4 Benefits to Transitioning to Virtualization Technology
Virtualization isn’t just for enterprise-size companies anymore. Small and medium-sized businesses that transition to virtualized technology see cost savings, increased efficiency, and improved business continuity.
In The 2021 State of IT report by Spiceworks Ziff Davis, responses to surveys showed that many businesses plan to shift some of their budget from hardware expenses to cloud services. It also showed that In the last two years, cloud budgets have increased 3%, while hardware budgets have decreased by 4%. It makes sense: moving to a virtualized environment allows businesses to optimize their IT infrastructure making it a more agile, flexible, and scalable computing environment.
What is Virtualization?
Virtualization is a technology that allows the creation of multiple simulated environments from a single, physical system. Software called hypervisors sit on top of a single resource and divide it into partitions so the virtual environments can use them more effectively. The most common types of virtualizations are:
- Hardware Virtualization
- Desktop Virtualization
- Server Virtualization
- Software Virtualization
- Network Virtualization
Reduced Costs
One of the most attractive benefits of virtualization is reduced IT costs for both hardware and installation, as well as lowered energy consumption.
For example, consolidating servers by converting a physical server into multiple virtual servers allows companies to reduce maintenance costs and use power more efficiently. But how, exactly? As your company grows, running multiple operating systems and applications on one partitioned server allows you to add technology to existing hardware without additional capital expense for new hardware.
As reported on the Environmental Protection Agency’s site, Energy Star, according to the Uptime Institute, decommissioning a single 1U rack server can save $500 annually in energy and $1500 in hardware maintenance cost, and VMware reports that hardware and maintenance costs can be reduced by as much as 50%.
Furthermore, In 2016, Stanford University IT virtualized more than 40 servers in all libraries and the Office of Development and reported annual energy cost savings of $21,000.
Increased Security
Network virtualization provides increased security in several ways. For one, data can be managed from a central location minimizing damage from malicious attacks. When security measures need to be implemented or patch updates need to be made, administrators only need to access the main system in a virtual environment and then replicate it across the network. Secondly, with virtual networks, administrators can set up sandboxes which supervise email quarantines as well as test programs for malware or software flaws.
But, configuring virtualization correctly is a key factor in realizing the benefit of increased security. Going through the process of virtualizing a server can be somewhat complex, so we suggest consulting with your managed services provider prior to making any changes.
Improved Backup and Disaster Recovery
In a virtualization environment, data can easily be backed up and restored whenever it’s needed. If security breaches occur, data is not lost or compromised in a virtual environment and any interruption to business activity is minimized.
Maximized Productivity
Maintenance and upgrades in a virtualized environment can be managed more effectively, allowing IT staff to focus on more strategic projects. Additionally, new resources can be connected and accessed quickly to meet business needs.
Transitioning your business to a virtualized environment provides multiple benefits for your business. If you have an IT staff, or if you’re using a managed IT service provider such as Visual Edge IT, switching your business to virtualization will result in a reduction of cost and increased productivity. Better yet, resources can then be directed to other critical areas of the business.
Visual Edge specializes in managed IT services and security, cloud computing, and print/copy solutions for businesses across the U.S., including remote offices. The company has more than 20-years of technology service with a national network of expert engineers. Request your free, no obligation assessment today.
