Some corporations experimented with simplifying their infrastructure: some server consolidation here, a little virtualization there. But that became just another way to spend more money on IT. To achieve their business goals and unlock the value of their infrastructures, companies needed a more disciplined and structured way to eliminate inefficiencies. A growing number have turned to a three-step process: standardize, simplify, and automate.

This installment, the second in a three-part series, explores how simplification extends the value of data center standardization efforts and forms a stable, efficient base that can be used to support automation.