We're Swamped With Unused Servers. How Do We Stop The Sprawl?
DataCenter Knowledge, Monday, March 3rd, 2025
Server sprawl is a widespread problem for IT professionals. This week's advice column shares strategies for managing chaotic server environments.
[Root] Access is an advice column for questions about IT issues, career moves, and workplace concerns.
Dear [Root] Access,
Our organization is rapidly expanding, and with each new project, someone spins up another server, either on-prem or in the cloud, without decommissioning the old ones. We're trying to deal with the obvious consequences of this. We're wasting money on underutilized servers, our monitoring tools are overloaded with alerts, and our documentation has become a mess. I've lost track of how many servers sit idle because the people who set them up have moved on or forgotten about them. This situation is also a serious security risk, with old, unpatched servers just waiting to be exploited. How do we rein in server sprawl?