More ROI In Depth

Unified communications still fragmented

The technology may get a big push from mobile adoption, but integration among multiple UC components is still a tough slog.

Today, printers. Tomorrow, 'integrated peripherals'?

Printers are evolving from passive devices as vendors cram more features into them and buyers find ways to better integrate them into the overall environment.

The Upside of Shadow IT

As employees bypass IT and regularly subscribe to collaboration, analytic and other cloud services with the press of a button, some of the savviest CIOs are embracing and even encouraging shadow IT. Here's why.

AOL Unplugs 10,000 Servers, Saves $5 Million

AOL decommissioned nearly 10,000 servers and saved itself $5 million along the way to winning an Uptime Institute contest designed to show the high cost of running inefficient or underutilized IT equipment.

Enterprise cloud computing: Complete coverage

News, opinion, reviews and how-to articles to make your cloud computing journey that much easier.

Measure the success of your IT-business partnerships

How CIOs are determining if new attempts to partner with the business are making a difference.

Extending the life of your data center

From relocating noncritical data to standardizing servers and storage, IT leaders offer their tips for how to get more out of your data center.

Preparing for the real costs of cloud computing

Moving and storing data and integrating and testing applications are all costs you need to plan for.

Replacing legacy applications: Four problems solved

Cost-justifying the replacement of legacy software isn't easy. Here's how four shops approached the issue. One common theme: identifying business challenges and opportunities.

Opinion: What you need to know about vSphere 5's new pricing model

It's complicated, and some customers are complaining. VMware says the new pooled pricing is fair and is a more usage-based model.

Grow your data center with colocation

Colo, as it's known, is becoming a popular option for quickly adding capacity to an aging data center. But it's not as simple as throwing servers at a new site; be prepared to spend at least three months searching for a vendor and planning.

Get Into the M&A Game

Don't get left out of corporate merger-and-acquisition discussions. CIOs can play a big role in making sure the deals produce the intended benefits.

Open Source Unchecked

More than two-thirds of respondents to Computerworld's recent open-source survey reported that they don't have a written open-source governance plan. Yet experts say that, without one, hidden costs can multiply.

Data centers: Make mine modular

Modular data centers shed their chintzy image to win adopters looking for fast deployment and lower costs. But there are some potential gotchas, too.

When the CIO is also the CFO

Some would argue the relationship between IT and finance is naturally combative. So what happens when one person holds two titles -- CIO and CFO -- in the same company?

IT's A-listers: Recharged and ready for business growth and speed

Despite facing economic turmoil for the past few years, Computerworld's 2011 Premier 100 IT Leaders continued to innovate and deliver measurable business value.

Data centers experiment with alternative power

As data center power usage soars, some companies are turning to alternative power sources, including solar arrays, natural gas turbines, wind, hydrogen fuel cells and hydro power.

What CFOs Want From IT

In a down economy, IT isn't going anywhere without Finance. Here's what CFOs would like you to know before you come knocking.

The top 10 stories in IT this week

Attempts by Dutch authorities to take down the massive Bredolab botnet captured headlines this week, with infected PCs downloading fake antivirus software at week's end, and news surfacing that the suspected ringleader of the botnet was bringing in up to €100,000 (US$139,000) a month from his alleged illegal enterprise. In other news, Oracle's intellectual property lawsuit against SAP took a turn, but is still headed for trial on Monday.

What CFOs want IT managers to know now

CFOs hold major sway over IT projects in tough economic times. Here's what the finance people want tech managers to know before they ask for funding.