What is Lenovo ThinkAgile CP?
CP (Cloud Platform) is a private type of cloud computing (over the Internet) that delivers the same advantages of a public cloud, including scalability and ease of use. However, using a proprietary design, a private cloud is dedicated to the needs and goals of a single organization. This differs from a public cloud, which services multiple organizations. Lenovo is not only the world’s largest personal computer vendor by unit sales, but it also markets the ThinkPad and ThinkBook business lines of notebook computers as well as the IdeaCentre and ThinkCentre lines of desktops. Following this line of marketing, their CP is named ThinkAgile.
Our Experience with Lenovo ThinkAgile CP
10X Consulting Group has partnered with Lenovo to provide you with a fully-featured turnkey private cloud, with fast deployment and easy management. Deploying private cloud platforms is rarely simple, even for experienced administrators. From staff and finances to complex infrastructure, the challenges of a traditional private cloud affect several areas of your organization. But Lenovo ThinkAgile CP aims to make having an on-premises private cloud platform as easy and hands-off as possible.
Cloud Adoption and your Organization
IT professionals may differ on the details of adopting a cloud scenario, but several points are generally consistent:
• New application servers need to be deployed in minutes, not days or weeks
• Self-service must be highly automated
• Scaling up or down is must be quick and seamless
• Must eliminate operational bottlenecks
• IT teams are freed up to spend less time on mundane tasks and can focus on higher-value IT projects.
• Dramatically simplified support and sustaining efforts
Deployment
After the hardware arrives, 10X Consulting Group along with ThinkAgile CP deployment services comes to install the platform. The hardware comes pre-cabled, so the only work required is verification and site configuration. The team may spend five to six hours performing testing and deployment tasks. Your IT generalist will just need to provide the team with network information and we will handle the rest.
Management
Administration of your private cloud can be done by your IT generalist who will be able to easily accomplish standard management tasks in just a few steps. Each task should take less than a minute of his/her time, with most tasks requiring less than 30 seconds to complete. Many routine management tasks can also be delegated to self-service users, giving them limited access to IT resources, rather than forcing them to wait for an administrator to get to their request.
Maintenance
Maintenance updates to ThinkAgile CP generally do not need any input from the user’s side. You will simply receive a notification that an update will occur at a specified time with the option to reschedule if the update would require downtime. The complete ThinkAgile CP software stack should receive updates that require no effort from your IT generalist.
Bottom Line
It is always best to invest IT dollars in growth rather than in maintenance. A recent survey of Chief Information Officers of private companies showed that the majority of their technology budgets (over 50%) went to maintaining existing business operations rather than funding new projects and innovation. Your business could achieve significant benefits from a private cloud platform that is nearly maintenance-free. Our team at 10X Consulting Group, along with Lenovo’s ThinkAgile CP, can streamline IT service delivery for your users and reduce a large portion of your ongoing IT costs.
Contact one of our 10X team members for more details – (704) 931-1056