Capacity planning crucial before cloud launch
20 July 2011 14:27:11
A new study from Forrester Consulting found that many IT executives believe cloud computing can improve efficiency, but the majority say capacity planning is needed for benefits to be realized.
According to the report, which was published by TeamQuest, 65 percent of surveyed IT leaders see capacity planning as a key element to cloud computing and virtualization. Without it, cloud and virtualized environments may prove too complex and too demanding.
The report recommended businesses identify the sizing and the placements of their cloud and virtualization workloads before deploying solutions. This will help companies understand what it can expect from such technologies and ensure expectations are being met. Additionally, determining which resources need to be provisioned for the cloud will enable companies to avoid unexpected costs further down the road.
"Virtualization and cloud computing can improve IT efficiencies," said TeamQuest director of product management Scott Adams. "However, the complexities found in these environments require proper capacity planning techniques and tools to experience the full benefits."
A separate study from CA Technologies also identified automation as a key to successful cloud deployment. According to the report, IT departments will have an easier time reaping the cost benefits of the cloud if they are able to automate some of the more complex processes of the technology.
-McAfee Cloud Security
