TurboTalk

October 28, 2009 By John Gannon

What are the right metrics to measure the benefits of virtual infrastructure and cloud computing?

Robert Grossman recently blogged about the need for the definition of a common deployment unit of cloud computing technology.   As he rightfully points out in his article, there are numerous layers of technology, all of which could lay claim to being the home of the unit of record.

Although the definition of the “right” deployment unit of measure is an important one, I’d also say that the unit of performance or efficacy (pertaining to virtualized IT and cloud computing environments) is also important.

Here are some examples of virtualization efficacy metrics that keep coming up in our discussions with virtualization/cloud admins and architects:

- OPEX reduction
- CAPEX avoidance
- Consolidation ratios
- # of servers migrated from physical to virtual
- datacenter rack/floor space reclaimed

These metrics resonate with CIOs, IT managers focused on server virtualization, and server administrators, and in many cases their job performance is measured relative to these metrics.  What we’re finding is that because these metrics do not translate well to other silos of the IT stack, virtualization projects (particularly ones that occur after the initial consolidation project) can get delayed or stopped because its hard for the other siloes to see “WIFM“, with metrics that matter to them.

What are the metrics that matter to you?  And what metrics do you use to sell the benefits of virtualization and cloud to the other silos of your IT organization?  We’d love to hear your thoughts on this topic.

Category: Management

Posted on October 28, 2009 | Permalink | View Comments