IO's software can provide a deep dive into data center operations. It is now using that data to develop intelligent solutions to boost customer efficiency. (Image: IO)
IT infrastructure provider IO is launching a new division called IO.Applied Intelligence that leverages its DCIM capabilities and may eventually lead to new products and services. The company continues to build out its vision for the software-defined data center. The new division will create new value-added services such as bill forecasting, capacity management and simulation, and will make product recommendations to IO’s hardware and software development teams.
IO.Applied Intelligence rings in some heavy thinkers in engineering and data analytics to improve product performance for customers, and generally squeeze inefficiencies out of IT.
“The data center is the ideal place to fundamentally, comprehensively and enduringly address today’s IT and sustainability challenges,” said George Slessman, IO Chief Executive Officer and Product Architect. “Finding more efficient ways to operate digital infrastructure and intelligently manage demand will bring economic, environmental and social gains. As a result, IO.Applied Intelligence is positioned to attract the world’s most talented data experts – great minds who have a passion to solve energy and information challenges.”
A Software-Defined Era
IO.Applied Intelligence will leverage huge amounts of operating data collected by IO.OS, the company's data center operating system, to develop and deliver capabilities in data mining and visualization, predictive modeling and simulation.
“We live in a software-defined era,” said Patrick Flynn, Group Leader, Applied Intelligence & Sustainability at IO. “The value of IT going forward will be driven by software; even hardware-design enhancements will be software derived and data driven. Data has brought smarter systems to city planning, logistics, and healthcare, but only now are we are we bringing that same intelligence to the design and operations of digital infrastructure itself.”
IO.Applied Intelligence will first reach customers via enhancements to the IO converged technology platform, which includes IO.Anywhere modules and the IO.OS software. Over time, product features and simulation services may be sold separately. Deployments are custom priced based on scope and delivery options.
Among the programs already underway at IO.Applied Intelligence are:
- Assessing power, cooling, networking and space capacity within IO’s global Data Center as a Service (DCaaS) footprint to improve performance;
- Composing analytical models to quantify value and cost for the data center environment to drive more efficient usage and operations;
- Working with IO’s CSO Bob Butler to continually evolve physical and logical security associated with the converged IO technology platform; and
- Partnering with leaders in data analytics including McLaren Applied Technology, leading consultants to the IO.Applied Intelligence research team.
IO remains focused on the software-defined data center and continues to innovate. The company says IO technology lowers the total cost of data center ownership compared to traditional data centers, enabling dynamic deployment and intelligent control based on the needs of IT equipment and applications in the data center.
