Whitepaper explores 'business growth through IT'

Showing that IT is an important factor in achieving business goals, the research indicates that while companies are willing to invest in technologies such as cloud, Big Data, or mobile computing, they are concerned over the potential risks. The findings indicate that there is a direct correlation between IT spending and revenue growth.

Energy efficiency can potentially cut costs with 57% of respondents reporting PUE (Power Usage Effectiveness) values exceeding 2.0 (the closer the value gets to 1.0, the more efficient the data centre). IT managers have also indicated that they operate their data centres at an average of temperature of 15.5°C. Rather than cooling entire rooms, it is more efficient to work with direct cooling within the rack or in the individual aisles.

With existing redundancy concepts not sufficiently reliable to ensure the high level of availability that customers expect, there is an investment backlog in the data centre: participants surveyed reported that their data centres were, on average, seven years old. Modular data centres feature increased agility and scalability, permitting shorter product life cycles and more rapid commissioning of new systems or implementation of new regulations.

According to the research, IT systems need to evolve continuously so the data centre can be as efficient as possible. 93% of IT managers questioned revealed that it is important for a company to have its’ own data centre.

Bernd Hanstein, Vice President, Product Management IT, Rittal, comments:  “IT infrastructures need to be renewed to keep pace with the market. The question is whether to modernise or to rebuild. We see a great deal of potential in efficient, adaptive cooling concepts. IT managers can then fully exploit the advantages of greater flexibility and reductions in ancillary costs.”

The whitepaper can be downloaded from the Rittal website.