As far as enterprise technology companies go, Savvis is probably one of the more interesting ones. They provide managed services for enterprise IT functions, building “IT infrastructure as a service.” (This type of outsourced IT model is more typically found in Europe, though as Savvis shows, there are advantages to using this method in the United States.)
One of the caveats that we often pointed out is the idea that relying on an outsourced IT department means that it’s difficult to make sure that your network is being managed correctly; the corporate equivalent of trusting that your auto mechanic knows what he’s doing. And to that end, we’ve recommended that companies that rely on outsourced IT have some way to independently monitor network performance.
Savvis decided to skip that step and offer network performance monitoring on their “Global Network Solutions” themselves; using NetQoS’s tools. This way, their customers get insight into traffic composition, network utilization, and application performance assurance on Savvis’ MPLS-enabled Application Transport Services.
Or in other words, independent monitoring of network performance on managed IT is now standard on Savvis. It’s kinda like when Saab made seatbelts standard in 1958.
Here’s the obligatory “the economy stinks” paragraph: You can imagine that outsourced IT functions would be appealing for many companies as they refocus on priorities. A good IT department can help you better sell widgets, but if the widget company goes under, the IT department is going to go down with it. IT enables business. IT is extremely important to the business. But IT is not the core focus of the business (unless, of course, you’re Savvis or another outsourced IT provider). Outsourced IT means that companies don’t have to worry (as much) as they would if they tried to operate an internal IT department while figuring out how to make and sell the core product.
Companies do still have to worry that they’re getting the service they paid for, though, and that’s why network monitoring will remain important no matter what solution – insourced or outsourced – companies choose to handle their IT infrastructure.
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