Cloud? Data Center? How To Distinguish Services For Your Client's IT "Baby"

By Brian Vandegrift, Executive Vice President of Sales & Innovation, Venyu

Let’s face it, when it comes to your client’s applications, data and network, for many IT professionals, it’s their baby. They’ve helped it grow by carefully adding new devices; made sure it’s well protected from harm with the necessary security; made certain that it’s properly fed with the right power and ensured it’s comfortable with the right cooling. They’re not about to hand over control of their network and its applications to just any facility — Correct?

From an emotional perspective, outsourcing network operations is no different than sending your son or daughter off to college. Hardware, applications and processing power is leaving the wiring closet nest, and your client is trusting the care and well-being of it all to an unknown entity. Before they send them along, they need to make sure they’ve found the right home.

Letting a portion of IT responsibilities (i.e., their “baby”) go typically starts by interviewing data center or cloud providers. However, many times the consumer of these services is not entirely sure about what they are looking for. While it’s true that IT professionals know all the industry buzz words, sometimes they don’t know exactly how to map their specific needs to a provider’s service. This is often where cloud and data center confusion sets in.

While it’s important to note that the cloud is comprised of many data centers, it’s also important to remember that its data center foundation has a host of separate services to offer. When a client or prospect is seeking any outsourced IT services, it’s imperative to explain the differences and similarities between the cloud and data center offerings in order to make an informed decision. Here is a quick checklist to help match the best IT needs to outsourced services:

If your client has applications that need elastic processing power, scalable on-demand bandwidth, or they simply want temporary data services billed at specific time intervals … then they need cloud services. Cloud services typically contain:

• VMware, Azure and Openstack and others.
• Vsphere for self-service portal access.
• Multi-Tenant environments.
• A variety of best-of-breed hardware such as Cisco, HP, EMC and others.
• Processing time billed at specific time intervals.
• Elastic bandwidth to ratchet up and down as application demand dictates.

If they are running out of rackspace, need faster connectivity, lack the proper data security, or simply want to convert your wiring closet into a new break room … then they need data center services. Data center services typically provide:

• A better physical location, in less volatile areas (i.e. not in flood zones or along fault lines) while also offering easy access for diesel fuel trucks if needed.
• Better proximity to a power station for reliable power and -- not in competition with hospitals or other emergency facilities should the lights go out.
• A more diverse network infrastructure of multiple providers with several points of entry for telecommunication providers.
• Professional network management, data security, as well as the proper cooling conditions.
• Rackspace and connectivity.

Although there are considerable differences between cloud and data center services, there are also several common traits to note such as:

• SLA commitments — outage and maintenance.

• Audits — rubber stamp or true audit.
• Controls that are documented and audited by 3rd parties (SSAE SOC II).

No matter what their decision, cloud or data center, most IT administrators welcome the opportunity to get out of the infrastructure maintenance and security game by outsourcing at least portions of their hardware and applications to a managed provider.

Why? Because it’s expensive, time consuming and truly stated: A pain to maintain it all.  Enter the impetus for exiting the perpetual Infrastructure Lifecycle Management (ILM) process. ILM is a method of keeping the IT infrastructure aligned with a business so that it’s functional from the time it is implemented through its retirement. The ever-present and constant specter of ILM keeps administrators busy while ensuring standards and maintaining continuity at the expense of innovating and supporting the business with new IT services. Consider this list as a mere microcosm of the IT assets that constantly need supporting:

• Server Hardware
• Storage Devices
• Switches, Routers, Firewalls, Security Appliances
• Facilities - HVAC, UPS, Generators, Security (Cameras), Video Storage
• Back-Up - Hardware (Disks) and Software
• Disaster Recovery
• Operations - Help Desk Software
• NOC - Dashboards
• Security (IPS, IDS Apps)
• Compliance 

The common denominator between all the considerations mentioned is that the true constant is change. Your client’s data needs will eventually outgrow their wiring closet, IT skills, security talents and processing power. Letting go is difficult; ease their mind by proving yourself to be an established and well-qualified provider.