Intuitive Infrastructure: AIM Or DCIM?
In a competitive economy, minor productivity increases mean the difference between a profit and a loss, so businesses must constantly look for ways to improve efficiency. Proper management of information infrastructure can reduce business costs by as much as 30%, but only if you choose the right tools:
DCIM 101
Data Center Infrastructure Management (DCIM) integrates as many aspects of IT infrastructure as possible. It allows systems operators to keep an eye on energy use, equipment use, and other aspects of the IT system, identify inefficiencies or risks, and come up with quick solutions. When properly applied, DCIM resolves:
- Interdependence- By detecting interdependent nodes in your infrastructure, DCIM gives you a chance to install redundant hardware and software, preventing the breakdown of one node from causing your whole company to stagnate.
- Environmental Destruction- DCIM allows you to monitor energy use and find ways to lower it, reducing your company’s carbon footprint.
- Overheating- DCIM identifies equipment that frequently overheats and suggests changes to prevent damage, such as rearranging servers to increase ventilation.
The AIM Advantage
Although DCIM can improve efficiency, infrastructure managers often fail to take full advantage of it, focusing on 
only a few of its features. The more features a DCIM system can monitor, the less likely it is to be fully used.
Automated infrastructure management (AIM) technology was created to solve this problem. AIM constantly monitors your network, providing updates in real time about any changes to the infrastructure. It stores all information in a central database, allowing a single administrator to stay up to date with minimal effort.
Choosing the Right Solution
To decide whether you need DCIM or AIM, ask yourself:
How large and complex is my network?
- Only buy AIM if the cost of hiring enough administrators to monitor and apply DCIM features is higher.
Can I afford to install AIM technology?
- Make sure the improvements in efficiency outweigh the cost of replacing much of your infrastructure and the downtime associated with making the switch.
Do I frequently run into physical use problems?
- AIM is a particularly effective way to deal with weight, space, and power use issues.
