IBM package improves process automation

Management system promises less downtime and more efficiency for IT systems

IBM has announced new software to help firms automate IT processes to reduce costs, save time and manage change more effectively.

The software, including The IBM Tivoli Change and Configuration Management Database (CCMDB) and three Process Managers, will end the time-consuming task of manually designing processes and then integrating them across different departments, according to the firm.

The tools will help IT departments comply with regulations, meet customers’ demand for "more, faster and quicker", and help firms understand the interdependencies between various IT components, according to IBM Tivoli's Nick Drabble.

"We aim to focus on reducing costs by automating the operational side of managing the IT infrastructure, so organisations can focus their available budget on new ways to market," Drabble added.

The CCMDB captures information from across the enterprise on servers, networks, applications and other components and enables the IT staff to understand the interrelationships between them. Around 80 percent of outages are caused because IT staff change something without knowing how it affects another piece of the infrastructure, Drabble said.

IBM Tivoli Availability Process Manager, Release Process Manager and Storage Process Manager support customisable workflows based on Itil best practices. These components respectively help firms identify and rectify failing components, manage software and patch releases, and make better use of storage devices.

"This is a key announcement because for the first time it ties together the IT infrastructure and processes for managing it with the people needed to manage it," Drabble said. "It takes you through that in a risk-free, efficient and auditable way."

The CCMDB and Process Managers will be available from 30 June 30. A Process Manager for capacity management will follow in the second half of 2006, said IBM.