Following these major organizing principles in the execution of a data center consolidation and modernization project (these principles may vary, depending on the organization's maturity):
Strategize and Plan: Determine achievable cost savings and energy efficiencies. Consider aspects such as the effects of the project on other parts of the IT infrastructure. Present a business case based on these metrics and return on investment.
Architect Solution: Include the necessary number of data centers, their locations and configurations. Decide whether they should be colocated or outsourced. Incorporate changes in business continuity plans. Develop a cloud computing strategy for your organization.
Select Solution: Use Gartner research to help you select and implement technologies, products and services to gain energy efficiency, increase agility and enhance availability. Differentiate between "real" green IT projects and industry hype.
Build: Meet immediate needs, rather than building for long-term growth. Focus on design efficiency and an incremental build-out methodology. Factor in density zones and multitiered designs. Integrate legacy hardware with innovations. Strive for optimal costs.
Operate and Evolve: Monitor energy and operational efficiency. Make changes according to industry requirements and enterprise needs. Establish processes for ongoing server consolidation and disciplines for implementation of virtual servers to prevent virtual server sprawl.
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