Although virtualization is certainly nothing new, it has recently become standard in the small business computing environment owing to the increased efficiency it presents. Virtualization refers to the creation of virtual, rather than physical, computing resources, such as desktops, servers and data storage.
A simple example of virtualization in everyday computing is the creation of multiple hard drive partitions. Most modern computers ship with multiple partitions, including a hidden one containing a backup of the operating system and software provided by the manufacturer. Each partition appears as a separate hard drive to the operating system, even though there’s only one physical storage device inside the machine.
As a leading managed IT services provider in Orange County, the OC-IT can virtualize a wide variety of computer hardware.
For example, most data centers are powerful enough to fulfill multiple roles simultaneously. As such, a powerful server may be partitioned into multiple virtual desktops, each of which may be logged in to from a barebones computer that needs to do minimal computing work to establish a connection to the server.
Similarly, a single physical storage device may be split into multiple partitions, or multiple devices may be pooled together so that they operate as one very large storage device. Regardless of which strategy you choose, there are several advantages of virtualization.
Go Green with Improved Efficiency
What’s better for the environment is usually better for your pocket too. As such, increased efficiency is something that every organization should prioritize when it comes to implementing a modern computing infrastructure. Since virtualization ultimately allows you to do more with less, it’s vastly more efficient than having a single overpowered system fulfilling only one basic role.
When combined with cloud computing, virtualization provides an even more efficient approach toward managing your IT resources. In this case, your computing workloads are carried out in an off-site data center, which translates into a greatly reduced necessity for maintaining your own on-premises hardware.
Thanks to virtualization and cloud computing, your business can eliminate the need for maintaining its own data center. That means less wiring and reduced heat buildup, and there’s no need to hire an on-premises support team to maintain and update your systems. Instead, computing work may be outsourced to a service provider that has access to the latest and most efficient computing technology.
Expand Easily with Faster Server Provisioning
Modern companies are becoming increasingly hungry for more powerful computing resources to maintain their competitive edge. As such, the ability to easily expand your IT infrastructure is critical to the long-term success of your organization. However, buying and upgrading servers and workstations is often expensive, complicated and time-consuming.
Thanks to virtualization technology, it’s possible to have entire desktops and servers moved around in the form of single archives much like any other file. In other words, you can quickly clone images or move them to new servers and have your virtual machine up and running within minutes.
To better illustrate this key advantage of virtualization, imagine you have just recruited a new staff member. Instead of having to spend hours installing a new operating system and applications, you can simply clone an existing virtual machine or quickly create one from a master template. This way, your new employee will be able to instantly access his or her own desktop environment and get straight to work.
The fact that virtualized computing resources come in the form of purely digital containers also means they’re easier to back up. After all, you can’t exactly replicate a physical computer! Thanks to virtualization, it’s possible to eliminate the dependency on specific vendors or hardware models by cloning machine images and restoring them on any device powerful enough to run them. Combined with the power of the cloud, however, you can even do away with this requirement, since computing workloads will be handled remotely and delivered through a browser on any device capable of connecting to the internet.
If you’re looking for a hassle-free way to reduce hardware costs, enable unlimited scalability and improve disaster recovery, then virtualization provides everything you need. Call OC-IT today to get your free assessment.