Get the most from your technology investment with IT Infrastructure Optimization

Many of the deployment and security costs midsize businesses commonly face can be attributed to a less-than-optimal IT infrastructure. The IT Infrastructure Optimization Model, created by Microsoft as a framework to help organizations understand and improve their IT infrastructure, outlines steps companies can take to analyze where they are today and to plan for and create an IT environment that is well managed, more secure, and more efficient.

Most midsize businesses do not have the luxury of a large IT staff, but do need an infrastructure that provides the level of service people expect when doing business today. Workers require quick access to the electronic resources they need, the ability to communicate and collaborate online, and up-to-date business tools to do their jobs. Midsize businesses with limited IT resources can benefit most by simplifying their IT systems and using technology to automate processes, improve security, and minimize technology problems that prevent workers from doing their jobs. The IT Infrastructure Optimization Model can help make this happen.

Find out how optimizing your core infrastructure can transform your IT system into a strategic asset.

What is the IT Infrastructure Optimization Model?

The IT Infrastructure Optimization Model is a framework created by Microsoft to help organizations determine the state of their IT infrastructure and realize dramatic cost savings by moving from an unmanaged IT environment towards a dynamic environment. You may recognize your environment in the infrastructure level descriptions below.

Basic infrastructure

Standardized infrastructure

Rationalized infrastructure

Dynamic infrastructure

•	Difficult to control
•	Expensive to manage
•	Manual, localized processes
•	Minimal central control
•	Lack of IT policies for security, backup, image management and deployment, and compliance

•	IT systems utilize standards and policies to manage desktops and servers
•	Business would benefit from greater efficiencies

•	Costs involved in managing desktops and servers are at their lowest
•	Processes and policies have matured to begin playing a large role in supporting and expanding the business
•	Security is very proactive
•	Responses to threats and challenges are rapid and controlled

•	IT systems are self-managing and dynamic
•	IT teams capture and use knowledge to design and deploy manageable systems and automate ongoing operations using system models

Next Steps:

Begin your move from Basic to Standardized by using Active Directory to streamline user authentication and lower your IT costs.

Find technical resources to get you started, as well as more best practices you can adopt to take your IT systems to the next level.

Next Steps:

Continue to improve your IT environment with automated systems management and automated identity and access management.

Find technical resources to help you move from Standardized to Rationalized.

Next Steps:

Empower your people to access information from anywhere on the Internet with greater ease and security.

Discover other benefits of moving from Rationalized to Dynamic, and find technical resources to help you get started.

Next Steps:

The Dynamic Systems Initiative (DSI) is a commitment from Microsoft and its partners to deliver self-managing dynamic systems to help IT teams capture and use knowledge to design more manageable systems and automate ongoing operations, resulting in reduced costs and more time to proactively focus on what is most important to the organization.

Learn more about the Dynamic Systems Initiative.

To take an assessment, discover where you fit in the model, and find more technical information and guidance, visit the Infrastructure Optimization Web site at Microsoft TechNet.

Optimize and secure your core infrastructure and realize dramatic cost savings
Learn how your midsize business can benefit from an IT environment that is well-managed, more secure, and more efficient.