Moving today’s data centers to a cloud environment requires critical configuration information to run the applications, IT management tools, and related software. In order for the migration to proceed smoothly, accurate information gathering related to configuration parameters, analytical data, etc. is critical. This complex gathering is usually done on a manual basis. Increasingly, modern configuration tools can be used to facilitate moves and smooth out the deployment process. The question becomes, how can successful business-based processing be applied to the migration and management of data centers in the cloud?

It’s well known that successful cloud computing and deployment depends upon accurate performance and service level reports. Without this information, the success of cloud deployments can be put in jeopardy. There is a need to coordinate and integrate the various reporting components, as well as to identify exactly which cloud architecture will best serve an organization’s goals. A recent Gartner (News - Alert) study indicated that by 2016, all Global 2000 companies will use public cloud services. Cloud features, such as scalability and on-demand resource allocation, are fundamental to why an increasing number of small companies and large enterprises are incorporating the cloud into their business.

The capability to mix and match components on an as-need basis is one of the key attractors to cloud computing. However, the lack of visibility into the configuration details of a chosen component can result in difficulties further down the line. The inability of IT teams to understand a technology’s details or to control certain aspects related to the cloud, such as virtual machine (VM) sprawl can result in sub-par IT, and system, functionality. It comes back to analyzing performance and service-level reports in a way that’s productive and beneficial. By extracting this granular information, IT can ensure optimum performance for a cloud-based system while making sure that it is secure and compliant.

According to Mary Johnston Turner of IDC (News - Alert), “Each vendor’s hypervisor will have its own set of APIs, performance monitors, and VM provisioning and migration technologies that need to be integrated into consistent, standardized workflows and automated provisioning profiles. This added layer of complexity makes it even more challenging for IT teams to operate effectively.”

While consolidation has been the key motivator for companies moving resources to the cloud as well as lowering operations and infrastructure costs, it has placed more concomitant pressure on IT. The analytic and configuration information requirement has stretched some IT team’s capabilities. 

It’s clear that overcoming these complexities and dynamics will be key differentiators as increasing numbers of companies move to the cloud.

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