The ongoing global economic recession has left no business, budget or IT organization unscathed. Corporations, forced to do more with fewer resources, are demanding greater economies of scale. That sets expectations that IT organizations will remain lean, yet deliver high-quality services and support. This requires IT organizations to develop more process-oriented, efficient and effective mechanisms to manage and maintain their environments. The pressure to conserve costs and get the most out of their IT resources comes at a time when costs are rising and IT budgets and manpower have been cut - oftentimes to the bare bone. IT managers grapple every day to ensure the continuing health of the services their businesses depend on. That's not enough though. Businesses must avert problems before they occur. The pressure to transition from reactive to proactive initiatives has created an ever-widening chasm and conundrum for overworked and undermanned IT departments.