GainingbetterinsightintothecostofITAssetmanagementcapabilitiescoupledwithcosttrackingtoolshelphigh‐techleadersbettermanagethecostofIT. By Denise Dubie, Aug 11, 2009

Enterprise ITmanagers todayare forced tomorecloselyexaminehowwell they deliver IT services the business within tight budgetconstraints.That’swhyindustrywatcherssayhigh‐techleadersneedtoadoptITcostmanagementpracticesthatwoulduncoverthetruecostofIT.EnterpriseManagementAssociates(EMA)recentlyexaminedhowwellITservicemanagementvendorDigitalFuel delivered products that not only tracked IT services, but also enabled enterprise IT managers tounderstand the cost of deliver those services. According to EMA, there is a greater need for financialtransparencyintoITandDigitalFuelisamongthevendors–includingApptioandHP‐‐offeringITfinancialmanagementcapabilities.“Digital Fuel offers two distinctive solutions eachwith service portfoliomanagement capabilities included:one solution for IT costmanagementandone for servicequalitymanagement,” theEMAreport “Deliver ITcost visibility with Digital Fuel” reads. “Each of these solutions stands on its own to meeting pressingcorporatepriorities.Yet, theyare integratedandwork togetherdemonstratingDigitalFuel’svision tobringtogethercost,qualityandservicemanagementintoacohesivemanagementstrategy.”Thevendor’s IT costmanagementproductsoffer customers capabilities suchasearlywarningnotificationsthat alert ITmanagerswhen trending is straying from the planned IT budget. The software also allows ITmanagerstomodelandallocatecostpoolsacrosscostcentersandbusinessunits,andproactivelytrackanddrilldownintooverallcostsforspecificITservices,suchas infrastructure,applicationlicensesandITlaborcosts. Digital Fuel also enables its users to prepare chargeback statements for IT service charges byconsumption,allowingchargestobebrokendownbyseveralfactorssuchasbusinessunit,geographyand/ortopspenders.“Whiletechnology‐levelmanagementandanalyticsnodoubtitstillarequirement,newsolutionsareneededtohelpITmanagethebusiness‐relateddisciplinesofIT,”accordingtoEMA.Managementvendorsacrosstheboard ‐‐ including BMC, CA, EMC, IBM and others ‐‐ are now realizing the need to address IT financialtransparency needs and deliver products that can automate the process of tracking costs associated withservices,thereportsuggests.Yet, “Digital Fuel has the advantage of starting early and investing aggressively in the area of costmanagement,”thereportreads.Interested in freeware and shareware, open source applications and scaled down versions of commercialsoftware and services? In the coming weeks, Network World will devote an online forum (now dubbedManagementMaven‐‐newnamesuggestionswelcome!)tothetopicoffreetechiestuff,whichIwillcompileandpresentforyourreviewandpotentialdownload.Letmeknowwhatyoufind,whatyouwanttohearmoreaboutandwhatinvaluabletoolsthatdidn’tcostyouathingatddubie@nww.com.