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Understanding IT Infrastructure Residency Services and Their Value

Chris van der Drift
Director, Service Portfolio Strategy

October 29, 2024

Understanding IT Infrastructure Residency Services and Their Value

As technology evolves, the skills gap within IT departments continues to widen. New technologies are being adopted more quickly to keep pace with business changes, necessitating a constant update of skills.

Yet, fully outsourcing these skills isn’t always the solution, as they are a core part of any IT organization. To effectively address this issue, we need a strategy that focuses on continually closing the skills gap. This means implementing ongoing knowledge transfer to ensure our IT staff has the most current, comprehensive understanding of the technologies they use and manage.

The skills gap also has a tangible impact on the budget. It’s essential to bring in the right skills at the right time to avoid unnecessary costs and ensure efficient project execution. By investing in continuous learning and development, organizations can mitigate the budget impact AND maintain a competitive edge. To do that we need to invest in and manage several activities and resources:

  1. Continual Learning: Regular training and development programs are essential to keep IT staff updated with the latest technical advancements.
  2. Effective Knowledge Sharing: Creating an environment where knowledge is shared effectively ensures all team members are equipped with the required skills.
  3. In-House Expertise: Maintaining these skills in-house is crucial, as they form the backbone of the IT organization.

Residency Services Fill in the Skills Gap

Residency Services provide your organization with dedicated, on-site or remote experts who integrate seamlessly with your existing team. These professionals bring specialized skills and knowledge, helping bridge gaps and accelerate project timelines. By tapping into a reservoir of skilled experts, you can elevate your IT environment and address capability gaps effectively.

Here are four key benefits in leveraging Residency Services.

  1. Immediate Expertise: Residency Services offer instant access to experts who can hit the ground running, ensuring minimal disruption to your operations.
  2. Knowledge Transfer: These experts not only assist with immediate tasks but also transfer valuable knowledge to your in-house team, enhancing their skills and capabilities.
  3. Flexibility: Whether you need short-term support for a specific project or long-term assistance, Residency Services can be tailored to meet your needs.
  4. Risk Mitigation: By bringing in seasoned professionals, you reduce the risk of project delays and failures, ensuring smoother execution and better outcomes.

Scenario of How Residency Services are Used

Imagine a large retail company facing challenges managing its growing data infrastructure. They decided to partner with an infrastructure service provider for their Infrastructure Residency Services. The chosen external company provides on-site experts who manage and optimize the retailer’s IT infrastructure, ensuring high availability and performance. The retailer benefits from reduced downtime, improved data management and the ability to focus more on their core business operations, knowing their IT needs are in capable hands. The partnership allows the retailer to scale efficiently and stay competitive in a fast-paced market.

Hitachi Vantara’s Residency Services Offering

At Hitachi Vantara, we understand the importance of having the right expertise at the right time. That’s why we offer Residency Services as part of our comprehensive professional service catalog. Our team of seasoned experts are ready to support your IT initiatives, providing the expertise and hands-on skills needed to drive success. This also helps augment our Hitachi EverFlex Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) offering and expands the integration of existing infrastructure and tools using Hitachi EverFlex Control hyperautomation workflows.

Whether you’re looking to close skills gaps, enhance your team’s capabilities, accelerate project timelines or ensure the successful implementation of complex solutions, Hitachi Vantara Residency Services are here to help. Contact us today to learn more about how we can support your business and build a foundation for success and unlock the full value of your IT investment.

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Chris van der Drift

Chris van der Drift is Director, Service Portfolio Strategy at Hitachi Vantara and is based in Amsterdam, The Netherlands