts
and attention on improving management priorities
and fostering cross-disciplinary communication. Our
breadth of consulting engagements includes working
around the world with hundreds of data center
organizations. We combine years of research with
hands on experience in operations and leadership.
Ready to Get Started?
Take advantage of our multi-million dollar, decades-
long investment in Efficient IT research, innovation,
education, and evangelization. Put impactful efficiency
practices to work in your data center.
Questions?
Please contact your regional representative online:
http://uptimeinstitute.com/contact-us,
email us at: info@uptimeinstitute.com,
or by phone at: +1 206.706.4149

DCIM Vendor Selection Phase

Uptime Institute identifies a short-list of vendors that
can fulfill your DCIM solution requirements and provide
needed service levels. This short list is based on our
unique, owner/operator-focused analysis of DCIM
providers, characteristics, and benefits. Consultants
participate in teleconferences with potential
suppliers, and evaluate RFP responses against your
requirements, but will not broker or engage directly
with vendors. We are an extension of the owners
team, rather than an intermediary.

Post Implementation Assessment & DCIM

Operations Optimization
Consultants perform a two-day site visit to assess
Uptime Institute is a division of The 451 Group, a leading technology
the implementation and operational effectiveness of
industry analyst and data company. Uptime Institute has office locations
the DCIM tool. We help you ensure that the DCIM in the U.S., Mexico, Costa Rica, Brazil, U.K., Spain, U.A.E., Russia,
deployment meets the requirements established Taiwan, Singapore, and Malaysia.

in the first phase, and provide guidance for further Visit www.uptimeinstitute.com for more information.
optimization. 2016 Uptime Institute, LLC. All rights reserved
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