Security issues can exist too. Once one deploys a virtual
environment, there’s a removal of the link between hardware and software, which can create confusion when it
comes to securing the infrastructure. “The server environment gets more fluid, more complex and the security pros
ultimately lose the stability that hardware offered” says
Allwyn Sequeira, senior vice president of product operations
cable in virtualised environments. This can be countered by
taking the proper care whilst still in the planning stages of
migrating to such environments.
Nevertheless, it seems that companies are taking the
plunge to an extent that an entire industry has been transformed, and companies specialising in virtualisation have
morphed into industry giants. VMware for example, recorded revenue of US$ 5.20 billion in 2013.
Ken Marsden, CTO at virtualisation solutions provider VMXperts, believes that for most mid-size organisations, ‘virtualisation first’ is now the standard, as they look to deploy new
server workloads on a virtual platform before considering a
physical platform.
Virtualisation may not be for everyone however. What then
are the questions to be asking regarding potentially dipping
one’s proverbial toe into the virtualisation waters?
Here are a few:
What Does the Company Size Dictate?
There may not be a need to virtualise if a business has just
a handful of employees who access and utilise the Internet
on a daily basis. Typically a business with less than 10-20
employees doesn’t have to embrace a fully virtualised
environment immediately, as traditional servers are usually
more than enough to cater to its needs.
Are the Funds to Maintain a Virtualised Environment Available?
While virtualisation is generally known to reduce overall IT
costs, it does usually require an initial investment. While a
business may get modern technology, it still needs to be
implemented and monitored.
Does the Business Rely on Modern Technology?
at patching specialist Blue Lane Technologies.
And although the virtualisation market has exploded in
recent years and is continuing to evolve rapidly, standards
and interoperability aren’t always a given. Companies that
aren’t careful may