Best practice Linux architectures and systems management are crucial to ensure that failure rates are kept to a minimum and you benefit fully from the advantages associated with Linux. http://www.linuxit.com/lp/key-questions-ceos-should-ask-their-cio

1. Houses built on sand
the importance of a reliable
Linux server estate
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2. Why Your
Organisation Will
Benefit From Best
Practice Linux
Architectures and The common issues
Systems Management
Linux often entered into the organisation via the
backdoor many years ago and has proliferated
organically, rather than against a strategy or plan.
It has not, therefore, been subject to the same rigorous
standards or ROI assessments applied across the UNIX
and Microsoft estates.
This very often leads to multiple, undocumented builds of
variable standards across numerous Linux distributions.

3. Some of these distributions do not carry the
enterprise assurances demanded of a mission
critical environment.
They are often not optimised for the application
in terms of performance or security.
Without a standardised architecture design and
documentation, there is a great deal of risk through
dependency on the engineer that built the servers.
Servers are not built with operational efficiencies in
mind, so scaling up capacity is complex, expensive and
does not benefit from any economies of scale.
It also often means they are not regularly updated
with security patches and fixes which can introduce
risk into the organisation.

4. Because they have not been built against best
practice, there is often no facility to detect, isolate and
correct problems before they impact on the business.
Very often, security has not been considered to the
extent that it should have been when building these
servers, particularly in terms of identity management,
activity monitoring and virus/malware management.
Ultimately, poor practice around Linux causes an
increase in failure rates, security risk and costs while
decreasing productivity, operational efficiencies and
the value your organisation is able to deliver.
Customers may not return if they’ve suffered from
a bad experience - for example, on an e-commerce
or m-commerce website, leading to lost sales
opportunities.

5. Invest in
best practice
The solution Linux
Invest strategically in best practice Linux consulting
and Linux support and managed services for increased
organisational performance.
Formulate your Linux strategy. Ask yourself why you are
using Linux as opposed to UNIX or Microsoft?
Once you understand the reasons, ensure the Linux
architecture and systems management are designed to
deliver the anticipated advantages.

6. Design the Linux Application Ready Infrastructure
(ARI) to optimise for the specific application using
reference architectures from a Linux specialist.
Create a Standard Linux Operating Environment
(SOE) that is fully aligned with your requirements
as an effective and managed process and fully
integrated with your IT environment and IT processes.
This will dramatically reduce deployment time,
simplify maintenance, increase stability and
reduce costs.
Implement an SOE Management Platform to provide
a centralised way to deploy errata and configuration
changes to standard build installations and to
integrate with your change management, incident
management and other IT tools and processes.

7. Manage your systems in such a way that you are
aware of problems before your customers are -
implement fault management and performance
management systems that are designed specifically
to provide a greater return on investment in your
Linux estate.
Secure your Linux infrastructure with best practice
Linux security management that addresses access
controls, user activity, data privacy, viruses and
malware and denial of service attacks.
Adopt best practice Linux as the foundation for
value recognition further up the stack.

8. Determine whether it is cost effective to
maintain a deep Linux competency capable of
maintaining your Linux systems in line with
fast evolving best practices. LinuxIT deploys and
maintains thousands of Linux servers against
best-practice which means you benefit from our
knowledge and economies of scale.
Perhaps your internal competency would
provide a greater value by focusing on the IT
that is unique to your organisation? Only they
understand the nuances of your business and,
given the opportunity to express their creativity
beyond the mundanities of the operating
system, they will drive innovation and value in
your business.

9. Your Linux systems can be commoditised and built
against best practice standards by outsourcing this
service to a specialist Linux service provider with which
you will benefit from significant economies of scale,
improved productivity and reduced risk.
Speak to LinuxIT today about how best practice
Linux can benefit your organisation.
Download our eGuide
www.linuxit.com
KEY QUESTIONS
CEOS SHOULD ASK
THEIR CIO
Key questions CEOs should ask their CIO
to find out more.
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