Judging Criteria: the judges will be looking for entries which demonstrate the following key attributes:
Most Innovative Data Centre, Cloud and Virtualisation Project of the Year
A new or significantly re-built/re-architected Data Centre facility embracing private, public or hybrid cloud concepts ( ***please note 1. where applicable, judges will consider the ratio of innovative design, process, best practice etc. verses legacy and 2. preference will be shown towards entries where multiple Cisco technologies have been combined/integrated to deliver an enhanced architecture).
Innovation in the areas of Data Centre design, build and operation that may include one or more of the following:
Resource virtualisation and optimisation i.e. network facilities, storage switching, server resources and security appliances. Consider also consolidation, server load balancing, and server off-loading, traffic and application optimization.
Significant reduction or optimisation in power consumption (environmentally friendly DC)
Significant improvements in availability i.e. redundant multi-site design, data centre interconnect and approach towards delivering increased business continuity.
Increased IT process automation i.e. orchestration, provisioning and service delivery via a cloud portal approach.
Enhanced services, security, management and operations i.e. administration, resource/systems management, outsourcing, advanced infrastructures, cabling, network-based security, automation based on inputs from multiple management components.
Effective segmentation of shared infrastructure i.e. Multi-tenant adoption and techniques.
Adoption of unified fabric and next generation interconnect solutions i.e. most extensive use of enabling technologies i.e. FCoE, OTV, FabricPath
Security i.e. built-in security mechanisms and capabilities
Data Centre team structure, departmental/cross functional collaboration, reporting, incentives etc. that promote significant improvements in the success and adoption of new project deliverables.
Achieved business value for the organisation, e.g. operational efficiency, environmentally friendly, increased flexibility, high-availability, faster services and applications rollout
New business model adoption i.e. pay as you grow, pay per use, risk sharing, joint go to market models, revenue sharing
Business process re-engineering that exploits consolidation, virtualisation, automation and service delivery within the Data Centre
Most Innovative Infrastructure, Security and Mobility Project of the Year - Service Provider
An IP NGN network built by a Service Provider and adopting an innovative Infrastructure, Security and Mobility Architecture:
Using latest/advanced technologies and solutions in the Transport, Core and Edge, Access and Aggregation, Security and Mobility areas
Showing innovation in terms of network design, performance, scalability and reliability
IPv6 enabled, with the adoption of hybrid or full IPv6 routing/addressing schemes and the support of IPv6 enabled services
Embedding a complete service and policy control layer, including Cisco and Partners
Including innovative on-premise functions on Cisco CPE, fully integrated with the IP NGN network capabilities
Adopting intelligent mechanisms of resource/traffic/application optimization, of service provisioning and management
Demonstrating Fixed and Mobility integration and convergence at the network (Core, edge, aggregation and access), at the service and application layers
Improving Security through the adoption of innovative built-in security mechanisms and capabilities to secure the network, the content, the services and applications
Enabling the integration of video capabilities
Open and ready to be integrated with an SP DC and Cloud service delivery infrastructure, enabling the ability to deliver innovative Managed Services
Demonstrating the capability to deliver business value and benefits for the provider/organization adopting it, through improved operational excellence, operating costs and network monetization capabilities
addressing Customer business needs in an innovative way, in terms of adoption of the very latest technologies with superior financial performances
Demonstrating innovation combined with replicable approach: the project is unique in terms of innovation but can be replicated and scale by Cisco and Partners
A project where innovation maximizes the role of the network
A project recognized by Customers as being ahead of the Competition in terms of genuine innovation
Most Innovative Infrastructure, Security and Mobility Project of the Year - Enterprise (Borderless Networks)
A new architectural approach, enabling borderless organisation collaboration (internal, external) to create new business value
Innovation in the areas of end-to-end network services that may include one or more of the following:
Energy (through the implementation of technologies like Cisco Energywise)
Video (through the implementation of technologies like Cisco medianet, allowing the network to support a variety of rich media and video applications)
Application Optimization
Mobility (by deploying Cisco’s mobility solutions to cope for instance with a variety of mobile devices, users accessing business applications from anywhere)
Innovation in how the network is managed, deployed and operated and how it provides increased flexibility, high-availability, faster services and applications rollout
Creativity from concept through assessment to planning and design e.g. addressing new and challenging issues through an architectural methodology
Improving the organisation’s performance by accelerating:
Revenue generation e.g. enhanced customer experience, improved supply chain management, customer self-service, sales force availability and response time, ..
