Best Practice

Process Detail

ISA Consulting Value Add

Data Collection (Mandatory)

Create an accurate and up to date data store of all data center asset inventory, including power connections. 

This step is the most critical activity of implementing a DCIM software solution, and successfully operating it.  DCIM systems require accurate data; any inaccuracies will skew the results, and affect the system dramatically.

Once Data Center data is collected the organization must make sure they can maintain the accuracy of the data into perpetuity.

ISA can put a data collection team onsite or provide your organization with the technology, leadership, and know how to quickly and accurately perform the data collection task with the ISA patented OSPI® solution.

Reoccurring audits of data center assets can be scheduled to insure ongoing data accuracy.

Assessment

1. Identification of data center infrastructure management requirements
2. Analysis of current data center management issues
3. Prioritization of Data Center issues that can be resolved with DCIM technology
4. Prioritization of Must Have, Nice to Have, and Optional features
5. Education on DCIM systems in the marketplace
6. Map the requirements of the organization to DCIM systems

ISA’s team of industry experts can analyze your organization’s unique data center management needs, and identify solutions to problem areas that can be solved by DCIM software.

Issues presented will be categorized into those that can be solved by DCIM technology and those that can be solved by process or services.

ISA’s intimate knowledge and experience with DCIM products allows us to quickly understand an organization’s data center infrastructure requirements, and match them to tangible DCIM software feature requirements.

Candidates Selection

1. Create a checklist using the information accumulated in the Assessment phase.
2.  Optional:  Create an RFP and send it to selected DCIM vendors known to meet the mandatory requirements of your organization.
3. Select the top three (to receive the RFP) which will meet the mandatory requirements of your organization. Invite the top two or three to participate in the selection process.
4. Interview each and every vendor onsite and demo the DCIM product armed with the specific information matching your requirements.

ISA can manage the entire vendor candidate selection process.  ISA’s expert staff can create custom RFP for your organization based on requirements discovered during the vendor evaluation process.  Our in depth knowledge of products in the marketplace and their capabilities gives us the ability to laser focus questions for each of the vendors’ products.

*ISA has up to date information on the DCIM marketplace at present, and its future. We can leverage this knowledge and educate your organization to quickly make the proper selection of who should receive your RFP or vendors to participate in the purchase process. Acting as a technical expert ISA can assist your team in the analysis of vendors’ responses and help you rank them appropriately.

*ISA DOES NOT MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO YOUR ORGANIZATION ON WHICH VENDOR TO SELECT, WE WILL EDUCATE YOU AND PRESENT INFORMATION PERTINENT TO YOUR REQUIREMENTS AND YOUR ORGANIZATION WILL MAKE THE SELECTIONS.

Proof of Concept
(Optional) 

Create a proof of concept document that will cause the DCIM vendor to demonstrate that all of the mandatory requirements are met, and the key features desired are provided by the DCIM software.

Implement the Proof of Concept

Having conducted many Proof of Concepts and evaluations of DCIM products, ISA can design, implement, and operate your organization’s Proof of Concept review.

Final Product Selection  

Review the results of the interviews, demos, Proof of Concept (if desired), update checklist, evaluate to requirements/needs analysis/budget, and work to make a final selection.

ISA will consolidate all the information gathered through the entire process, and use its expert analysis of DCIM product versus the needs of your organization to create a summary report.

*ISA DOES NOT MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO YOUR ORGANIZATION ON WHICH VENDOR TO SELECT, WE WILL EDUCATE YOU AND PRESENT INFORMATION PERTINENT TO YOUR REQUIREMENTS AND YOUR ORGANIZATION WILL MAKE THE SELECTIONS.

Implementation 

Assemble the data collected from the data collection process, review it for completeness and format for input into your selected DCIM system.

Attend selected vendor’s training.

Select the configuration options that best suit the organization.

Ensure Data Center processes align with the DCIM system.

ISA will perform and manage the entire data collection process, plan the implementation and aid in the configuration your DCIM system as per the organization’s requirements.

ISA will work with your staff to ensure the DCIM system and your Data Center processes align for success.

Production/Operation  

Execute your DCIM operations plan which should include:

• Modifying process to have DCIM system at the center of Data Center operations
• Mandatory use of DCIM in conjunction with the Change Control process.
• Assure data integrity
• Audit plan to ensure data in the system matches the reality of the data center.
• Utilize the features of the DCIM product to optimize and find ways to create efficiencies in your data center.
• Achieve ROI

ISA will stay engaged with your staff for 30 days after the implementation to ensure success and original goals/requirements are met. We can provide DCIM product experts that will periodically inspect the system, and make sure it is being used properly and according to your data center management plan. We can also provide DCIM product training, and refresher training as required.

ISA will design an audit plan to ensure data integrity, and can additionally make available a team that can visit your facility on a reoccurring basis to make sure your data is up to date and accurate.

ISA provides consultative analysis of your data center and its operations utilizing your purchased DCIM system. ISA can also design and create custom reports for DCIM systems.

Depending on your organizations goals, an ROI plan can be built to realize hard Dollars savings from the use of the DCIM system.

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