Most IT administrators see virtualization as a means of increasing efficiency, and they’re not wrong. Virtualization of your hardware is a great way of decreasing operating costs and improving accessibility to mission-critical applications and information. However, network virtualization has the potential to increase the security of your business’s data, too.
When we discuss virtualization, it tends to go hand-in-hand with cloud computing. Rather than storing information locally on a physical server, virtualization means that you store it online in the cloud. Some professionals might be nervous about putting sensitive data online due to the notorious nature of online hackers, but contrary to popular belief, virtualization is actually very safe. Here are three of the best reasons why server virtualization is beneficial to the modern small or medium-sized business.
Application Isolation
When you virtualize your server, you gain the ability to isolate applications. Granted, this was possible when you were following the “one application per server” rule, but this can lead to an incredible amount of wasted office space (not to mention the outrageous operation costs associated with running that many servers). Underutilized servers should be avoided at all costs, as they waste time and resources that are better spent elsewhere.
A virtual server takes all of these applications and assigns them exactly what they need to operate efficiently, rather than wasting valuable resources with an underutilized server. These applications are operated in a controlled environment where they are provided with just enough resources to adequately function, without adversely affecting the rest of the server. Similarly, you might run some legacy applications that need specific standards in order to function properly. A virtual server can accommodate each application’s specific needs, making them both versatile and effective.
Extraordinary Uptime
With a physical server, it could go down at any second due to a hacking attack, hardware failure, or maintenance. Downtime is a subject that’s enough to make even the most seasoned professional nervous. When your team can’t access information or applications crucial to your operations, you’re losing money. When you’re losing money, your business is running in place without moving forward.
Virtual servers are more versatile when it comes to hardware specifications. Furthermore, if you’re partaking in Vision Computer Solutions’s Backup and Disaster Recovery solution, we can swiftly integrate a device which acts as a server in the event of a disaster. Furthermore, a virtual server is far easier and more economic to replace following a hardware failure or other disaster. It can simply be moved to another virtual server, rather than going through the process of purchasing and integrating an expensive new piece of technology into your infrastructure.
Cloud Migration is Made Easier
Similar to cloud computing, server virtualization makes moving your data infrastructure to the cloud far easier. In essence, by taking the leap of faith and virtualizing your server, you’re taking an important step toward integrating cloud computing into your technology strategy. Benefits of cloud computing include increased access to information, which helps your team better perform their jobs.
