Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS
Based on a conversation between:
- Kirk Sinclair, Partner Sales Executive, OEM team (DPSS), Microsoft Canada
- Devlin Norris, Distribution Account Executive, Intel Corporation
On-premise servers still represent a large portion of the data share out on the marketplace. However, the advent of hybrid and cloud solutions has brought about a new ecosystem, dominated by Microsoft products such as Windows Server, Azure, and Windows Admin Centre.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at on-premise versus hybrid servers, the latest hardware options, the advantages of Windows Server Datacentre Edition, and how partners can seize some very profitable opportunities.
On-prem servers vs hybrid and cloud computing
Despite the growing prominence of cloud computing, there’s still a lot of opportunities, particularly in the SMB channel, for on-premise servers. They’re provisioned locally, offering a higher level of control and physical security.
With Azure, Windows Server, and Windows Admin Centre, there’s a lot of opportunity across the board—particularly when combined with the latest and greatest hardware.
The advantages of hybrid servers
Many of the factors that pushed companies to adopt cloud solutions throughout the pandemic are now pushing users toward hybrid. It offers the best of both worlds, an on-premise system that you have control over, and all the advantages of cloud computing. Plus, there are workloads that you simply cannot do on-premise, such as disaster recovery or off-site backup. If a specific location were going to be compromised, an outside solution would be absolutely essential.
Windows ecosystem plays incredibly well into this solution. Windows Server, for example, can be on-premise or in Azure. It can all be managed through Windows Admin Centre, which is free. This combined with the right hardware provides a comprehensive solution, something on-premise vendors should take interest in.
Server refresh
Azure offers a simplified server migration using the cloud that allows you to take data from the old server, upload it on azure, and then redeploy on-prem.
All that takes place through Windows Admin Centre. This presents a big opportunity for reseller partners. You can charge for everything within the stack, but you don’t necessarily have to pay for the tool.
And if you’re going to be refreshing your systems, it’s an ideal time to consider new hardware. Intel® just released their 3rd gen of the Xeon® scalable processor which is optimized for today’s workloads. The new Intel® Xeon® 3rd Gen scalable processor provides both core density and unique features like AI and crypto accelerators for deep learning and AI inference.
Dell, HP, Lenovo, and other Ingram Micro vendors offer a complete solution with state-of-the-art hardware and ongoing support.
Windows Server Datacentre 2019
Having a data centre presents the opportunity for organizations to add a server with additional hyperconverged infrastructure. Storage Spaces Direct takes advantage of Optane, and you can write in any additional cycles needed for that processor.
You can also take advantage of virtualized networking, so if space is an issue and you want to get more out of a stack, software can help accomplish that for you. This allows both partners and customers to gain more value from their systems.
Conclusion
The demands on systems and workloads have changed dramatically over the past several years, and that trend is going to continue. Now is the time to refresh old systems and adopt a hybrid platform. Use the resources below to learn more, or get in touch with Ingram’s specialist Steve Chung today.
