We will reinvent Microsoft

Tony Scott, CIO, Microsoft was in India recently. Scott talks on

consolidation of data centers and applications, virtualization, IT budget and

strategic outlines, open standards, Green IT, as well as his headaches, and

more. Excerpts

How has it been as Microsofts CIO so far?



It is one of the most interesting CIO roles probably in the world. More so

as it simultaneously covers three domains: the classic CIO role, which entails

responsibility for the IT operations of the company. Then there is the task of

working closely with the product development side and contribute as users of MS

technologies in beta and development stage, thereby improving product quality.

Add to that the chance to work our broad customer base and large enterprises

and, in some ways, act as advocates of revolutionary technologies. This is

indeed a unique combination of many roles as a CIO.

Tony Scott, CIO, Microsoft

What about the status of initiatives taken up by your predecessors like

Stuart Scott with respect to consolidation of data centers, trimming of

applications, virtualization drive and use of new collaboration software?



We have made good progress in all of that. The data center consolidation

continues. Virtualization is turning out to be a more interesting story. With

less than 10% a year back, in terms of servers, it is now about 25% this year,

with 50% level expected next year. That is remarkable progress.

We have achieved all goals on application reduction. As regards collaboration

software, SharePoint is the primary platform and it has been a great success

story, not just at Microsoft but all across.

While you were at GM, you set up Liberty Alliance for Identity Management

which was an open standards group. Now at Microsoft, whats your view on the

open landscape?



That was created amid some different factors operating that time. Today, the

field of Identity Management has evolved a lot. We have set standards in this

space. MS commitment, as shared prominently some time back, is broad and

significant. Standards are important for commerce and interactivity.

How do you manage the bridging task between MS internal IT and external one?



There are a number of ways in which we are continuously achieving that. Large

enterprise forums, CIO summits and EBCs (executive briefing centers) are some

examples that help connect various entities.

Green IT is almost turning from a buzzword to a clich? Your practical take

on that?



It is an important imperative for Microsoft. This is where virtualization is

a great contributor. Added to that is significant action on data center

capability, system management tools, server operating system with green IT as a

focus. In our data centers, we are using all available technologies as we can

find, be it heating or cooling ones or the sources of energy in the very first

place. So we have to find ways to offset that with efficiencies wherever

possible.

What is your view on some contemporary CIO attention areas like redundancy,

complexity, consolidation and standardization?



Yes, it is an important part of what a CIO does these days. As a leader in

the organization, its my job to set strategy and objectives in each of these

areas. These are really derivatives of other factors. What matters is making

business process more effective, making systems easier for customers and

partners and of course, handling costs well at the end of the day.

Pratima Harigunani



maildqindia@cybermedia.co.in