converged infrastructure: why converging your data center...

1 TechTarget Proprietary and Confidential—Do Not Distribute

ResearchPeer Network

earchCIO SearchSecurity SearchDataManagement SearchSQLServer SearchCRMSearchCloudComputing SearchCompliance SearchCloudProvider SearchStorage SearchC

ch400 SearchCloudApplications SearchAWS SearchFinancialSecurity SearchNetworking archConsumerization SearchSDN SearchMidmarketSecurity SearchOracle Search

SearchDataBackup SearchVirtualDesktop SearchCloudStorage SearchManufacturingERPPPPPPcurity SearchTelecom SearchITChannel SearchSecurity SearchVirtualStorage Search

SearchContentManagement SearchSAP BrianMadden SearchCRM SearchStorage SearchVMware SearchBusinessAnalytics SearchExchange SearchHealthIT Search

SearchSMBStorage ComputerWeekly SearchDataCenter SearchSQLServer SearchCompSearchSecurity TheServerSide SearchEnterpriseDesktop SearchEnterpriseLinux Search

SearchCloudSecurity SearchSolidStateStorage S SearchMobileComputing SearchDomino SearchWinDevelopment SearchEnterpriseWAN SearchWinIT SearchWindowsServer

SearchCloudSecurity ComputerWeekly SearchSoftwareQuality SearchUnfiedCommuincationsSearchMobileComputing SearchServerVirtualization SearchCompliance SearchDisasterRecoveryyyii

Converged infrastructure: Why converging your data center might be the right choice for you



About TechTarget Research and MethodologyThrough in-depth interviews and web based surveys with pre-screened decision makers TechTarget Research aggregates actual purchases quarter over quarter for key segments within the Data Center Market, including converged infrastructures. In addition, every six months a Market Landscape Study is produced that captures detailed technology roadmap data, overlaying the vendors in use and in plan, along with spending projections, capacity changes, and exciting vendors.

By participating in our research you become a member of the TechTarget Research Peer Network. As part of your subscription you receive access to all of this fact based data, delivered without any analyst spin or bias, in exchange for your valuable time. The reciprocal relationship that TechTarget Research has created with our audience of enterprise IT decision makers helps them to:

• Benchmark their own IT spending and have proof-points to get the budget for their upcoming projects

• Fast track their evaluations by identifying the short list their peers have vetted

• Negotiate aggressively by knowing the type of deals their peers are getting

• Make more informed decisions about using a new IT vendor by utilizing their peers’ actual experiences

You will receive reports through email after participating in your first TechTarget Research study. And, you can maintain your free subscription to this research by participating in TechTarget Research studies every 3 months. We will send you invitations to these studies periodically; look for your invite from TechTarget Research.



Introduction

Converged infrastructures for a data center are in the nascent stages of implementations, according to survey respondents. And while growth in implementation is expected, is a converged infrastructure right for your data center? Beyond cost savings, what are the other reasons organizations decide to implement one? What applications do they plan to run on their upcoming purchase? And what features are companies looking for and should your company also consider them?

TechTarget Research has collected data from 300 IT managers who provide some insights into current and future converged infrastructure implementations. This report will help you:

• Understand the current and future state of converged infrastructure implementations for data centers

• Uncover key applications that will be used to take advantage of a converged infrastructure

• Find the features companies should look for in a converged infrastructure

• Learn what it all means



TechTarget asked 300 data center IT professionals for anonymous insights into their current and future converged infrastructure purchases. Seventeen percent (17%) of all respondents said they currently have a converged infrastructure such as VCE Vblock, HP Blade Systems, Dell FX or RTX, IBM Pureflex, EMC VxBlock, or NetApp Flexpod. When looking in more detail at companies of different sizes a clearer picture appears. Nearly 30% of companies with 1,000 or more employees indicate they currently have a converged infrastructure compared to only 11% of companies with fewer employees. And while the majority of companies currently don’t have a converged infrastructure, a look towards future purchases indicates a commitment to implementations over the next 12 months. One in five companies with fewer than 1,000 employees expects to purchase converged technologies for their data center and 31% of companies with 1,000 or more employees are looking to do the same.

So what’s driving this interest in a converged infrastructure? Nearly half of 71 IT professionals who plan to implement one in the next 12 months say a converged infrastructure makes it easier for them to purchase all storage, servers and networking at the same time. Nearly one-third says that a key driver is easy deployment of technologies in their data center and one-quarter indicates that saving money by purchasing storage, servers and networking all together is a strong motivation. Yet, while these three reasons rise to the top, there are many others that drive IT professionals to a converged infrastructure (see chart on the following page).

Is the future data center converging?



55%

53%

37%

17%

13%

13%

11%

9%

21%

Easier to purchace all storage, network and infrastructure all at once

Can deploy more quickly

Save money by purchasing storage, services and networking together

Simplifies our infrastructure

End of life of hardware/service contract ending

Consolidated management

Easier to add future capacity or capability

Reduce tech support headaches by eliminating multi-vendor finger pointing

Saves Space

Data management challenges

Our vendor/intefrator/reseller recommended it

Building a new datacenter or moging to a new facility

n= 71, Top 3 choices only

Top reasons for a converged infrastructure

48%

30%

25%

20% 20%

18%

15%

10%

8%

8%

7%

7%



A converged infrastructure can be leveraged in a variety of ways. Two-thirds of organizations who were asked which applications they plan on deploying on their converged infrastructure say they will use it for business intelligence/analytics. And while this was the top response, ERP software from companies such as SAP, Oracle, and Microsoft, was also chosen by a majority of individuals (see chart below).

