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Protect Your IT Infrastructure Today’s information technology manager has enough headaches without worrying about power management issues. From maintaining a corporation’s Internet and intranet services to preparing for the Y2K debacle, the corporate IT infrastructure is more complex, more integrated and more important to a company’s bottom line than just a few years ago. This dependence on technology has also exacerbated a problem that IT managers should consider: power quality. As more and more corporations "plug in," power demands will continue to grow. At the same time that utility companies are trying to deal with increased power demands, electric power deregulation adds to their challenge. All of these factors could impact the availability of high quality power, which could spell disaster for an unprotected IT infrastructure. A loss in power quality can create a host of power problems, including power surges, electrical line noise and brownouts, that could wreak havoc on any electrical equipment. To prevent a loss of data–-or worse yet, a loss of business, it is imperative for IT managers to implement enterprise-wide strategic power management solutions. By deploying an enterprise power management solution, managers can control critical power resources while adding functionality and protection to multiple networks. Depending on the type of solution implemented, IT managers may have access to historical data and predictive analysis tools that can anticipate future power problems. LOOKING FOR SOLUTIONS… IT professionals already face enormous difficulties in keeping up with the complex structure and performance of their networks. As a result, it is essential for these solutions to offer easy installation, scalable architecture, remote monitoring, shutdown and control, and other convenient features, which can increase total system availability while decreasing maintenance costs for protected equipment. Furthermore, these solutions should integrate a resourceful software management solution that permits the customer to evaluate and examine the effectiveness of a given device. Managers also should look for solutions with a powerful, intuitive user interface, extensive data archiving capabilities and a user-definable notification system that will monitor a single uninterruptible power supply (UPS) or the complete powertrain. POWER PROTECTION: THE PREVENTATIVE MEASURE Fortunately for IT managers there are several types of power solutions available for enterprise environments, depending on the needs and design of the corporate infrastructure. Power protection is the preventative measure designed to shield electronic equipment and data from power anomalies. The level of protection can range from surge suppressors to online UPS systems. Workstation Protection Methods… Network Power Management… Foundation Equipment Management… Service options can play an equally important role in ensuring proper power protection. Automated systems are available that can directly alert your power protection provider, adding another level of security. This "first alert" service can substantially reduce the cost of system damage, repair and any related downtime. From an IT manager’s perspective, service options can also be a valuable time saver, allowing them to focus on managing the business, not just managing problems. In an age when availability determines profitability, strategic power management will keep profits flowing, even when the power is not. About the Author |