Everybody is talking about virtualization, but it can be a hard technology to grasp if IT isn’t your thing. While you can leave the finer details to the techies, understanding the process will assist you on your way to better business control. To help you out, here’s our simple guide to understanding virtualization and how it can benefit your business.

What is virtualization?

In short, you buy one large physical server and run a number of virtual servers within it. This takes away the need to maintain multiple pieces of hardware without any reduction in services to the end-user or business.

How will it benefit me?

Cost

The major benefit of virtualization, and the one we’re sure will be of most interest to any business owner, is the financial savings it brings. By replacing multiple pieces of hardware with one single server, your maintenance costs drop dramatically. Add to this the reduction in your electricity bill from running and cooling numerous machines, and virtualization starts to become a real no brainer.

Flexibility

Virtualization can also help your business to become more flexible. With all your files, data, applications and emails stored and run from one central location, remote workers can access everything they need, no matter where they are on the globe. This not only enables you to be more flexible with your staff, but can increase productivity across the board giving users the opportunity to log in and work, whatever their location.

Security

While many IT managers worry that virtualizing their networks will make the systems less secure, this is in fact only true of those networks which are already insecure. By unifying the virtual machine security under the same security management console with which you controlled the physical network, your business instantly becomes more secure with all applications and data stored virtually in one place to be backed up as and when necessary. You can also implement and control higher levels of security access so you know who is accessing your data at all times.

Green

Virtualization will also reduce your burden on the environment. By maintaining fewer servers you will reduce the amount of energy you use for cooling, which not only saves you money but decreases your company’s carbon footprint. Servers also use a lot of energy idling so by substituting your physical servers for a virtual one, your power consumption drops, along with your impact on the world around you.

In short, virtualization equals cost savings, improved capacity and enhanced business efficiency and productivity.

Isn’t it time you went virtual?