Value creation and scale e.g. new services for customers through new partnership/business model, rich collaboration for internal & external meetings, real-time access to critical information
Innovation e.g. how the solution has unleashed productivity and competitiveness, and improved time to market.
Environmental impact e.g. how the project aligns with a global commitment to reduce the impact on the environment
Most Innovative Collaboration / Video Project of the Year
The broadest possible use of the entire Cisco Collaboration solutions portfolio: Unified Communications, Mobility, Customer Interaction Solutions (Contact Center), Telepresence and video, Conferencing (Webex and Meeting Place), Messaging and Social Software (Show&Share, Pulse, Quad)
The business impact the project has had on the organisation internally and externally e.g. financial savings, business process evolution and productivity gains, speed and agility, employee education and alignment, environmental impact reduction
Innovative application of Unified Communications in a specific vertical sector e.g. Healthcare, Defence, Finance
Integration of 3rd party application solution into Cisco Unified Communications
New business model adoption e.g. hosted services
Pervasive use of video
Most Society Impacting Network of the Year
An innovative IP based network solution, over a single or multiple architectural plays, provided by government bodies and/or organisations with an objective of serving and positively impacting society.
The category judging criteria is as follows:
Innovative: The solution clearly demonstrates high levels of innovation in the use of networked technologies delivering significant societal impact.
Societal Impact: Has a positive impact in one or more areas associated with standard of living, education, healthcare, security, poverty, ageing population, youth engagement, productivity, etc. Also, necessary resources and budget planned to sustain this impact.
Scale of Impact: Project’s impact is recognized or will be shortly recognized across a city, country, region or globally.
Replicable: Project can be easily replicated beyond its original location & impact area.
Architectural Approach: The project has leveraged architectural principles to create a borderless network infrastructure capable of supporting a rich set of services to any location on any device.
Accessible: Has independent & easy access locations for all citizens. Has no barriers to access, whilst still ensuring the network is safe and secure for residents and government employees in various cities, regions, and countries.
Services Driven Network: Offers a range of services for social inclusion and citizen engagement. Has a comprehensive suite of applications encompassing Data, Voice and Video to change how people work, live, learn and play.
Shared Services: Has leveraged the emergence of cloud-based technologies to deliver radical savings across the public sector through shared services delivery.
Green/Environment: Has a positive impact on the environment e.g. power consumption reduction, pollution reduction, etc.
Most Innovative Business Impacting Network of the Year
Innovative and unique implementation of networking technology generating business benefits in any vertical sector (financial services, manufacturing, oil & gas exploration and production, mining, retail, etc)
The network enables the adoption of innovative network centric services such as flexible and secure access to services anytime, anywhere on any device with a high degree of security
Achieved business value and impact (Cost, Innovation, Productivity) including:
Improved customer experience and engagement
Optimisation of financial, human and environmental resources driving new levels of productivity
Enabled business impacting process change (within company organization, Partners, Suppliers or Customers)
Breaking down borders within organisations, and between departments and individuals
Enabling new business models
How work gets done along the entire value chain (faster, simpler, more reliable, more cost effective)
Innovative network architecture and design leveraging the latest technology and platforms:
IP- and open standard based network (e.g. IPv6)
High Availability, business continuity
Secure Network Architecture
Agility and Flexibility to rapidly support new services
Scalability and Performance to enable broad adoption of services
Effective Management and Operations in support of business objectives
If you have any questions please contact:
Adele Carter
IDG Project Manager
Innovation Awards at Cisco Live 2012
IDG Global Solutions
t: +44(0)1784 210340
f: +44(0)1784 225830
e: Adele_Carter@IDG.com