55%

53%

37%

17%

13%

13%

11%

9%

21%

Business intelligence/analytics

ERP (SAP, Oracle, MS-Dynamics, etc.)

Virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI, Citrix, VMware, etc.)

Proprietary/In-house application

Other, please specify

n= 71

Applications to be deployed on a future converged infrastructure purchase

63%

58%

51%

37%

8%

Key application deployment



Over half of the 71 data center IT managers we surveyed say overall capacity is the top feature of their upcoming converged infrastructure purchase. Yet, other features are also important and should be considered when implementing a converged infrastructure. Scalability, high I/O, the ability to optimize for specific application scenarios and the fact that flash/SSD storage can be configured for persistent storage and/or cache are all considered important by at least one in five respondents (see chart on the following page). Organizations looking to create a converged infrastructure for their data center should consider these features in addition to their own list to make sure they’re not missing anything they need immediately or in the future.

Top features companies want



55%

53%

37%

17%

13%

13%

11%

9%

21%

Overall capacity

Scalability

High I/O

Can be optimized for specific application scenarios

Can flash/SSD storage be configured for persistent storage and/or cache

Number of processor cores per server node

Advanced networking features, such as quality ofservice

Policy-based automated management

Type of data protection (striping, mirroring, erasure coding, etc.)

File and block support

VM Specific configuraion (e.g., no LUNs or other traditional constructs)

Max memory per server mode

Advanced storage features, such as deduplication and compression

Automated fault isolation and recovery

Built-in analytics software for management

n= 71, Top 3 choices only

Most critical features for an upcoming converged infrastructure purchase

55%

41%

32%

21% 20%

10%

8%

8%

7%

7%

7%

7%

7%

7%

6%



While most companies have yet to implement a converged infrastructure in their data center, there’s a clear movement by companies to do so. Among other reasons, making it easier for IT professionals to purchase storage, servers and networking stands out as a top motive. And, while many different types of applications can leverage the power of a converged infrastructure, business intelligence/analytics rises to the top. Companies that want to maximize the benefits of their new implementation need to make sure it has the right features, including – for starters – the benefit of improving overall capacity.

Conclusion



TechTarget Research Peer Network Peer Connect Program

Would you like to take your research beyond the reports and discuss your upcoming project with an experienced peer? Then use our Peer Connect program, where we will set up a free peer advisor meeting to discuss your upcoming project. Your peer is hand selected based on matching project criteria to our network of advisors. To take advantage of this opportunity we simply ask that you return the favor in the future when a peer needs similar help.

Interested in setting up a meeting?

Email us at [email protected]

http://www.techtarget.com/network



About TechTarget Research Peer Network

Choosing the right technologies and finding the right vendors for IT projects is now much easier. Members of the TechTarget Research Peer Network gain unlimited access to our vast store of peer-based research that institutional investors and management teams at vendors pay hundreds of thousands of dollars for.

With a subscription members can:

• Benchmark their own IT spending and have proof-points to get the budget for their upcoming projects

• Fast track their evaluations by identifying the short list their peers have vetted

• Negotiate aggressively by knowing the type of deals their peers are getting

• Make more informed decisions about using a new IT vendor by utilizing their peers’ actual experiences

Participation is easy. In exchange for a confidential dialog about their recent purchases, technology roadmaps, vendor relationships and forward-looking spending plans, we give members free unlimited access to the aggregated, anonymized intelligence we’ve gathered from their peers who share the same insight on an ongoing basis. This incredible research saves them time, money and advances their knowledge and professional career. For questions any questions about the Peer Network contact: [email protected].

mailto:techtargetresearch%40techtarget.com?subject=Question%20about%20TechTarget%20Research%20Peer%20Network


This report contains only aggregated and anonymous information based on responses to surveys conducted by TechTarget Research. The report and the information contained here in should be kept strictly confidential and is the property of and proprietary to TechTarget, Inc. It is available solely for your internal use and available to TechTarget Research Peer Network participants only. This report and the information contained herein may not be disclosed to any third party, copied or otherwise reproduced, repackaged, further transmitted, transferred, disseminated, redistributed or resold, or stored for subsequent use for any such purpose, in whole or in part, in any form or manner or by any means whatsoever, by any person without TechTarget express prior written consent.

©2016 TechTarget. All rights reserved. The TechTarget logo is a registered trademark of TechTarget. All other logos are trademarks of their respective owners. TechTarget reserves the right to make changes in specifications and other information contained in this document without prior notice. The reader should in all cases consult TechTarget to determine whether any such changes have been made.


About TechTarget

TechTarget publishes media for information technology professionals. More than 140 focused websites enable quick access to a deep store of news, advice and analysis about the technologies, products and processes crucial to your job. techtarget.com/network

http://www.techtarget.com/network

converged infrastructure: why converging your data center...

Documents