Server Virtualization and How It Can Impact Your Business

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Todays businesses are being required to accomplish more in an economy where budget restraints are the norm and business resources are limited. Senior managers and board directors are faced with many challenges when it comes to data workload and applications which determine the ability of an organization to progress at the speed of modern business. During the past few years, server virtualization has been rapidly emerging as the leading IT initiative for many medium-sized and large businesses. As far back as 2009, IDC Worldwide Quarterly Server Virtualization Tracker reported that 16.5% of all server shipments in the second quarter of 2009 run virtualization software, up from 14.5% the previous year. These percentages significantly increased during 2010 by as much as 50 percent. 1 The rise in popularity of server virtualization is driven by the ability to increase the capability to manage and control data centre workloads and critical IT resources while significantly reducing IT costs, minimizing space requirements, and reducing energy consumption. The purpose of this white paper is to provide an overview of server virtualization and the positive impact it has on businesses.
1 IDC Worldwide Quarterly Server Virtualisation Tracker: www.idc.com

Server Virtualization Defined So, what is virtualization and what concepts should one initially understand with regard to virtualization and its relationship to an IT environment? Virtualization is defined as a methodology that is used to divide technology resources into a multiple execution environment. Server virtualization can make workload tasks, backup, storage and disaster recovery easier and much more manageable while reducing the costs associated with managing large amounts of data and deploying business applications. This is accomplished by consolidating individual systems (also known as server consolidation)which reduces the number of servers and

Industry Trends for Virtualization Medium to large companies around the globe are experiencing massive growth and increased demand in data and application management while, at the same time, facing shrinking budgets. The typical IT infrastructure is not designed for scalability while the scope of information technology and the implementation of e-business applications show no sign of slowing down. This represents an insurmountable situation for senior managers, board directors and Chief Information Officers to find a solution to the problem since there are so many variables coming together at one time. The concept of virtualization provides a viable solution to this dilemma since it is capable of providing flexible resources to run more than one independent system.

centralizes administrative tasks, while simultaneously allowing scalability for future business expansion. Cost Savings Implementing a virtualization project results in significant cost savings in terms of energy consumption, reduced infrastructure requirements, minimized space requirements, less downtime, and reduced IT administration. Faster Recovery Time Virtualization allows for faster system recovery time in the event of a disaster which ensures efficient business continuity and prevention of revenue loss. This is an improvement over older infrastructures that can cause a company to cease operation for a much longer period of time while system recovery is performed.

This is different from the past when IT professionals had to oversee multiple server environments with many separate variables, which often required a diversification of IT skills in many different areas. If there was a problem with the system, the enterprise could remain at a standstill for days until the problem was resolved. Server virtualization allows for centralization of IT administrative tasks while providing servers that are used more efficiently. This means that fewer servers are required to meet the growing demands in information technology. For this reason, virtualization allows for simplified IT management and system upgrades while providing the capability for rollouts of new hardware and e-business applications.

Benefits of Virtualization When considering the implementation of virtualization solutions, most company leaders want a clear answer to why they should make the switch to server virtualization. Is it going to be one of those many industry trends that die back after a few years? Or does the trend represent a sound investment in legitimate methodology which will improve business operations for the long term? Here is a list of some of the benefits that server virtualization can offer to medium to large-sized businesses:

oversee multiple server environments with many separate variables, which often required a diversification of IT skills in many different areas. If there was a problem with the system, the enterprise could remain at a standstill for days until the problem was resolved. Server virtualization allows for centralization of IT administrative tasks while providing servers that are used more efficiently. This means that fewer servers are required to meet the growing demands in information technology.

For this reason, virtualization Centralized Administration allows for simplified IT Virtualization allows for management and system centralised IT administration upgrades while providing the which saves the company capability for rollouts of new a lot of time while reducing hardware and e-business costs associated with applications. staffing and IT resources. Instead of having to manage segregated

 Improved ROI By reducing the costs of operating a complex infrastructure and increasing productivity and efficiency, virtualization can help a business significantly increase the return on investment. This is a step up from having to pay the cost of IT administration and maintenance which can have an adverse effect on revenue and company profits. Improved Scalability Server virtualization allows for scalability which provides for easier implementation of new applications and upgrades. In the past, a company would be required to purchase additional infrastructure components to perform the upgrades required for company expansion. This venture can be quite costly and time consuming depending upon the upgrades being performed.

All of this can be accomplished while reducing energy consumption and IT costs which creates a winwin situation. The end result is IT within the enterprise has better centralized administration, while the business value is improved due to a scalable and cost efficient IT infrastructure.

