Decoding the workload placement puzzle

Our infographic, How to decide workload placement, breaks down this complex decision-making process into manageable steps. Let's delve into these essential questions and see how they can guide you to the right choices for your hybrid IT environment. For a deeper dive, be sure to check out our comprehensive whitepaper on using workload placement to optimize hybrid it.

Step 1: Compliance

Compliance is the foundation of workload placement. Ask yourself:

• What are your compliance requirements?
• Does the workload location and infrastructure meet your compliance requirements? Meeting compliance standards is non-negotiable. Whether you're dealing with HIPAA, GDPR, or other regulations, ensure your chosen infrastructure can handle the necessary protocols.

Step 2: Latency

Latency can make or break user experience and application performance.

• Is the workload latency-sensitive?
• What is the required proximity of this workload to users and dependent workloads? Low latency is critical for applications that demand real-time processing and responsiveness. Ensure your workload is close to its users and interconnected systems.

Step 3: Cost structure

Cost management is a perennial concern in IT.

• Is there a mandate to minimize CapEx investment for this workload?
• What are the cost variability risks of the workload?
• Which placement avoids unacceptable cost risks? Balancing CapEx and OpEx and managing cost variability helps maintain budgetary control and avoid unexpected expenses.

Step 4: Security

Security is paramount, and different workloads have different security needs.

• What security tools do you need?
• Do you need the ability to test and audit the workload’s infrastructure? Your workload placement must align with your security protocols, offering the necessary tools and audit capabilities.

Step 5: Scalability

Scalability ensures that your infrastructure can grow with your needs.

• Do you need the ability to add or remove resources to or from the workload on demand? Choose a placement that allows dynamic scaling to meet fluctuating demand.

Step 6: Minimum technical requirements

Different workloads have unique technical demands.

• What compute, storage, licensing, and specialized platforms, appliances, or physical equipment does the workload require? Ensure your chosen environment supports all technical specifications.

Step 7: Control and visibility

Transparency and control are crucial for efficient management.

• What level of transparency and administrative access to the workload infrastructure do you need? Choose a placement that provides the necessary administrative controls and visibility.

Step 8: Dependencies

Workloads rarely function in isolation.

• What resources or other workloads is the workload dependent upon? Consider dependencies to ensure seamless operation and integration.

Step 9: Performance

Performance needs can vary widely between workloads.

• What computing capacity, storage speeds, and network resources does the workload require to maintain necessary performance levels? Ensure the chosen placement can meet or exceed performance requirements.

Step 10: Availability

High availability is essential for mission-critical workloads.

• What is the availability requirement for this workload?
• What HA features are required to meet the workload availability requirement? Ensure your workload is placed in an environment that offers robust HA features.

Step 11: Portability

Flexibility in moving workloads can be a strategic advantage.

• Will you need to move the workload from one environment to another? Choose placements that offer easy portability between environments.

Step 12: Operational responsibility

Understanding who is responsible for different aspects of workload management is key.

• Who is responsible for maintenance, updates, issue mitigation, and incident response? Ensure clear operational responsibilities are defined to avoid any gaps.

Step 13: IT skill set

Your team’s expertise can influence placement decisions.

• Does your team have the knowledge and experience to support the workload placement? Match the workload placement with your team’s capabilities to ensure smooth operations.

Step 14: Cost management

Ongoing cost management is crucial for long-term success.

• Can workload costs be monitored and integrated into existing cost management processes? Ensure that cost management is built into your workload placement strategy.

By asking these targeted questions, you can make informed decisions that optimize workload placement in your hybrid IT strategy. Don't miss our whitepaper on using workload placement to optimize hybrid IT for a deeper understanding and additional insights.

Flexential is here to support you every step of the way, providing the infrastructure, expertise, and tools you need to succeed in your digital transformation journey.

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