Originating Author: David Floyer
The benefits of storage services come from reducing complexity and increasing economies of scale. That means getting rid of arrays and migrating the data and applications. It means getting rid of software and changing procedures. It means implementing a sand-box to evaluate new technologies and refresh the storage services “cube.” It means a lot of work and push-back from users and IT staff resistant to change.
The business case should include an implementation plan. The plan must be detailed and include clear priorities and specific dates for removal of specific arrays and software. Delaying the detailed planning until after the agreement in principle to implement storage services is likely to result in little actual change and could actually increase complexity and costs.
One way of using the short window of leverage over winning vendors is to involve them in managing the process of cleaning house. A third party with a clear motivation of additional business as a result of success can reduce the friction of change.
Action Item: The business case for storage services should include a detailed plan with priorities for reducing the number of array types and streamlining the storage procedures round a small set of storage management software. Consider using services from winning storage vendors to clean house and ensure the benefits are achieved by tying execution success to future business.
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