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Symposium 2009 Track Roundtable Presentations |
Monday, April 13th
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Enterprise Computing in the Current Economic Realities
Chair: Steve Bandrowczak, Nortel
In the current climate of economic crisis and concern about the cost and availability of energy, managing the stresses on enterprise IT and the data center becomes increasingly complex. This roundtable focuses on how to build business value by efficiently and fully utilizing data center computing capacity. It will take a close look at if and how the recession is impacting IT as a whole, and data centers in particular. How do IT managers continue to meet the growth demands from business units without necessarily increasing hardware spending? Hardware asset utilization, consolidation, configuration, and virtualization all play a critical role and will need to be discussed. When looking at hardware utilization, it's hard to not ask the question on software: How much is the enterprise IT problem exacerbated by data duplication, bloatware, patch management, and outdated storage management concepts? This economy will make or break the reputation of business technology leaders. This roundtable looks at how some are working to stay a step ahead. The impressive line-up of panelists will discuss significant trends, global sourcing dynamics, industry forecasts and valuable insights that are shaping the globalization agenda of corporations around the world.
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Tuesday, April 14th
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Collaboratively Managing the Inefficiencies of the Data Center
Chair: Chuck Vermillion,
OneNeck
The average data center is a grossly inefficient operation, both in terms of its economically productive computing and its use of energy. The only answer to the wasted energy and money is a new, more collaborative approach by the corporate stakeholders - IT, Facilities, Finance, and the Business Units or Lines. One of the important issues that this panel will examine is how much of data center operations can be standardized and automated to increase productivity. How are the technologies and business processes of configuration and change management best deployed to improve computing productivity? How does a data center operator know where his/her organization really is in terms of efficiency? What is the role of the IT infrastructure Library (ITIL), the configuration and change management data bases, and what metrics are effective? Hear from industry visionaries and executives who have been at the forefront of managing data center inefficiencies, globalization and outsourcing initiatives within the ITO and BPO domains.
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Wednesday, April 15th
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The Near Future of Data Center Energy
Chair:
Mark Branfitt, Pacific Gas & Electric Company
What can you expect as a matter of national and state energy policy, utilities regulation, and utilities strategic
planning in terms of a “smart grid”, increases in the mix of renewables in the supply, and clean energy alternatives,
both on and off the grid? As more and more data centers try to move away from fossil fuel to renewables, what
new technologies really work (at the necessary scale) and mitigate risk? Is it solar or wind? Biofuels or wave power?
Do those experimental batteries really provide sufficient power? Where, on the grid, can renewables be reliably
delivered? What does the smart grid look like and how can data centers contribute to the build-out? The key points
of this discussion of the likely scenarios are what IT and data center executives will want to take back to talk about
with their strategic and governance experts and their regional utilities and regulatory bodies.
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Is Outsourcing, Cloud Computing or Co-location the Lever to Efficiency?
Chair: Amy Wohl, Wohl Associates
How and when does an IT organization begin seriously investigating outsourcing some or all of its computing load? What are the considerations that need to be addressed in examining software as a service (SaaS), cloud computing,
or other approaches? How do smart IT operators negotiate fair outsourcing contracts that get them the levels of
service, uptime availability, and (especially now) energy-efficiency consciousness that they require? What impact
may this current recession have on these decisions? What are the trends?
Attendees will hear provide insights from panelists that have lived and breathed global outsourcing, cloud
computing and collocation initiatives. Whether you are a new entrant or a seasoned sourcing executive, this
roundtable discussion will provide real-life examples and strategies for developing the right sourcing strategy for
your organization.
This session will also aid in understanding the new areas ripe for outsourcing, developing strategic sourcing
capabilities and staying ahead of the curve. These experienced industry executives will provide a fresh look at
what’s needed for sound, strategic decision making throughout the outsourcing lifecycle.
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