| Any organization without an efficient IT infrastructure is | | | | an investment in an obsolete IT infrastructure will pay |
| operating at a disadvantage. Data centers are the | | | | for itself in a short period of time. Implementing the |
| heart of modern business and clogged information | | | | latest network technologies improves communication |
| arteries may give your company a heart attack from | | | | among different parts of the company, speeds up |
| which it will never recover. | | | | productivity and improves data security. Data centers |
| Why Do Companies Have Outdated IT Infrastructure? | | | | become more accessible at all hours and company |
| In a perfect world, computer networks would always | | | | systems remain available to users even during heavy |
| be using the latest hardware and software | | | | network traffic times, natural disasters or national |
| technologies to operate at maximum efficiency at any | | | | holidays. Networks are better managed. Operating |
| given moment. Data centers would be fully staffed | | | | systems and software tools are kept current with the |
| around the clock and would provide 100% access | | | | latest performance and security patches, and those |
| even during a major natural disaster. An array of | | | | upgrades have little, if any, negative impact on |
| technologies from physical security to software | | | | company operations. |
| safeguards would protect the data from loss or | | | | Fast data access isn't only about the computer |
| successfully restore it in its entirety after a disaster. | | | | network. One often-overlooked aspect of company |
| Real life IT infrastructures fall substantially short of | | | | communications is the efficiency of the call center. |
| these ideals. New technology is expensive and many | | | | Nearly any organization has customer service or |
| organizations prefer to limp along under the older, less | | | | technical support personnel and a surprising number of |
| expensive systems all while hoping to upgrade under | | | | those operations are still using 1980s phone technology. |
| next year's budget. Oftentimes, however, that elusive | | | | Upgrading with the latest VoIP connectivity and call |
| "next year" never seems to come. Cultural attitudes | | | | center management software improves caller volume, |
| inhibit growth as some executives can't understand | | | | shortens wait time and builds customer loyalty. |
| why a slow network isn't as good as a fast one. | | | | Centralized Data Management |
| Additionally, industries that don't revolve around | | | | It's astonishing how often companies with multiple |
| information may underestimate how much an efficient | | | | locations have data centers that operate under vastly |
| network will enhance their productivity and, ultimately, | | | | different technologies, software tools and IT protocols. |
| their profitability. | | | | To remain viable in an increasingly competitive market, |
| Mergers And Acquisitions | | | | it is essential that all parts of an organization operate |
| Even companies that try to stay on the leading edge | | | | as a whole. When each location is doing something |
| of information technology sometimes have to deal with | | | | different, the lack of unified data policies drags the |
| outdated networks after a merger or buyout. When a | | | | company down. |
| corporation buys another company, it often finds the | | | | Centralized IT infrastructure management means |
| new acquisition is using older, less efficient technology. | | | | every site has access to the same tools and |
| In fact, this might be precisely why the company was | | | | technologies. It simplifies data security and disaster |
| not competitive and was purchased at such a bargain | | | | recovery. Coordinating training and administration |
| price to start. The absorbed business may have found | | | | ensures everyone from IT managers to end users is |
| itself in a profit death spiral as sinking revenues | | | | following the same security and accessibility rules. |
| prevented them from making necessary IT upgrades | | | | Productivity is measured on the same scale regardless |
| to improve future earnings. | | | | of location, and corporate metrics allow inefficiencies |
| Leaving the old IT infrastructure in place leaves the | | | | to be spotted and dealt with. Efficiency is maximized |
| new company as the same unprofitable organization it | | | | and that means expenses are minimized. |
| was before. What's worse, this outdated network can | | | | Successful organizations don't use piecemeal |
| put a strain on data centers in other parts of the | | | | approaches to their IT infrastructure. When data |
| business. As the new network is integrated into the old, | | | | centers are centrally managed using the latest |
| data access and remote backups become slower. | | | | technologies, the entire company runs more efficiently. |
| Any traffic system is only as fast as the slowest | | | | It doesn't matter if the problems stem from uneven |
| component and the new acquisition threatens the | | | | growth or new acquisitions, the sooner all components |
| productivity of the entire organization. | | | | are updated, the sooner the organization can maximize |
| Bringing Communications Up To Speed | | | | productivity. |
| Although the necessary upgrades may be expensive, | | | | |