Why Hardware Matters in a Software-Defined Data Center

There is more and more of a push in the IT world toward the cloud, and software defined data centers (SDDC). In the wake of this progress, where does hardware fit in? How much does it matter anymore? Should your company be looking to abandon it in the long-run? How can your company provide reliable data center support?

There are still reasons why running your company’s data center using hardware is the best option. This article will help explain why hardware matters in the modern age, and how it will continue to remain relevant in the future.

What Is the Difference Between a SDDC and a HDDC?

The acronyms “SDDC” and “HDDC” mean “software defined data center,” and “hardware defined data center,” respectively. Their meanings are, essentially, as they sound. Data centers that are primarily built upon, and reinforced by hardware, are considered HDDCs. Those data centers which have moved more and more digital, and utilize the cloud as their main source of storage support, are considered SDDCs.

Software defined data centers are becoming more and more fashionable, as the cloud becomes a more well-known and viable technology for global business. However, SDDCs are still dependent upon hardware for their capacity to run and hold data. The myth that software can support your company’s data center in its entirety is dangerous and incorrect. We’re here to set the record straight on traditional data centers vs. virtualization environments.

Benefits of Hardware in SDDCs

If your company is weighing your options regarding the structure and future of your data center, it may be worth noting some of the benefits that hardware still have in SDDCs:

1. You can store more data

Even software defined data centers rely on hardware. As a result, if you abandon that hardware, or compromise on its quality, you are still compromising on the stability of your data center, whether or not software is your primary concern.

2. Better Scaling

As the needs of your business change, so will the need to scale in preparation of adding more data or storage space to your data center. Having the right hardware for such an expansion makes scalability significantly easier. Without it, growing your business can become arduous and unprofitable.

3. Better productivity

Modern servers are still built on hardware. If your business is in a constant battle to make your software up to date and viable, it takes a significant portion of time away from projects that could be innovating and growing your business. Hardware remains the best way to stabilize your data center, allowing you to focus on what’s most important.

It is not that your business won’t be heading toward total software reliability, but rather that having a firm ground upon which to build there is an imperative start. If your business begins on precarious footing, then its future is in jeopardy.

How Do I Get Reliable Hardware?

Having established that hardware is necessary for the operation of your business’s data center, what is the best way to go about getting it? The price points delivered by OEMs is often too much for businesses. Moreover, if your company wants to utilize parts from different brand manufacturers, you have will have to structure individual contracts for each of them, which costs even more.

Third party support providers like Park Place Technologies are not tied to one brand. This way, we can offer multivendor IT support for whatever device you need at a significantly more affordable cost, without forcing you to have individual contracts for each device from different manufacturers.

If your server, network, or storage devices are from established companies like Dell, you may be concerned about the future of your devices. Since devices from original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are so pricey, keeping them as long as possible is in the best interest of your company. However, OEMs typically try to push the newest devices in order to remain as profitable as possible. Purchasing these may be enticing, since it comes with the confidence of a big name like Dell or NetApp, but there are more affordable options that don’t sacrifice quality.

The Park Place Technologies Solution

When you go with Park Place Technologies for hardware support, you can keep the same devices you have and consolidate them under the same contract, whether or not they are made by the same manufacturer or not. For instance, if you use a Dell device for storage and a NetApp device for network support, you will not have to have separate contracts to maintain support on them.

With this flexibility, your company can have room to thrive and grow. Get in touch with our team for a quote on your storage, server and networking support today!