Optimization Levels

Rationalized

A Rationalized infrastructure generally includes proactive processes, provisioning and policies that have matured and begun to play a large role in supporting and expanding the business. Most importantly, the costs involved in managing desktop computers and servers are at their lowest. Examples include :

The Rationalized infrastructure is a business enabler: security enhanced and well managed, with low complexity and high levels of automation.

The use of zero-touch deployment helps minimize cost, the time to deploy, and technical challenges. The number of images is minimal and the process for managing desktop computers is very low touch.

Rationalized customers have a clear inventory of hardware and software and purchase only those licenses and computers that they need. The IT department’s primary challenge is to improve integration across implemented products and take advantage of the total value of those products.

Security is extremely proactive with strict policies and control, from desktop computer to server to firewall to extranet.
Compared to the Basic and Standardized phases, IT costs are substantially lower because efficiencies increase through a centrally managed and monitored desktop environment, and improved security administration reduces the burden on IT resources.

End-user productivity is significantly increased due to the flexibility provided by mobile options and the ability to collaborate across physical locations and time zones.

Dynamic

Customers with Dynamic infrastructures are fully aware of the strategic value that their infrastructures provide in helping them run their businesses efficiently and staying ahead of competitors. Processes are fully automated, often incorporated into the technology itself, enabling IT to be aligned and managed according to the business needs.
Examples include:

Costs are fully controlled; there is integration between users and data, desktop computers, and servers; collaboration between users and departments is pervasive; and mobile users have nearly on-site levels of service and capabilities regardless of location.

The Dynamic infrastructure is a core strategic business asset, optimized for business agility and high service levels. It may have a higher cost profile than the Rationalized state, which is offset by its increased value.

Company executives view IT as a strategic asset instead of a cost center, enabling an organization to be much more agile and better respond to business needs and competitive challenges. Additional investments in technology yield specific, rapid, measurable benefits for the business.

The use of self-provisioning software and quarantine-like systems for ensuring patch management and compliance with established security policies enables the Dynamic organization to automate processes, thus helping improve reliability,lower costs and increase service levels.

New employees can be immediately productive, because the IT department can rapidly and proactively respond to end-user issues, and because of the end-to-end integration, automation, and management of data, desktop computers, and servers.