The growing size and complexity of enterprise data often leads to poor resource utilization and administrative headaches. To achieve greater efficiencies, many organizations are turning to server consolidation initiatives that leverage blade servers or virtual infrastructures.

Performing an IT Audit

The benefits of a successful server consolidation project include the retirement of old or underutilized hardware, savings in floor space and power consumption and an overall reduction in total cost of ownership. However, successful consolidation initiatives often require considerable upfront planning, time and effort.

If you are planning for virtualisation, an audit of your server and storage infrastructure will help you to optimise your environment and to choose the right solutions.

Are you using all the software licences you are paying for? Could some staff be using lower spec, lower cost packages of software? Ensuring you’re making the most of what you’re already paying for just makes sense.

Auditing your desktops also makes sense. If you’re planning Vista roll-out then an audit of what you have got and whether your existing desktops need to be upgraded will be invaluable. The alternative route is to look at desktop virtualisation.

Over the past year we have delivered increasing numbers of virtualisation projects, and often corrected projects where they have gone wrong - prior to our involvement.

An IT Audit will provide you with cold hard facts and not "guesstimates" with best intent. Part of the process is to initially complete a full server and storage audit to ensure an understanding of key elements such as:

Server peak usage - What we can your servers be consolidated to?

Amount of data stored - How much data do you currently have on your network?

Daily power consumption - Will help with your ROI and deliver a greener environment

Data location - Where is your data located and how is it being accessed?

All of these will be accurate figures derived from your network, created over a period of time ranging from two to four weeks.