| As the IT needs of organizations continue to evolve, | | | | would be a better fit to help your company improve |
| more solutions continue to emerge, offering to assist | | | | efficiency and spending. |
| businesses in the operation of IT services and | | | | 2. What areas of IT infrastructure have the most room |
| infrastructure. | | | | for improvement? |
| While many of these solutions do provide significant | | | | Next, take a careful look at your current IT |
| value, companies should carefully investigate and | | | | infrastructure. What are the areas of strength? What |
| choose which solutions make the most sense given | | | | areas need the most improvement? Are there any |
| their specific IT needs. | | | | missing capabilities that would help improve your |
| Particularly when it comes to IT Infrastructure | | | | systems? |
| outsourcing (ITO), there are a number of levels of | | | | These are all important questions in assessing the |
| service to choose from. As the infrastructure needs of | | | | current state of your IT infrastructure. Ask plenty of |
| 21st Century business grows, companies are turning in | | | | questions and look for holes or areas of weakness. |
| droves to data centers to more efficiently manage | | | | Clarifying your areas of greatest need will ensure you |
| these needs. | | | | end up with a solution that makes the most impact. |
| However, before jumping on the bandwagon, be sure | | | | 3. What IT investments would be more cost efficient if |
| to cover the necessary due-diligence needed to make | | | | managed by a dedicated ITO provider? |
| an informed decision. ITO can certainly help your | | | | Answering this question may require an investigation |
| organization save costs and run more efficiently, but | | | | into your current IT spending. Look at exactly where |
| only if you choose the right ITO solution for your | | | | your IT dollars are going and probe for leaks. Consider |
| needs. | | | | which areas would benefit the most from outsourced |
| When it comes to determining the needs of your | | | | management. |
| organization's IT infrastructure, there are four basic | | | | 4. Based on the previous questions, what level of ITO |
| questions that need to be answered. These four things | | | | service makes the most sense for your organization? |
| will give good insight into what type of solution will be | | | | Take your answers from questions three and four and |
| the best value for your business. | | | | line them up. Between areas of weakness and areas |
| 1. Does IT infrastructure management fit into your | | | | of inefficient cost, you should gain a good idea of what |
| organization's set of core competencies? | | | | your organization requires from an ITO provider. |
| First things first. Before jumping headlong into any ITO | | | | When researching and speaking with colocation or |
| solution, start by determining if it fits within your | | | | data center suppliers, focus your questions around |
| organization's core competencies. Just because other | | | | these areas of need. By first determining your exact IT |
| organizations are doing it, doesn't mean it's a wise | | | | infrastructure needs, you can be sure your outsourced |
| investment for your business. | | | | investment will be the right decision for the health of |
| If the answer is yes, move on to question number two. | | | | your business. |
| If the answer is no, perhaps a different IT solution | | | | |