Data center consolidation is an IT strategy introduced by the changing IT climate to combine large quantities of servers into a compact, cost-effective system. Planning and implementing a consolidation strategy can take years, but it has ultimately been proven to reduce costs, increase the business value of IT, and create a realistically manageable footprint. The logic behind the strategy is sound: having less should be easier to maintain, right? Unfortunately, today's complicated legacy systems, small IT teams, and limited budgets can cause unexpected consolidation complications… which, of course, means more time and resources to fix problems. Here are five ways data center consolidation can benefit organizations: Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay REDUCED COSTS A consolidated environment means a smaller network and application infrastructure. As a result, businesses need less hardware, including expensive items like servers, routers and other equipment. A reduction in servers likely means standardization on some critical software applications, allowing companies to reduce operating costs. Additionally, with the rapid growth of cloud-based Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) options, data center consolidation offers many opportunities for further cost-cutting operations. Consolidated infrastructure also uses less energy and is easier to cool, reducing bills and paving the way for green initiatives that are quickly gaining traction. However, the most significant cost-saving benefit of consolidation is the reduced burden on IT and operations staff. With less activity at remote locations, the management and communications requirements for those sites decrease dramatically. This allows IT and operations staff to isolate and resolve issues faster and at lower cost, freeing up these resources to tackle high-priority, critical business tasks. GREATER CONTROL FOR IT Consolidation promotes several avenues of optimization, such as transportation. With a more centralized approach, there are fewer pipes to monitor, the architecture is simpler and easier to control, and traffic patterns and volumes are more visible and clearly defined. Consolidation provides the ability to implement more advanced protocols and management strategies that maximize bandwidth usage and network performance, but without overwhelming the network and its applications. REDUCE THE SCOPE OF SECURITY Consolidation means that some positions will be eliminated all together, while others will see reductions in size and scope. With fewer sites and resources to manage, the task of physically protecting your business becomes much simpler, less expensive and requires fewer resources. Likewise, a more compact enterprise architecture relies on fewer connections between structures. Simplifying connectivity at the transport layer improves the focus and effectiveness of information security.DISASTER RECOVERYWith data center consolidation, planning, implementing, and executing disaster recovery solutions are less daunting because all Vital components are in one place, making it easy to replicate and initiate failover.Keep in mind: This is just one example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay COMPLIANCE Data center consolidation supports compliance efforts on two fronts. First, it promotes automation.