Vcentra recognizes that complex projects require solid project management and a proven methodology. We have employed both our own methodology and adopted our customer's preferred methodology where it makes sense. We leverage the following methodologies and best practices:
- Rational Unified Process (RUP)
- VMware Virtual Infrastructure Methodology (VIM)
- Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL)
Leveraging VIM and RUP, Vcentra follows the following methodology principals:
Assess
Vcentra experts obtain customer requirements through a collaborative and iterative approach as well as traditional methods of documentation review and interviews. A project team is created based on our customer requirements and technologies used at our customer's site. The project team is led by an experienced project manager who is also certified in virtualization technologies. Customer requirements are documented and validated by our customer through collaborative workshops and the use of specialized infrastructure analysis tools.
Design
Vcentra design architects, engineers, and vendor partners work together in an iterative design process. We begin at the architecture level, taking into account our customer requirements (both business and technical). From there, we develop a high-level design so that cost analysis can be performed. The high-level design is vetted with our customers and vendor partners. Designs are reviewed by Vcentra company senior architects to ensure that best practices (including ITIL) are followed. The high-level design also allows Vcentra to develop a Concept of Operations so that customers have a vision to ensure that the design meets all business and technical requirements. Once the customer accepts the high-level design, a detailed design is then created. The detailed design includes a bill of materials (BOM) and provides a baseline for CAPEX and OPEX financial analysis. Additionally, deployment planning can be refined after the detailed design is complete. Design check-points are established for customer, vendor partner, and Vcentra project team review.
Deploy
The Vcentra team works with the customer to finalize the deployment plan. This may include assisting the government in developing the request for proposal (RFP) and/or statement of work (SOW) for large-scale deployments. Under this scenario Vcentra can play an oversight role for the Program Management Office (PMO), performing independent verification and validation (IV&V) on the deployment. Vcentra also has the capability of serving as the integrator for smaller datacenter deployments.
Conformance
Throughout the deployment process Vcentra ensures that the design and deployment plans are followed. Once deployment has been completed, Vcentra completes an assessment to ensure that the customer's business and technical requirements have been met. The assessment includes a thorough report that details the following criteria:
- Solution conforms to technical and business requirements
- System operations are stabile in new environment
- System performance metrics that show operational health