These are only a few of the benefits of implementing a virtualization project which clearly indicate the cost savings and improved productivity which can be achieved. There are many other advantages that virtualization offers which vary according to the specific industry.

95% of businesses that deployed server virtualization saved money while increasing productivity and business dexterity and reducing energy consumption.

Virtualization Technology Explained Virtualization has been around for nearly five decades however, server virtualization has only been in existence during the last decade when VMware first unveiled virtualization software in 2001. Since that time the server virtualization market has increased to more than $2.8 billion dollars according to Gartner. 1 In a recent study by CDW, a leading provider of technology solutions, the results of the study showed that more than 95 percent of businesses that deployed server virtualization saved money while increasing productivity and business dexterity and reducing energy consumption. 2 Since the inception of VMware other primary providers of server virtualization platforms have come on board. Below is a brief overview of some of the current virtualization platforms to provide a general idea of what they are and how they serve an organization: VMware - VMware is a virtualization solution that simplifies data management and provides scalability, flexibility, and increased availability of applications. The VMware platform is capable of taking standard hardware and consolidating it into an environment with centralized administrative controls.

1 Gartner Says Server Virtualisation Market Increased More Than 2.8 Billion, April 2009 2 CDW Study Finds Server Virtualisation Market Maturing, With Pent-up Potential for Further Growth, January 2010

 Microsoft Hyper-V Hyper-V server virtualization allows for server consolidation which is beneficial to companies looking to find a way to reduce costs while still maintaining a competitive advantage. Hyper-V also allows for faster system recovery which ensures business continuity. It also provides an easy method of testing by development personnel, to maximise system life cycle and reduce costs. Citrix XenApp XenApp provides the ability to centralize applications and provides a self-service feature where the end user can easily subscribe to the applications they need and gain access to the application immediately. XenApp also provides a high definition experience when users access the applications on any network or device and offers centralised administration, server consolidation, and workflow automation. Windows Remote Desktop Services Remote Desktop Services are a core virtualization technology which allow businesses to implement a centralized desktop strategy. Through virtualization deployment, Remote Desktop Services provide the opportunity for collaboration from PC desktops across an enterprise and allow IT professionals to respond efficiently to the needs of the user. In addition to reducing the total cost of ownership when implementing virtualization, many businesses opt to obtain comprehensive solutions from established virtualization service providers as opposed to implementing a new infrastructure in-house which can take much longer.

Making the Transition to Virtualization So, what is the impact of switching from todays multi server environment to a virtualized world? Although there are many benefits that make virtualization a captivating option for businesses and the IT industry as a unit, there are also a number of factors to take into account as a result of making the transition to virtualization technologies It is important to consider the different factors and action required to ensure the virtualization technology works efficiently and adequately serves the specific needs of the business or organization: Cost Estimation The considerations should include the cost for acquisition and resource utilization and licensing. A plan should be prepared which outlines the return on investment for your business that will result from implementing virtualization technologies. Technical Challenges Before implementing virtualization technologies it is necessary to perform a comprehensive review of compatibility requirements for server consolidation and software; as well as to identify any operational difficulties which could arise from its introduction. Training To ensure a smooth transition from a multi server environment to virtualization a training curriculum should be implemented to help both IT professionals and the end user to work efficiently in the new environment.

 Security Considerations Although an organization may have security measures in place for the multi server environment it is necessary to consider new security threats that can occur with a virtualized environment. New technology can be susceptible to different forms of malware and other types of infections. These concerns require implementation of a modified intrusion detection plan for protecting the new environment. Due to the number of ways that virtualization impacts an organization it is important to acquire comprehensive knowledge in advance of implementing virtualization which will guarantee success when switching to a virtualised environment. Because the impact on an organization is so significant, a competent virtualization solutions provider will be invaluable to ensuring a smooth transition from a multi server environment to the virtualized world.

Choosing a Provider When choosing a virtualization solutions provider it is of utmost importance to work with a provider that has comprehensive experience in virtualization technologies. Your transition to server consolidation will impact your organization on many different levels which is why it is essential to implement new technolgies correctly the first time around. Certus IT provides experienced virtualization solutions serving medium-sized businesses in the UK, with accreditation from Microsoft, Citrix and VMware. This means that clients can choose from the widest range of solution choices available before selecting the solutions which best meet their virtualization requirements. Certus IT can help businesses avoid downtime by providing high availability servers and applications. When combined with Certus ITs Backup and Disaster Recovery service, virtualization can provide cost effective and fast system recovery in the event of a problem. Call today on 0844 84 84 609 to speak with a Certus IT consultant and discuss your virtualization requirements or visit our website at www.certusit.com.