consolidation

Consolidation is a term from the world of finance that has also found its way into information technology. In the IT world, it stands for the standardization and consolidation of systems, databases and applications with the aim of simplifying the IT infrastructure and making it more scalable.

In computer technology, consolidation knows different manifestations and, according to a model of the IDC market research company, can refer to different levels that are directly related to the return on investment( ROI). In general, consolidation of resources leads to improved return on investment (ROI). As ROI potential increases, the research firm distinguishes four levels of consolidation: logical consolidation, physical consolidation, workload consolidation and application consolidation.

The lowest level of consolidation, logical consolidation, refers to the unification and simplification of administrative tasks, maintenance and user support. Physical consolidation includes computer technology, the concentration of storage systems or servers towards blade servers, and the efficient use of computing and storage resources. Workload consolidation refers to the unification of operating systems, the use of standards and off-the- shelf components, and performance and multiprocessor capabilities.

The centralization of the IT infrastructure finds its continuation in the consolidation of applications. Virtual techniques such as storage virtualization are at the forefront here; predominantly techniques that require little or no intervention by the administrator.