The exponential growth of data—multimedia, mobile, and corporate content—means that there exists a need to support increasing data center demands. The move from process-centric to data- and memory-centric computing is already having an impact on current computing trends. This change bodes a completely new approach to understanding data sets and will require new capabilities to perform fast, efficient data analysis. It will also mean new hardware and software resources, as well as the ability to manage large-scale unified computing systems (UCS) deployments. All this is good news for Cisco Systems (News - Alert) which has staked its reputation on building unparalleled data center components ranging from networking to storage and allowing for much easier deployment and management solutions to take place.

Now, the company is shining the spotlight on its new UCS innovations as it recently revealed new innovations across the Cisco Unified Computing System(TM) to deliver a third-generation fabric computing platform. These new advances not only help customers build better clouds, they also enable developers to deploy business applications faster. In addition, the onset of the 24/7 business cycle has required the broad consolidation of communication tools and their integration with the data center. To better accommodate businesses and users, desktop and VoIP handsets, voicemail, fax, email, IM, conferencing, and computing devices now require a single-point of access. By integrating all these tools, it becomes easier for IT to both manage and deploy these solutions. Because Unified Communication (UC) and UCS deployments rely heavily on software, Cisco is a natural choice.

In general, when it comes to data center efficiencies, Cisco UCS Manager customers report dramatic operational and cost improvements of up to 30 percent reduced infrastructure expenses, 90 percent reduction in deployment times, 40 percent improvements in application performance, and 60 percent reductions in power/cooling costs. These are key management solution dividends that Cisco is only glad to offer its customers. according to Robert Taylor, director of IT, Hendrick Automotive who stated, "As the second-largest privately owned dealership group in the United States, we experienced server and desktop sprawl that required a more manageable, cost-effective unified data center approach, and we chose shared infrastructure FlexPod, with unique integration management of UCS and NetApp unified storage, as the best solution for our private cloud infrastructure. It used to take weeks to deploy a new business application, but now we can do it in a day. Now senior management views IT as a business enabler that significantly increases our business agility."

That’s because the Cisco UCS(TM) third-generation fabric computing platform incorporates the new Intel (News - Alert)(R) Xeon(R) processor E5-2600 product family and includes multiple server form factors. This includes up to four times the I/O compared to previous UCS servers as well as single-point management, whether they’re blade or rack servers. With approximately $5.8 billion in annual R&D spending, Cisco continues to exemplify innovation by spearheading data center transformation and by helping businesses build cloud computing environments more rapidly and cost-effectively, as well as deploy business applications in a much shorter period of time.

 This same agility can apply to managing UC deployments integrated with Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communications. In the VoIP arena, Cisco has had similar successes. And its partner company, VoIP Integration, believes that cost-effective voice communications can no longer be viewed in isolation from the rest of a company’s daily business operations. As media integration increases and workforces grow more mobile, an IP-based system can be a critical component to help meet 24/7 company demands. VoIP services are gaining in popularity as more businesses look to have dynamic global connectivity.  VoIP Integration is comprised of Cisco Certified Engineers (including CCIE's), PMP Certified Project Managers and Qualified Trainers who can ensure unified communications operate from that critical single point of control. Unlike other integrators, the company focuses solely on implementing Cisco VoIP technologies.