Microsoft White Paper Sample

The majority of data centers today are running more than one operating system, challenging IT managers to manage disparate systems using multiple tools and consoles. A lack of cross-platform visibility can present a risk to security and system reliability with insufficient protection against threats and technology failures. When services such as Open LDAP, Samba, or firewalls are interrupted or a server fails it can take hours for IT managers to diagnose and fix. Getting a service or server back online can prevent IT staff from focusing on other business tasks, but it also impacts end user productivity as workers need access to the critical business information and functions the data center supports. In addition to the potential increased costs incurred by IT management and monitoring inefficiencies and system failures, companies need to hire IT managers with broader skill sets to comprehensively manage a heterogeneous environment, leading to further increased costs. The time and budget constraints realistic for many businesses today add to the pressures IT managers face.