This is Part One of the “Evaluating Infrastructure-as-a-Service” series. To view the rest of the Technical Insights in this series, click here.
While the major infrastructure vendors including Dell and IBM are transitioning their product acquisition options to include on premises delivery of infrastructure as a service, they are also introducing a new model – the delivery of outcomes to users as opposed to specifiable infrastructure. Also known as “true” as-a-Service delivery, the idea here is that users ultimately want IT services which are the outcomes derived from use of IT systems being delivered on an as-a-Service basis. Users specify and contract for these services – the outcomes – rather than ordering the hardware/software solutions they believe they need. Sound confusing? Perhaps a look into Dell’s APEX portfolio of on premises Infrastructure as-a-Service offerings will help.
The Dell APEX Example
When announced in May 2021, APEX Data Storage Services were described by Dell as “Outcome-based services with SLOs (Service Level Objectives) for capacity, performance and availability.” Dell saying that APEX is “outcomes-based” means that prospective customers order APEX infrastructure services by specifying their requirements – i.e., desired outcomes – followed by Dell’s delivery of infrastructure delivers to those outcomes. Using APEX Data Storage Services as an example, the requirements offered for selection by users via the Dell Technologies Cloud Console include:
- Storage Type – block and/or file storage with object to be delivered in a future release.
- Performance Tier – three performance tiers available: tiers 1, 2 and 3 with performance metrics given to guide user selection
- Base capacity – the minimum storage capacity required at the inception of the service
- Subscription term – 12 or 36 months
Download now to read this free Technical Insight report.
