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Beyond virtualisation – a fresh approach needed to become a Real-time Enterprise, says Unisys


Unisys reveals its “Virtualisation to 2012” roadmap

SYDNEY, August 27, 2008 – In 2009 organisations will have the tools to implement a truly dynamic real-time infrastructure based on the foundations of a virtualised environment.  However the key step in the evolution of virtualisation will not be a new technology or tool, but rather a fundamental change to the way that IT is used to support business goals and operations, predicts the Unisys “Virtualisation to 2012” roadmap.

 

The first step organisations should take toward becoming a real-time enterprise is to identify which elements of their IT infrastructure can be standardised and automated.  This will allow IT managers to concentrate on IT strategy development that’s aligned with broader business goals and also pave the way for the introduction of alternative delivery models, such as Software as a Service (SaaS), utility computing and automated self-service.

 

“A range of solutions designed to revolutionise how IT supports its internal and external customers will allow organisations to use IT to more strategically support their business objectives by creating a truly automated and responsive technology landscape,” said Mike Dooner, sales director enterprise solutions, Systems & Technology, Unisys Asia Pacific. 

 

“As a side effect, IT Executives will need to be far more engaged with business, effectively completing the change in the role of the CIO which began a few years ago. CIOs will need a firmer grasp on policy and service levels than ever before.  This will drive cultural change as well as operational change.”

 

Recent global research* commissioned by Unisys found that business and IT executives expected to change the way they used IT from minimising costs to supporting business growth in the next three years. In describing IT management practices, 52 percent of respondents expected to treat IT as an investment or differentiator in three years, yet 72 percent said that they currently treat it as a support function, a means to enhance productivity or a capital expense. Organisations that take a strategic approach to implementing a real-time infrastructure can bridge this gap.

 

“Virtualisation and the real-time infrastructure nirvana is more than a simple technology change.  The key to success is effective planning – not just for implementing technology but a holistic view of people, processes and governance.  Organisations that implement a virtualised environment too quickly in an ad hoc or tactical manner will find they are constantly reinventing their approach, causing frequent and unnecessary disruptions to their current environment.  Instead, organisations should strategically plan to use virtualisation across a large portion of their environment to allow them to scale seamlessly to support changing business needs,” Mr Dooner said.

 

Unisys has identified the following tips for developing an effective real-time infrastructure:

  • Understand your business strategy and operations and how they rely on IT
  • Build or provision infrastructure in an automated, auditable way
  • Define and implement a proven, best practice process framework
  • Virtualise with hyper visor technology
  • Consolidate and migrate disparate applications
  • Repurpose newly available resources in response to business requirements
  • Automate process and workflow
  • Implement governance and chargeback facilities to ensure appropriate metrics and resource use is attributed to the relevant business unit

Unisys tips for implementing a virtualised real-time infrastructure solution include:

  • Catalogue all software and hardware assets in the data centre into a complete view and understand their current function.
  • Employ a business blueprinting methodology to create a comprehensive virtualisation strategy for people, process and technology.
  • Map this strategy against mission critical technology functions to identify which assets to virtualise, consolidate or retire.

About Unisys Asia Pacific

 

Unisys helps clients with solutions for secure business operations by aligning technology with business strategy. Drawing on a history of industry innovation and expertise, Unisys provides specialised services, delivered by trusted consultants.  In Asia Pacific, Unisys delivers services and solutions through subsidiaries in Australia, New Zealand, China, Hong Kong, India, Korea, Malaysia, The Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand and through distributors or resellers in other countries in the region.  For more information, visit www.unisys.com.  

 

* Unisys commissioned strategic advisory firm Saugatuck Technology to conduct the research in late 2007 and early 2008. The double-blind study surveyed 1,200 business and IT executives in organisations worldwide. The discussion focused on the enterprises’ business priorities and the capabilities they have today and those they want to develop the most to support those key business objectives.

 

Contacts 

 

Pip Sheardown, Unisys, 0406 992 816
phillipa.sheardown@au.unisys.com

 

Claire Hosegood, Unisys, 0411 253 663
claire.hosegood@au.unisys.com