ABSTRACT
A data center manager who has adopted a businesslike approach to the management of the function is better able to counter any moves to outsourcing. The purpose of the reporting system is to document what is occurring in the data center. These reports should be used to highlight areas of strength and weakness and to lay the basis for changes to improve the environment. Developing and using the reporting system effectively has an immediate positive effect by enabling the data center manager to move to factual rather than emotional assessments of the service provided by the data center. The data center reporting systems should be designed to generate reports that are consistent, timely, and structured toward the development of a historical data base. Data center reporting systems should be implemented with the needs of both the data center and the organization in mind.
