Hot Tech Projects: Virtualization, Smart Power and Data Center Reductions

Company

Location

Project/s

AIG Chartis Insurance

Jersey City, NJ

In the midst of rolling out LivePolicy e-presentment, based on Adobe's LiveCycle suite.Robert S. Grazioli, CIO, recently led a project to virtualize the data center and automate technology processes. Microsoft SharePoint is a core content management system, with Salesforce connecting the data center to business processes.

Allstate

Northbrook, IL

In the midst of switching from physical tape to virtual tape and to storage systems that need less hardware than older systems.

Ameriprise

Minneapolis, MN

In the midst of converting 35,000 Lotus Notes users to Exchange 2010, using VCE VBlock.

Baker Hughes

Houston, TX

Making strides toward cloud computing and Infrastructure-as-a-Service.

BCBS of AR

Little Rock, AR

Working with DST, Trizetto, Hewlett-Packard and NASCO on a shared governance model for core insurance systems. Under the model, several health insurers would operate their systems from a common data center while sharing capabilities.

Bell Canada

Montreal, QC

Selects Juniper QFabric architecture.

Bowling Green State University

Bowling Green, OH

Will pilot Canvas as a potential replacement for Blackboard in spring 2012.

City of Memphis

Memphis, TN

New city website to cost $250,000.

Department of Veterans Affairs

Washington, DC

Launching a procurement of largest WiFi-based real time location system in the world, which would track assets, patients and staff in VA hospitals.

Fletcher Allen Health Care

Burlington, VT

In the midst of a PeopleSoft Upgrade from 8.8 to 9.1.

JM Family Enterprises

Deerfield, FL

Shawn Berg, CTO, is leading a project to provide all employees with virtual desktops. Firm is also looking at the possibility of sharing data center space with other companies.

KPMG

New York, NY

In the midst of deploying virtual server technology.

ManuLife Financial

Toronto, ON

Joseph Cooper, CIO, recently led an effort to restructure infrastructure outsourcing, including a seven-year, $600 million deal with IBM. The company also recently concluded a $300 million deal with CSC to transition its computing facilities into six data centers. In addition, ManuLife recently replaced its entire global network with a VoIP platform.

Miami University

Oxford, OH

Selected Oracle CRM On Demand to replace its legacy admissions software.

NBC Universal

New York, NY

Implemented smart power distribution units and rack-level environmental and power metering sensors, increasing rack densities by as much as 200%.

Nixon Peabody

Rochester, NY

Reduced 300 physical servers to 30 VMware ESX servers. Replacing more than 1,100 monitors with Energy Star-rated LCD units.

Northrop Grumman

Los Angeles, CA

In the midst of deploying desktop power management to automatically put its PCs, laptops and monitors into low-power states when not in use. Looking at replacing conventional desktops with power-efficient thin-client devices and building private cloud computing capabilities.

Pillsbury, Winthrop, Shaw, Pittman

New York, NY

Martin Metz, CIO, will relocate to Nashville, TN, to setup and operate an internal professional services center.

Prudential

Newark, NJ

In the midst of virtualizing data centers. Currently installing solar panels to provide some of the power needed to run its Roseland, N.J., data center. Expanding the deployment of mobile devices, while providing support for telecommuting and investing in telecommunications equipment.

Waterbury Hospital

Waterbury, CT

Has implemented RES Workspace Manager.

Watson Clinic

Lakeland, FL

Has implemented the use of Sophos virus and spyware protection software.

Wawanesa Insurance

Winnipeg, MB

Recently deployed Guidewire Solution for Claims Management.