The Data Center Frontier Executive Roundtable features insights from industry executives with lengthy experience in the data center industry. Here’s a look at the insights from Jeff Klaus of Intel.
JEFF KLAUS, Intel
As General Manager of General Manager of Intel Data Center Software Solutions, Jeff Klaus leads a global team that designs, builds, sells and supports Intel DCM, the only software that provides real-time, server-level data on the power and thermal conditions across a wide range of data center servers and other equipment. Provided as an SDK, Intel DCM middleware is integrated into Data Center Infrastructure Management (DCIM) consoles to increase data center power and thermal efficiency.
Since joining Intel in 2000, Klaus’ accomplishments have been recognized by multiple division awards. With a broad background in software solutions for the channel, client and SMB space, he has served as Director of Media Programs within Intel’s Digital Home Group, Entertainment Content Marketing Manager, Business Operations Manager, and Software Marketing Manager.
An accomplished speaker, Klaus has presented at such industry forums as Gartner Data Center Summit, AFCOM’s Data Center World, the Green IT Symposium, and the Green Gov conference. He has authored articles on data center power management in Data Center Post, IT Business Edge, Data Center Knowledge, Information Management and Data Centre Management. Klaus currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Green IT Council. Klaus earned his BS in Finance at Boston College and his MBA in Marketing at Boston University.
Here’s the full text of Jeff Klaus’ insights from our Executive Roundtable:
Data Center Frontier: Discussion of industry trends is dominated by the rise of the cloud computing model. How has this cloud-driven disruption impacted the broader data center industry? What are the pros and cons?
Jeff Klaus: Cloud-driven disruption has been profound. The biggest changes we’ve seen are in how and when people need physical infrastructure, understanding how to leverage scale-out virtualization, and facilitating the area of practice known as DevOps. As this strategy has matured, utilizing the cloud has also moved from a binary decision (between virtual or physical infrastructure) to be one of the complementary elements an enterprise includes in their overall strategy.
Data Center Frontier: There has been a lot of merger and acquisition (M&A) activity recently in the data center industry. How are these M&A deals influencing the development of the data center industry? Are we likely to see more M&A activity?
Jeff Klaus: Absolutely. We will continue will see more M&A activity as this market moves to help more sophisticated customers find services. Innovations need to be captured and consolidated to present customers with a more cohesive pallet of offerings. Some of those offerings have been with us for a very long time; others are new and need time to mature and fully integrate so they can help address both on-premise and off-premise decisions.
Data Center Frontier: The market for tools to monitor, manage and automate data centers continues to evolve. What are the significant trends in this ecosystem and how effectively are customers using these tools?
Jeff Klaus: Tools are interesting because they are being commoditized on the low end with SaaS solutions that can blend with existing enterprise infrastructure. On the higher end, especially in the DevOps area, there are still opportunities to differentiate.
Companies divert from one another in how they package together solutions for their customers – many need customized combinations to help keep select business processes running in this scale-out, scale-in world.
Data Center Frontier: The largest cloud platforms are seeking to deploy data center capacity at an accelerated rate. What has this meant to the supply chain for data center delivery?
Jeff Klaus: Two results of this immediately come to mind. First, it squeezes the existing market. Second, it changes how aggressive groups have to be in site selection and technology decisions. We can also see more concentrated effects to industries like DCIM, where this accelerated deployment timeline has required an expedited decision making process, especially when it comes to choices and direction around hardware purchases, installation, and management.
See the entire Data Center Frontier Executive Roundtable for insights from additional executives and topical stories on the latest data center trends.