Mastering Your Data Center Move-

5 Vital Steps

At the March 2009 DatacenterDynamics show in NYC, Align hosted a seminar entitled "Mastering Your Data Center Move." This annual show is a must attend event where leading professionals in the field share their expertise with 800 attendees, 40 exhibitors, and 32 presentations over the course of a full day.

Align's lead strategist Dean Evans and Server Migrations Practice Leader, Art Dooling presented the 5 vital steps one needs to address when moving a data center. We've included an excerpt below, as well as a link to a free download of the presentation...

Relocating a data center can be a career defining-or ending-project.
Make sure you have the process, people, and tools to get the job done right because there isn't a second time. Here's a quick list of the steps you'll need to master:

STRATEGY: Analyze, understand, determine
Because a data center impacts every aspect of your business, be sure to assess what you have, where it is, why you have it, and how it's relevant.

ALIGN INSIGHT:
Spend enough time to understand how your strategy meets your business requirements.

PLAN: Plan with the end in mind
Understand where your pain points are and who your assets are.

ALIGN INSIGHT:
Set up measurable expectations for the entire project against the current data center TCO and avoid finger- pointing later.

DESIGN: Addressing today, while planning for tomorrow
Walk your current and future sites. Roll-up your sleeves and really look at those spaces and your equipment.

ALIGN INSIGHT:
Allocate space in the new data center for legacy technology to re purpose in the future.

MIGRATE, MOVE, & FILL: Ready, set.. fill!
Use a defined process and industry tools to manage the assets and people involved in the move.

ALIGN INSIGHT:
Create specific tasks at specific times. Reduce risk with your process.

MANAGE: Support, maintain, and transform
Don't lose your insight post-move! Leverage the data and tools you've acquired and remain active in managing your new environment.

ALIGN INSIGHT:
If you've mastered your move, you can measure your success against the initial expectations and communicate it.

A free download of Align's "Mastering your Data Center Move- 5 Vital Steps" presentation can be found here:

http://www.align.com/Solutions/Relocate/DataCenter.aspx

http://www.datacenterdynamics.com/