Many organizations utilize process maturity models (e.g., CMM, Gartner) to assess their current level of IT process maturity, identify a desired state and build a gap analysis highlighting the areas of people, process and technology to invest in for better alignment with the overall business. Even more detailed models have recently been created to evaluate specific processes, such as IT Asset Management and other key domains. In conjunction with the development of these maturity models, Aperture has developed a Data Center Infrastructure Management (DCIM) maturity model to assist organizations in assessing their maturity in DCIM processes.

IT organizations must seriously consider all aspects of process maturity, including DCIM maturity, in order to best deliver services to the rest of the enterprise. To be strong in all other areas, but weak in DCIM maturity will only limit an organization's ability to move to a higher level of IT effectiveness. Utilizing Gartner's model as a framework, Aperture's DCIM Maturity Model evaluates the maturity of the overall data center infrastructure, a domain that is severely undeveloped in many organizations.

Level 0: Chaotic
Level 0 IT organizations are characterized by little, or no, process maturity and a lack of adequate tools to document the data center infrastructure. As a result, a chaotic environment exists where the organizations cannot identify their data center assets, where these assets are located or how devices are connected. These organizations also lack a documented process for reviewing changes. It is virtually impossible for these organizations to deliver reliable services with this level of maturity.

Level 1: Reactive
Reactive IT organizations begin to review changes, but still do not possess an accurate picture of the data center infrastructure. Errors and disruptions resulting from problems with changes are commonplace, and troubleshooting remains a frantic process. These organization rely on the heroics of key individuals to maintain order.

Level 2: Proactive
As an organization achieves Level 2 maturity, established change management processes appear and the initial use of productivity tools (e.g., spreadsheets, CAD files, Visio diagrams, databases) to track data center assets and configuration information emerge. These organizations also begin to restrict access to the data center, which in previous levels of maturity was left unrestricted.

Level 3: Service
In Level 3, organizations begin to formalize change management and integrate these processes with data center configuration management initiatives. Operating Level Agreements (OLAs), capacity planning and charge backs for infrastructure services are all adopted as these organizations move into Level 3 maturity.

Level 4: Value Creation
Very few, if any, organizations have achieved Level 4 maturity at present. At Level 4, an organization has achieved a fully-integrated IT operations framework and delivers IT Services in complete alignment with the business objectives.

Aperture can assist organizations evolve along the DCIM maturity scale by establishing processes and implementing best practices to control data center operations efficiently and effectively. For more information on how Aperture VISTA can help organizations increase their DCIM process, click here.