Technology Foundation for the Modern Data Center

As we know, the digital universe is growing 40% every year – which means the volume of data agencies collect, store, and manage will only continue to grow. Between all the video captured via body-worn cameras, wearables that track health data, and sensors on military equipment, data quickly piles up.

At the same time, as the volume, variety, and velocity of data is skyrocketing, FITARA has strengthened the Federal Data Center Consolidation Initiative (FDCCI). This enables agencies to work on automating service delivery and adopt “Cloud First” policies – leveraging inter-agency shared services or co-location data centers. Most importantly, it allows agencies to migrate to better-optimized data centers.

The savings potential is enormous. A GAO report on data consolidation progress earlier this year noted an estimated $2.8 billion in cost savings and avoidances from fiscal years 2011 to 2015. But just four agencies, the Departments of Commerce, Defense, Homeland Security, and Treasury, accounted for about $2.4 billion – or approximately 86% – of the total savings to date.

There is more work to be done. By the end of fiscal year 2019, agencies plan to close 2,078 additional data centers, for an estimated $8.2 billion in savings and cost avoidances. To accomplish this goal, we need to transform the remaining data centers into modern data centers.

Makings of the Modern Data Center

At EMC, we are helping organizations create new ways to build and deliver IT services. IT must deliver performance and resiliency – and not slow the business down. A modern data center will enable this, and more.

We believe the modern data center is based on a number of key technology components:

• Flash – Will be the top storage method; in fact, 2016 has been declared the “year of all-flash.” Due to its affordability, agility, efficiency, and speed, flash storage delivers the performance needed for next-generation applications

• Cloud-enabled – Provides the automation and agility needed for seamless IT service. Hybrid cloud is emerging as a key component in moving forward with digital transformation

• Scale-out – Enables a flexible, single scale-out system that allows management of massive capacities with few resources. A Data Lake allows Big Data accessibility, and meets the demands of storage growth

• Software-defined – Allows automation of the configuration and deployment of IT services for simple management of data services. Software-defined solutions optimize IT operations, and allow room for innovation

Let’s Get Started

The future will have more data, leading to an increased need for real time operation and analytics insights.

As Jeremy Burton said, “If an organization is to operate with the agility, speed, and efficiency required of the digital era, its IT department must deliver a modern data center built upon technologies that can enable it.”

To learn more about the modern data center, check out Jeremy Burton’s recent blog post on the topic:  The Pillars of the Modern Data Center.

Author information

Barry Morris

Vice President, EMC Federal Division

Barry Morris, Vice President of EMC’s Federal Division, is responsible for general division management, providing leadership and vision to the Federal team, government contractors and partners, and Federal systems integrators. In this role, he is dedicated to helping agencies redefine IT in a more agile, trusted, and cost-efficient way. Morris brings 30 years of experience driving sales to the Federal government, and expanding coverage into the state and local government, education, and medical markets.