Network World, 4/14/97

What follows is a sampling of findings from the 1997 Network World Management Survey conducted by the Deloitte & Touche Consulting Group.

How they get it done

Multiple local management centers with no integration: 12.5%
Multiple local centers with integration at a central site: 36%
Single central location: 51.5%

Networks vs. systems - never the twain shall meet?

Managing all networks and systems as an integrated entity: 32.5%
Managing various components separately using element managers: 43.5%
Manage networks as one entity and systems as another, but do not integrate the two: 22.0
Other: 2%

Strategic direction for systems and application management

Using an SNMP-based platform - 48%
Using a framework like IBM/Tivoli TME or CA Unicenter and integrating "best of breed" applications: 17.0%
Using Unicenter or a similar product as an integrated solution on its own: 2.5%
Using separate point products: 23.0%
No strategic direction: 9.5%

How happy are you? Apparently, not very.

In comparing levels of satisfaction with specific aspects of network and systems management over four years of NW surveys, it's clear that 1997 is a tough year, with ratings lower in every area except security. Ratings are based on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being extremely satisfied.

                              1994   1995    1996    1997

Accounting                    3.53   3.35     3.55   2.75
Application monitoring         *      *       3.63   3.27
Asset  mgmt.                  3.05   3.20     3.25   2.9
Backup                        3.6     3.7     3.85   3.66
Configuration mgmt.            *       *      3.63   3.37
Database mgmt.                 *       *      3.97   3.50
Help desk                      *       *       *     3.20
Performance mgmt.              *       *      3.70   3.30
Problem mgmt.                 3.2     3.4     3.48   3.11
Security                      3.4     3.45    3.25   3.56
Server mgmt.                  3.65    3.65    3.85   3.56
Software distribution         3.2     3.3     3.5    2.94	
Troubleshooting applications   *       *      3.62   3.13
Optimizing applications        *       *      3.46   2.91

* Question wasn't asked in these years. 

A new low

After two years of slow but steady progress, overall satisfaction with the level of improvement in network and systems management products dipped signficantly this year to register a new low. Ratings are based on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being extremely satisfied.

1994   1995   1996   1997
 3.5    3.6   3.85   3.44

Mapping management needs to reality

The most important factors in improving respondents' level of satisfaction, on a scale of 1-5, with 5 being essential:

1. Having automated processes that provide quick response and higher customer service to your users: 4.42
2. Automating repetitive management tasks: 4.26
3. A scaleable systems management solution: 4.03
4. Automated diagnosis and suggestions for fixing problems: 3.95
   
   • The ability to manage applications remotely: 3.95
5. Integration of systems and application management information with network management information: 3.85
6. A truly distributed systems management solution: 3.84
7. An integrated systems and applications toolset: 3.68

Three of the top four factors relate to automation, but the overall level of satisfaction with automation is at its lowest level to date - 3.1 out of a possible 5, a dip from 3.57 last year, 3.4 in 1995 and 3.25 in 1994.