When hosting your IT infrastructure in-house, it’s nice to know that your servers and network equipment are being cared for to your specifications. However, are you providing the maintenance and management needed to maximize ROI and minimize downtime? The solution is virtualization.
One of the biggest benefits of virtualization is that you’re simplifying your business’s infrastructure. By eliminating unnecessary hardware components, you’re cutting down on the amount of in-house equipment that needs to be managed and maintained. Furthermore, you need to remember that running multiple servers and workstations can use a lot of energy, and your electric bill will reflect that. We’ll explain how virtualization can affect the various technological assets of your organization.
Networks
Do you remember when you first started your business, when you had to run cables all around the building in order to connect all of your workstations to the same corporate network? This isn’t just time consuming; it’s also inflexible. If you add new users, you have to further complicate your network infrastructure, to the point where you might accidentally stretch your network too thin, or need to use complicated tactics to connect a new workstation to your internal network. Virtual networks allow your organization to deploy data and applications across the cloud, allowing for effective access (even remote access) to your assets without the need for time-consuming and complicated physical setup.
Desktop Infrastructure
Your business relies on the continued functionality of its desktop infrastructure, and as such, you have workstations that house the required data and applications needed for the workday. However, workstations are somewhat resource-intensive, especially in a world where similar functionality can be achieved using more adaptable technology solutions. In particular, a thin client that’s connected to a network can provide the same value for less. Virtualization makes thin clients more appealing by providing resources via a virtual machine. The idea is that you can run less expensive technology that uses less electricity. You might be surprised by how much you save. You can then reinvest that revenue into your IT budget for other, more lucrative purposes.
Data Storage
Physical data storage suffers from the same fate as the physical in-house network. While the data might be stored locally, it needs to be deployed to all of your business’s workstations in order for it to be effective. Virtual data storage, also known as cloud storage, lets you keep data and applications stored online, where they can then be delegated to whoever needs access to them. In particular, cloud computing allows your business to scale access as needed, delegate information on a per-user basis, and access data remotely on a number of approved devices.
Regardless of how you use the cloud, it’s sure to be a valuable investment. To learn more about virtualization, reach out to us at (215) 853-2266.
