Big SCOM Survey Results Edited

Summary

The transcript discusses the latest survey results around the use of SCOM (System Center Operations Manager) and its future in enterprise IT. The conversation highlights the high Net Promoter Score (NPS) of SCOM, comparing it to major brands like Apple, and examines how its use is expected to grow, stay stable, or decrease in the future. The speakers explore the ongoing relevance of SCOM amidst competition from new tools, the hybrid cloud trend, and SCOM's stability. They also touch on factors like the number of management servers and agents, and the potential impact of upcoming versions. Ultimately, the dialogue emphasizes SCOM’s continued value despite industry shifts.

Takeaways

• 😀 SCOM (System Center Operations Manager) has a strong Net Promoter Score (NPS), comparable to major brands like Apple, highlighting its continued popularity despite some fluctuations in usage over the years.
• 😀 The usage of SCOM is expected to grow or remain stable for a significant number of users, with 33% expecting growth, while fewer are predicting a reduction in usage.
• 😀 A large portion of users continues to trust and rely on SCOM, as seen in events like Scumathon, which remain popular and draw significant contributions.
• 😀 Even though there's been a slight dip in the number of users planning to continue with SCOM for over five years, the tool still has strong staying power in the market.
• 😀 Many users still feel positive about SCOM's future, with discussions around it being a reliable and stable tool for hybrid computing environments.
• 😀 A majority of respondents plan to continue using SCOM for the foreseeable future, with some companies committing to it for 5+ years despite the uncertainty surrounding future versions.
• 😀 There's a noticeable split in interest toward SCMI (System Center Management Insights), with a growing number of people becoming less interested in it, possibly due to costs or hybrid solutions being a better fit for their needs.
• 😀 Older SCOM versions (such as 2012, 2016, and 2019) are still in production in many environments, with 2019 being particularly popular due to its perceived future-proof nature at the time of release.
• 😀 The number of management servers and agents used by SCOM administrators varies significantly, with some organizations running as many as 20 management servers, often correlating to complex or isolated workloads.
• 😀 The majority of users report having between one to five management servers, with larger companies often needing more to manage their vast infrastructure. Properly sized environments are essential for stable performance and ease of management.

Q & A

What is the NPS score, and how is it calculated?

The Net Promoter Score (NPS) is a metric used to measure customer loyalty. It is calculated by subtracting the percentage of detractors (people who rate the service low) from the percentage of promoters (people who rate the service highly). The resulting score can range from -100 to +100, where anything above 0 is considered good.

Why is the NPS score for SCOM considered impressive?

The NPS score for SCOM is considered impressive because it is comparable to large brands like Apple, which are widely loved. Despite the dip in scores over the years, SCOM still maintains a relatively high NPS score, indicating strong customer loyalty.

Has the desire to promote SCOM changed over the years?

No, for some users, the desire to promote SCOM has not dipped. In fact, some individuals still find new ways to exploit and learn about the tool every day, despite the dip in the NPS score for SCOM.

What does the shift in expected usage of SCOM over the next few years indicate?

The shift in expected usage of SCOM over the next few years indicates that more people expect their use of SCOM to grow, with fewer people predicting a reduction in usage. This suggests that SCOM continues to provide value, and organizations are more likely to stick with it.

Why do some people believe that SCOM's staying power is strong?

SCOM's staying power is considered strong because it has been around for a long time, has evolved with the needs of users, and continues to be a reliable tool. Even with new technologies emerging, SCOM's ability to adapt and its mature, stable nature contribute to its continued relevance.

What is the significance of hybrid environments in relation to SCOM?

Hybrid environments, which combine on-premises and cloud computing, are important for SCOM because it is well-positioned to handle both. Organizations are moving workloads back and forth between data centers and the cloud, and SCOM continues to support these environments effectively.

What is the reason for the decrease in the number of people planning to use SCOM for 5+ years?

The decrease in the number of people planning to use SCOM for 5+ years could be attributed to uncertainty around Microsoft's long-term plans for SCOM. If Microsoft communicated clearer support timelines, the number of people expecting to use SCOM for more than five years might increase.

How has interest in SCMI changed according to the survey data?

Interest in SCMI has decreased, with the number of people expressing interest in it dropping significantly compared to the previous year. On the other hand, the number of people not interested in SCMI has increased, indicating a shift in how SCMI is perceived by users.

What might explain the growing disinterest in SCMI?

The growing disinterest in SCMI could be due to the high costs associated with cloud migration and the realization that some organizations might prefer to continue using on-premise solutions or hybrid models rather than fully adopting cloud-based solutions like SCMI.

What are the current usage patterns of different SCOM versions?

The survey shows that a significant portion of users are still on older versions of SCOM, such as 2012, 1801, and 1807. However, more users are transitioning to newer versions like SCOM 2019 and 2022, with SCOM 2019 being particularly popular due to its improvements and stability.