IBM is developing what may be characterized as an iTunes-like model for data centers that will enable a business to download the complete application stack, run it and even turn over server management to the vendor, which would run it remotely. The iTunes analogy came from Frank Gens, an IDC analyst who spoke at the IBM PartnerWorld conference here. Gens said he foresees this data center delivery model arriving from all the major vendors.

 
 

A Forrester survey of 250 disaster recovery professionals last October found that during the five year period, 27% of companies were forced to declare at least one disaster, which the firm defined as an event that requires activation of a disaster recovery plan.

"IT knows their [systems] are vulnerable, and it keeps them up at night," Balarous said. "They want to do something about it, but it's very hard to get funding for disaster recovery because you can't necessarily use models like ROI and TCO."