Cube Host Stu Miniman (@stu) speaks with Hasan Barakat at Winslow Technology Group Dell EMC Users Group at the Commonwealth Hotel in Boston MA
#DellEMC #theCUBE
https://siliconangle.com/2017/08/10/escape-from-the-jurassic-petting-zoo-science-firm-overcomes-aging-it-wtgusersgroup/
Escape from the ‘Jurassic petting zoo’: Science firm overcomes aging IT
Many companies would probably admit they have not spent enough on information technology system upgrades. Refresh budgets often do not survive when confronted with the realities of cost management in today’s competitive business environment. Yet when one scientific research firm realized it needed to make the investment in IT necessary to meet the basic mission of the company, the IT department finally got much of what it wanted.
“We’re trying to basically get to a level of performance and reliability that gives our scientists and users and eventually our customers … a fair shot at doing what they need to do,” said Hasan Barakat (pictured, right), director of global IT at Cell Signaling Technology Inc.
Barakat visited with Stu Miniman (pictured, left) (@stu), host of theCUBE, SiliconANGLE’s mobile livestreaming studio, during the recent WTG Dell EMC Users’ Group event in Boston, Massachusetts. They discussed how Barakat’s company addressed the problem of outdated systems and the need for scalability. (* Disclosure below.)
Cell Signaling Technology produces antibodies used in cancer research and ships them to pharmaceutical firms and universities around the world. The labs produce a lot of data, so the IT organization needed to keep pace.
This was a challenge, because the firm relied on many outmoded systems. “We have historically not invested as much in IT as maybe we should have over the years,” Barakat explained. “My boss calls these aging systems a ‘Jurassic petting zoo.’”
100 lab systems upgraded to Dell XPS
Barakat upgraded more than 100 lab systems from “ancient, aging XP machines” to “state-of-the-art Dell XPS systems running Windows 10.” He also has on-premises Compellent storage and VRTX servers split into application and database clusters. And yes, there is now an IT refresh budget.
“Our users need robust IT systems. We try to embrace change and enable our users and scientists to be the best that they can be from an IT perspective,” Barakat said.
When asked about his wish list, Barakat told theCUBE that he looks for partners who can stay on top of change and help avoid continuous migrations. “Everybody, please provide scalable systems,” he concluded.
Watch the complete video interview below, and be sure to check out more of SiliconANGLE’s and theCUBE’s coverage of WTG Dell EMC Users’ Group. (* Disclosure: TheCUBE is a paid media partner for WTG Dell EMC Users Group. Neither Winslow Technology Group, the event sponsor, nor other sponsors have editorial influence on theCUBE or SiliconANGLE.)
Forgot Password
Almost there!
We just sent you a verification email. Please verify your account to gain access to
Winslow Technology Group (WTG) Dell EMC Users Group | Boston. If you don’t think you received an email check your
spam folder.
Sign in to Winslow Technology Group (WTG) Dell EMC Users Group | Boston.
In order to sign in, enter the email address you used to registered for the event. Once completed, you will receive an email with a verification link. Open this link to automatically sign into the site.
Register For Winslow Technology Group (WTG) Dell EMC Users Group | Boston
Please fill out the information below. You will recieve an email with a verification link confirming your registration. Click the link to automatically sign into the site.
You’re almost there!
We just sent you a verification email. Please click the verification button in the email. Once your email address is verified, you will have full access to all event content for Winslow Technology Group (WTG) Dell EMC Users Group | Boston.
I want my badge and interests to be visible to all attendees.
Checking this box will display your presense on the attendees list, view your profile and allow other attendees to contact you via 1-1 chat. Read the Privacy Policy. At any time, you can choose to disable this preference.
Select your Interests!
add
Upload your photo
Uploading..
OR
Connect via Twitter
Connect via Linkedin
EDIT PASSWORD
Share
Forgot Password
Almost there!
We just sent you a verification email. Please verify your account to gain access to
Winslow Technology Group (WTG) Dell EMC Users Group | Boston. If you don’t think you received an email check your
spam folder.
Sign in to Winslow Technology Group (WTG) Dell EMC Users Group | Boston.
In order to sign in, enter the email address you used to registered for the event. Once completed, you will receive an email with a verification link. Open this link to automatically sign into the site.
Sign in to gain access to Winslow Technology Group (WTG) Dell EMC Users Group | Boston
Please sign in with LinkedIn to continue to Winslow Technology Group (WTG) Dell EMC Users Group | Boston. Signing in with LinkedIn ensures a professional environment.
Are you sure you want to remove access rights for this user?
Details
Manage Access
email address
Community Invitation
Hasan Barakat, Cell Signaling Technology | WTG & Dell EMC Users Group
Cube Host Stu Miniman (@stu) speaks with Hasan Barakat at Winslow Technology Group Dell EMC Users Group at the Commonwealth Hotel in Boston MA
#DellEMC #theCUBE
https://siliconangle.com/2017/08/10/escape-from-the-jurassic-petting-zoo-science-firm-overcomes-aging-it-wtgusersgroup/
Escape from the ‘Jurassic petting zoo’: Science firm overcomes aging IT
Many companies would probably admit they have not spent enough on information technology system upgrades. Refresh budgets often do not survive when confronted with the realities of cost management in today’s competitive business environment. Yet when one scientific research firm realized it needed to make the investment in IT necessary to meet the basic mission of the company, the IT department finally got much of what it wanted.
“We’re trying to basically get to a level of performance and reliability that gives our scientists and users and eventually our customers … a fair shot at doing what they need to do,” said Hasan Barakat (pictured, right), director of global IT at Cell Signaling Technology Inc.
Barakat visited with Stu Miniman (pictured, left) (@stu), host of theCUBE, SiliconANGLE’s mobile livestreaming studio, during the recent WTG Dell EMC Users’ Group event in Boston, Massachusetts. They discussed how Barakat’s company addressed the problem of outdated systems and the need for scalability. (* Disclosure below.)
Cell Signaling Technology produces antibodies used in cancer research and ships them to pharmaceutical firms and universities around the world. The labs produce a lot of data, so the IT organization needed to keep pace.
This was a challenge, because the firm relied on many outmoded systems. “We have historically not invested as much in IT as maybe we should have over the years,” Barakat explained. “My boss calls these aging systems a ‘Jurassic petting zoo.’”
100 lab systems upgraded to Dell XPS
Barakat upgraded more than 100 lab systems from “ancient, aging XP machines” to “state-of-the-art Dell XPS systems running Windows 10.” He also has on-premises Compellent storage and VRTX servers split into application and database clusters. And yes, there is now an IT refresh budget.
“Our users need robust IT systems. We try to embrace change and enable our users and scientists to be the best that they can be from an IT perspective,” Barakat said.
When asked about his wish list, Barakat told theCUBE that he looks for partners who can stay on top of change and help avoid continuous migrations. “Everybody, please provide scalable systems,” he concluded.
Watch the complete video interview below, and be sure to check out more of SiliconANGLE’s and theCUBE’s coverage of WTG Dell EMC Users’ Group. (* Disclosure: TheCUBE is a paid media partner for WTG Dell EMC Users Group. Neither Winslow Technology Group, the event sponsor, nor other sponsors have editorial influence on theCUBE or SiliconANGLE.)
