Operations Management

  • Article

Todays complex and rapidly changing technology infrastructures need to be supported by excellence in processes and people (skills, roles, and responsibilities). Any automated management solution must support and enhance these processes.

The Microsoft Operations Framework (MOF) uses a process model that describes Microsoft's approach to the Information Technology (IT) operations and service management life cycle. This model organizes the life cycle into the following quadrants:

  • Changing

  • Operating

  • Supporting

  • Optimizing

Each quadrant has a specific focus and set of tasks that are carried out through its corresponding set of service management functions (SMFs). SMFs provide consistent policies, procedures, standards, and best practices that can be applied across the entire suite of service solutions found in today's IT environments. For more information about the MOF, see the Microsoft Operations Framework site on TechNet.

An organization also needs operations management because it ensures that Information Technology (IT) meets an organizations business goals and objectives. These goals include things such as reducing costs, complexity, and providing information security. Reducing costs and complexity is important because, in addition to making up a significant part of the IT budget, the business impact of failed systems or performance degradation can be significant. This can result in increased operational costs, decreased quality of service, and lost revenue. Information security is also important as compromised systems and the associated costs of computer and data recovery continue to rise every year.