If virtualization demands a unified IT organization without separate teams for applications, systems, networking and storage, then the first step is a full IT infrastructure audit that goes well beyond old-school network documentation.

Today’s network engineers have a tough challenge before them: They've got to provide high-availability network infrastructure that can handle traditional applications, as well as virtualized multihost systems and access by smart devices.

Both virtualization and smart device management demand an IT organization that is not broken into separate camps for applications, systems, storage and networks. What most people don't realize is that this type of unified organization starts with an IT infrastructure audit and network documentation strategy that reaches across all of these camps.

A unified IT organization isn't a new concept

Oddly enough, there was a time when application, systems and networking engineering were considered joint tasks that were conducted by so-called IT generalists. The separation of these functions and teams that we tolerate today can be attributed to the move to make IT resources more widely available throughout the ranks of a corporation. As the number of applications grew and the network became more complex, enterprises created IT teams that could protect each group of resources respectively.