DCIM – What? And Why?

Here we go again! More acronyms that the CIO needs to know, understand, and implement.  So, what is DCIM? Data Center Infrastructure Management refers to the implementation of hardware, software, sensors, etc. to aid a real-time management and monitoring platform that is common for every interconnected systems in IT and facility infrastructures.

Obviously, data center efficiency encourages huge technology providers like IBM, Dell, Hewlett-Packard etc. to expand from a product-centric infrastructure to converged infrastructures, accommodating servers, networking, storage, and security.  DCIM environments reduce resource consumption while ensuring complete visibility of the data center so that they can manage the data center pricing, data center reliability, and data center capacity better.

The IDC (International Data Corporation) released its report for the year 2011 hinting at the epidemic growth of information, which will double every 2 years. This exponentially growing pile of digital information gets crammed into available data centers.  Another issue is the energy consumed by data centers, which is 20 times more per sq. foot than what an office building needs.

The requirements for an integrated data center management are huge. Today, typical data centers cover a broader range of services that include:

• Backup Power systems
• Hardware installation and maintenance
• Managed power distribution
• Managed Load balancing
• Data backup and archiving
• Controlled internet access
• Managed email and messaging
• Managed data center outsourcing
• Firewall and anti-malware programs
• User authentication and authorization
• Managed business continuance
• Managed e-mail and messaging
• Efficient, consistent and continuous technical support, etc.

Thus, the requirement for DCIM is due to the increasing need for real-time information and for wider coverage of services.  DCIM is growing today as an indispensible tool to centrally control, monitor, manage and plan critical systems for all these factors. And the bottom line? Better ROI for the business.

Alex Carroll

Managing Member at Lifeline Data Centers

Alex, co-owner, is responsible for all real estate, construction and mission critical facilities: hardened buildings, power systems, cooling systems, fire suppression, and environmentals. Alex also manages relationships with the telecommunications providers and has an extensive background in IT infrastructure support, database administration and software design and development. Alex architected Lifeline’s proprietary GRCA system and is hands-on every day in the data center.