Virtual Data Center Cost Driver Evaluation via Industry Benchmarks
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Solution Overview
Problem
IT managers face challenges in objectively evaluating and prioritizing the performance of virtual data centers (VDCs) due to the dynamic nature and vast numbers of VDCs in cloud computing environments, as they lack insights to compare internal metrics effectively with industry benchmarks.
Innovation Solution
Methods and systems are developed to evaluate VDC performance by comparing the costs of cost drivers and total VDC costs with cloud computing industry benchmarks, determining which cost drivers are outside acceptable bounds and calculating their monetary impact, thereby providing insights for IT managers to optimize VDC operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If internal metrics are used to evaluate VDC performance, then evaluation can be performed within the organization, but objective comparison with industry standards becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces industry benchmarks as an intermediary standard that mediates between internal VDC metrics and external industry performance. These benchmarks serve as a reference framework allowing organizations to objectively compare their VDC cost drivers against industry averages, transforming subjective internal evaluations into objective industry-aligned assessments without requiring direct access to competitor data
2Adaptability or versatility
If vast numbers of dynamic VDCs are managed, then cloud computing flexibility is improved, but management complexity and difficulty of objective evaluation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the management approach by changing the evaluation parameters from examining individual VDC configurations to analyzing aggregated cost driver metrics. By shifting focus to standardized cost categories (compute, storage, networking, software) and their associated drivers, the system simplifies management of vast numbers of dynamic VDCs while maintaining the ability to evaluate performance objectively through benchmark comparisons
3Measurement precision
If detailed internal metrics are collected for VDC evaluation, then internal performance monitoring is improved, but difficulty in ranking and prioritizing VDCs increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential evaluation elements from complex internal metrics by identifying and isolating key cost drivers across standardized categories. Instead of analyzing numerous detailed internal metrics, the system extracts and evaluates the primary cost components (compute resources, storage capacity, networking bandwidth, software licensing) against industry benchmarks, making VDC ranking and prioritization straightforward while preserving measurement precision
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure is directed to methods and systems to evaluate the performance of a virtual data center (“VDC”) running in a data center by comparing costs of cost drivers and VDC costs with cloud computing industry benchmarks. Methods collect costs of cost drivers and total VDC costs of a cloud computing industry. Cost driver industry benchmarks of the cloud computing industry are computed from the costs of the cost drivers and compared costs of cost drivers of a data center to determine which cost drivers of the data center are unacceptable. Methods also include determining a monetary impact of the cost drivers of the data center based the cost driver industry benchmarks and the total VDC costs of the cloud computing industry.