07 March 2022
Herman Chan, president, Sunbird Software
Modern data centre managers understand that Data Centre Infrastructure Management (DCIM) software is necessary to simplify the management of increasingly complex and distributed data centre products on the market, and buyers of first-generation DCIM will recall that many vendors will overpromise and underdeliver. Whether you are seeking your first DCIM solution or replacing your legacy DCIM, follow these tips to stay focused on what matters most: choosing the tool that will address your biggest data centre management problems.
1. Identify your data centre pain points. The first step to choosing the DCIM software that’s right for you is to consider your requirements. Separate the “must-haves” from the “nice-to-haves” to focus your upcoming research on the solutions that best fit your needs rather than being influenced by vendor promises.
2. Educate yourself on DCIM software. Before you reach out to any vendors, it’s best to do your own research and come to your own initial conclusions. Research how others have found success with DCIM software and what benefits they are getting. Share your findings with project stakeholders so that they too can understand the importance of DCIM software.
3. Stay focused on the core problems you need to solve. It’s tempting to want to tackle every single data centre management problem you have, but that path will likely lead you to a failed project. Instead, focus on your top problems that you need a solution for. Also, keep in mind that the solution to the problem could be DCIM software or it could be a multitude of other data centre management or IT tools.
4. Estimate your return on investment. Get a good handle on how much your data centre management problems are costing you. Use a DCIM ROI Calculator and a Smart Rack Calculator to get personalized estimates based on your current footprint, operating costs, and other attributes. If you haven’t already, read DCIM case studies and reviews and watch DCIM webinars to see how leading experts are quantifying their ROI.
5. Obtain buy-in and a budget from your organization. Once you’ve built a strong case for DCIM, it’s time to get support from management and other key stakeholders. One of the best times to obtain a budget for DCIM software is in conjunction with another major business-related IT expense. Projects like data centre consolidations, migrations, and constructions provide perfect timing.
6. Evaluate vendors for the best fit solution. Once you have secured a budget, it’s time to reach out to vendors. Keep in mind that not all DCIM tools are created equally, and you must be vigilant at this step or risk a failed deployment. To select the right DCIM provider, read and compare vendor assessments and look for vendors with many public references, high ratings from many reviews, and industry awards. Most vendors will offer demos, test drives, or trials to allow you to review their capabilities hands-on before purchasing. A thorough proof-of-concept evaluation may require more effort and resources upfront, but it is the single best way to be confident that you are choosing the right DCIM software.
7. Select and deploy your DCIM solution. If you’ve done your due diligence, you should be confident that you know which product is the best fit solution for you. Otherwise, you risk buying bells and whistles or getting hit with hidden expenses. Your DCIM vendor should be a partner who has your success in mind. Next, determine who will own the DCIM project and lead the effort. Then, start reaping the benefits of DCIM software such as better uptime, increased efficiency, and improved people productivity. Keep in mind that your DCIM journey is just beginning. Optimizing your data center operations is a gradual and iterative process. You should tackle your most critical issues in a phased approach that minimizes disruptions in the short term while providing a huge ROI in the long term.
The DCIM vendors currently on the market range drastically in quality. Don’t get fooled by smoke and mirrors. Instead, follow best practices to ensure you choose a battle-tested vendor of second-generation DCIM with a large installed base of satisfied customers. Select a vendor with your success in mind that will be your partner and provide the data center management expertise necessary to enable the best return on your investment.
