Server virtualization has proven itself to be a revolutionary technology solution for IT, presenting capabilities that would never be possible within a physical infrastructure. At an economic stance, the benefits of server virtualization are focused on cost savings because it allows multiple applications to be installed on a single physical server. According to vendor
VMware, each server workload that is virtualized saves more than $3,000 per year. Virtualizing your servers leads to a variety of positive changes within your company’s IT department, especially if you have a wide variety of applications working on a significant number of servers. So how exactly will your company benefit from virtualizing its servers? Let’s take a look at the top five reasons:
1. Reduce hardware costs It is said that humans theoretically only use 10 percent of their brain command; most of the servers in a strictly physical environment are heavily underutilized, using an estimated 5-15 percent of their capacity. With server virtualization, hardware utilization is increased because one physical server can now hold multiple virtual machines. Applications no longer need their own server because each virtual machine on the physical server now runs them. In 2011, IDC reported a 40 percent reduction in hardware and software costs for IT departments that adopted virtualization.
2. Faster server provisioning and deployment Server virtualization enables system provisioning and deployment within minutes, allowing you to clone an existing virtual machine without the hours and costs normally spent installing a new server. Companies with virtual environments already look back and cringe at the grueling process of filling out a purchase order, waiting for the server to arrive and then waiting hours for the operating system and applications to finish installing. Time and cost add up substantially, not to mention the growing number of racks and cables you would have to purchase to accommodate for the increasing number of physical servers.
3. Improve disaster recovery Perhaps the greatest benefit of virtualization is the capability to move a virtual machine from one server to another quickly and safely. Backing up critical data is done quickly and effectively because your company can effortlessly create a replication site. Most enterprise virtualization platforms contain software that helps automate the failover during a disaster. The software also allows you to test a disaster recovery failover--think of it as your data center’s own fire escape plan. If a data center disaster occurs, your infrastructure is already set up to take appropriate measures s for a swift and safe recovery.
4. Save energyThe migration of physical servers to virtual machines allows you to consolidate them onto fewer physical servers. The result? Cooling and power costs are significantly reduced, which means not only will you be “going green”, but you will also have more green to spend elsewhere. According to VMware, server consolidation reduces energy costs by up to 80%. Another major plus is the ability to power down servers without affecting applications or users.
5. Increase staff productivity Having fewer physical servers means there are less of them to maintain and manage. As discussed in #2, applications that used to take days or weeks to provision are now done in minutes. This leaves your IT staff more time to spend on more productive tasks such as driving new business initiatives, cutting expenses and raising revenue.
Server virtualization brings positive transformations such as reduced hardware costs, improved server provisioning and deployment, better disaster recovery solutions, efficient and economic use of energy, and increased staff productivity to companies that adopt it. To learn more about what the power of virtualization can do for your company or to get an assessment, click
here.