I'm concerned that people think the value of virtualization begins and ends with infrastructure savings (“condensation”) and thus are missing out on the real value – transforming the open systems data center!

Stephen

It is, however the core prerequisite for the next step in datacenter transformation – you get the macro benefit in the “majority virtualized” state, otherwise processes and management models are dominated by the non-virtualized use cases.

With our key strategic partneres, we're trying to work on this problem at every layer. It is a BIG problem, but the transformative possibility (in my opinion at least) is huge. It's going to take us a while, and not every piece of the puzzle is solved – but every step on the journey can have a customer pay-off. Look at our actions, innovations, acquisitions, launches and partnerships through this lens, and you've got it.

If we do our job right – it would give more opportunity for IT to focus on the things that provide core value to the business – but without the forced secondary effects outsourcing did (and wihch made it untenable for many)