Service Financial Management is the focus of Domain 6 in Cisco Services‘ DomainTen^SM Model for Data Center and Cloud Transformation. Closely related to the User Portal (Domain 4) and Service Catalog and Management (Domain 5), service financial management is one of those organizationally challenging topics for the data center management team -- although with the advent of cloud services, is becoming more widely appreciated and in many cases (e.g. a service provider offering cloud services to businesses, a public sector organization offering services to other regional public service organizations), a mandatory part of your offer.  So let’s discuss this area and I’ll point you to a technical white paper from Cisco Services experts on this topic.

Cisco Domain Ten -- Domain 6 -- Service Financial Management

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Tags: architecture, chargeback, Cisco Domain Ten, Cisco Services, cloud, cloud_computing, data center, financials, UCS

Continuing my tour of the Cisco Domain Ten ^(SM)  framework for simplifying data center transformation, with this blog, I’ll build upon my previous blogs and introduce Domain 3, which is concerned with “Automation and Orchestration“.

I’ve asserted previously that having an automated, virtualized data center is a necessary -- but insufficient -- basis for cloud -- and Cisco Domain Ten portrays this very well.  That said, automation and orchestration in my view is one of the 2 or 3 most important domains to focus on when transforming a data center, and when planning a cloud  architecture.  Automation is quite simply fundamental to delivering benefits such as cost reduction, elasticity, rapid service delivery and agility to your end users/ stakeholders/customers.    So what are the key problems we in Cisco Services can help you with in this domain?

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Tags: architecture, Cisco Domain Ten, Cisco Services, cloud, cloud_computing, data center, enterprise orchestrator, orchestration

Based on the conversations I have every day with Cisco customers, the impact of mobility on organizations cannot be denied.

Abundant data details how the proliferation of mobile devices is affecting communications, collaboration, and the way we do business today. For example, Cisco recently commissioned a Forrester Research report that looks at mobility, virtualization, and other enterprise-level technology initiatives. Nearly half the firms surveyed are implementing “bring your own device” (BYOD) programs to support employee-owned devices.

I’ve outlined my position in the past: BYOD is an opportunity, not a threat. There are profound benefits for organizations that embrace BYOD and mobilize the collaboration experience.

Collaboration is increasingly taking place on personal and company-provided mobile devices. According to a Read More »

Tags: Bring your Own Device (BYOD), Cisco IBSG, Cisco Services, collaboration, enterprise tablets, Forrester Research, mobile collaboration, Smartphones, survey

Last week I introduced our new Cisco Services framework to help guide your data center and cloud transformation -- Cisco Domain Ten ^(SM). I also described the types of challenges you should be thinking about in the Facilities and Infrastructure layer, Domain 1.  Now let’s discuss the type of challenges that Domain 2, Virtualization and Abstraction, could present to you.  While Cisco Domain Ten can be applied to help you in any data center transformation, I’ll keep focused on showing you how Cisco Domain Ten helps illuminate your path to cloud transformation.

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Tags: architecture, Cisco Domain Ten, Cisco Services, cloud_computing, data center, unified computing, virtualization

Yesterday I introduced you to the Cisco Domain Ten^SM, Cisco Services’ framework for simplifying data center transformation.  This model is applicable to both business  (enterprise), public sector (e.g. government, federal) and service provider (incl telco) organizations.

Today I will summarize some key challenges that you should consider when planning a transition to cloud (as one example of data center transformation), for Domain #1 -- Facilities and Infrastructure.

Cisco Domain Ten -- Simplifying Data Center Transformation

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Tags: architecture, Cisco Domain Ten, Cisco Services, Cisco UCS, cloud_computing, data center, data center security, storage networks, unified computing, Unified Data Center, Unified Fabric