NetAppChat

IT as a Service Provider
Join a panel of industry experts to discuss how to best align IT with the business.
   10 years ago
#NetAppChatYear of the Hybrid CloudJoin a panel of industry experts to discuss how to best take advantage of the hybrid cloud in 2014
   10 years ago
#NetAppChatFind Your WinIT is in a state of transition – how do you win during these challenges and navigate these changes?
Data Definer
Q5: How do you see the Hybrid Cloud continuing to evolve in 2014? And beyond?
mpclark3
In the same way apache accelerated web deployment, great open source cloud tools for both internal and external clouds take some of the cost penalty of the cloud out of the equation and open new opportunities.
Jesse Anderson
I believe we will see more robust offerings with hybrid clouds instead of trying to get a pure cloud solution. This gives customers local control yet still leverage cloud services as needed. Heavy apps can still run in house and off load other services.
Nick Howell
Companies will dip their toes in the water. I believe we'll also start to see some crossover from some of the consumer platforms into the enterprise, with different offerings. I've always believed BizCon and DR would be the 1st entry for most.
mpclark3
I see a number of companies moving away from commercial hypervisors and towards kvm and openstack. As NetApp and Cisco have embraced openstack it starts to break some of the assumptions people were making even a few years ago about the future of Cloud.
Jesse Anderson
@datacenterdude I see DR cloud installs now while keeping a main data center in house. I think we will see more of that as people offload the DR in the cloud for an "as needed" approach.
mpclark3
It is also not just the infrastructure. I think there are new companies as service layers to connect apis and services and replace things we all have had as whole teams to do in house in the past.
Sean Luce
I think we are going to see more automation and intelligence. Remove the decision making process when provisioning new services. Let the "system" decide where to place resources to meet target SLAs.
Data Definer
@mpclark3 I like this analogy!
John Furrier
automation and orchestration is the key to the cloud hybrid equations one that has to enable #devops; apis will be table stakes
Data Definer
Q4: As CIOs begin to manage cloud services and look at internal IT as a service option, what does this mean for customers and solutions?
Nick Howell
Two-sided question that's a win-win. CIO's have more of a "buffet of a la carte svcs" and customers receive better and faster response than "It's going to take 6-8 weeks to get your new server."
Data Definer
I've heard some CIOs say this is an opportunity to funnel resources away from maintaining legacy systems and accelerate the development of new systems. Agree?
Sean Luce
I think we will begin to see more "self-service" solutions as well. If the application development team needs a new server, they will be able to spin one up themselves.
Nick Howell
Completely. It's the futuristic form of the "tech refresh." Some will want to maintain control of all their own gear, sure. But I believe a lot will soon reach a point where the "cost-effectiveness" conversation must be had. Bang-for-buck, etc.
Jesse Anderson
The hope would be customers don't see anything on their end. Hybrid cloud solutions will leverage both internal control as well as leveraging advanced mobility options with going to a cloud solution. Flexpods and Cluster ONTAP are examples of solutions.
Ed Morgan ☁️🦄
That's true, our company slogan is "let us manage and maintain so you can change and improve.."
mpclark3
If done right, makes everything faster and cheaper. Unfortunately politics and the status quo too often prevent the win from being achieved the first time around.
John Zemonek
The IaaS model changes the way a CIO can support their internal customer. Nick nailed it on speed to market and the way it affects your strategy.
Data Definer
Q3: We all know IT has evolved to support a highly-mobile workforce, ever-expanding data storage, and security threats. How have sources outside Enterprise IT transformed the role of IT delivery?
mpclark3
it's not just the highly mobile workforce, the challenge extends to who our customers are and how they interact with out services.
Nick Howell
NetApp is an excellent example of this, specifically with FlexPod. Removing complexity and standardized CapEx spend allows IT depts to predictably plan budgets for years in advance, while eliminating weeks and months of "rack-n-stack"
Jesse Anderson
There is a whole new generation of IT workforce who see flexibility as a perk for working. Consumer product technology advancing at a rapid pace has really pushed for a younger workforce to have control of how they work.
Nick Howell
There are many sources from hacker guilds testing security, to VARs bringing extra value svcs after the sale, and helping guide the business into more of a ITaaS model.
mpclark3
Consumer services have set very low expectations around the cost of storage and services. Gmail's "unlimited" storage, other photo services and their "free" 1TB, even cheap 1TB drives sold at department stores all set unrealistic cost expectations.
Ed Morgan ☁️🦄
People are used to the App Store and Google Play as a method for delivering a service (or software), they expect this from the IT department as well..
Data Definer
Q2: What advantages does using internal IT as a service option offer businesses?
Nick Howell
Moving away from the "cost center" model that so many IT depts have become, to a more robust, dynamic ITaaS model really moves the ball in the direction of business servicing the business in a more granular and rewarding way, not just IT spending CapEx.
Ed Morgan ☁️🦄
Flexibility - spin up/decommission services as the business requires, not ladened with heavy expenditure on kit/hardware
Nick Howell
The agility to act when necessary. The security of being self-contained, not using consumer services in a secure Enterprise, with ever-changing ToS and uncertain lifespans. Maintaining control also allows the best ITaaS experience.
mpclark3
In our case we use similar delivery models as external cloud systems but are able to deliver with cost efficiencies through a combination or staffing, software, hardware, and data center.
John Furrier
to me it's about developing a core competency with the ability to differentiate it's capabilities to be poised to lead the next wave of services - catalog based dashboards !!
mpclark3
Specifically in our case flexpod. NetApp storage, Cisco UCS, KVM Hypervisor, and OpenStack as the magic.
Data Definer
@furrier This is a topic that I could spend hours upon!
Nick Howell
Come join us for a chat about ITaaS!
John Furrier
awesome to participate
Data Definer
@furrier Thanks for joining, John!
Data Definer
How has the role of the CIO evolved over the years? How will it continue to evolve in the future?
Data Definer
Unlike traditional capital models where assets are purchased for individual projects, the service delivery model entails agencies deploying their IT like a business.
Nick Howell
"CIO budgets have not increased since 2002." -Gartner, Jan 2013. The role of the CIO has morphed exponentially into how to do more with less. Virtualization and eventually Cloud will make that even more of a reality.
Data Definer
Driving those cost savings is a shift away from "stovepiped, capital IT investments" in favor of a cloud-based model.
mpclark3
the role of CIO used to be about control and containment, now and going forward the role is building the backbone of their business where there is no control nor containment.
Ed Morgan ☁️🦄
CIOs also looking to move IT away from a cost centre, and more into a business enabler. *aaS/Cloud platforms can assist greatly in this...
John Furrier
at the RedHat Summit we are hearing that the CIO has to think about data instrumentation outside of IT like internet of things; using opensource
John Furrier
I would also add the "single pane of glass" dream is finally upon them and it's a planning process for them to figure out what that means
Data Definer
Welcome to today’s #NetAppChat on IT as a Service Provider. Feel free to talk via the CrowdChat portal: crowdchat.net/netappchat cc: @NetApp
IT as a Service Provider
Join a panel of industry experts to discuss how to best align IT with the business.