Guest Column: Back to Basics: Making Smart Storage Decisions During Tough Economic Times

Ah, those were the good old days. When the storage array looked to be at capacity, IT administrators simply requested more storage and the powers that be gladly signed off.

After all, storage systems are part of the company crown jewels. They are the lifeblood of an organization, containing customer information, essential business operations data and, increasingly, reams of other day-to-day digital content that must be retained to meet compliance regulations. However, with the global economy immersed in a slowdown, additional funding to support storage needs is grinding to a halt.

There are no automatic signoffs for "more" of anything. To maximize profits while riding out market volatility, the best-run enterprises focus on aligning every aspect of their IT investments to meet shifting economic challenges. When it comes to optimizing storage resources, some simple pointers can help companies effectively adopt a back-to-basics approach that is appropriate for today's times and meets business objectives.