Virtualization Benefits (Infographic)
– Matt Smith, spokesperson for Dell, says:
Can you really save money with server virtualization? While every business is different, the numbers are very encouraging. By some estimates, virtualization may reduce your hardware and operating costs by as much as 50 percent, and the energy it takes to run your servers by 80%.
Take a look at some of the virtualization benefits:
- Reduced hardware expenses – Fewer physical servers means smaller upgrade and maintenance costs.
- Lower power and cooling costs – Using less equipment reduces the amount of energy that must be expended for hardware upkeep.
- Improved asset utilization – Virtualization makes it possible to get more out of the hardware that you already have.
- Fewer management touch points – Consolidating servers, storage, networking, and software means fewer individual machines that must be maintained.
- Better IT responsiveness – Processes are automated, meaning that you can speed deployment and provisioning, increase uptime, and recover from problems faster.
- Reduced carbon footprint – Virtualization helps not only your bottom line, but the planet as well.
- Reduced down time – Virtualization helps you get back on your feet quickly in the case of natural or man-made catastrophe.
Virtualization can make your business more flexible and agile, and by so doing, decrease your IT overhead. Virtualization also positions you to take advantage of cloud computing more easily, should your organization choose to do so.
You Don’t Have to Start Your Virtualization Project from Scratch
The good news is, virtualization may be less of an investment than you think. If you start from where you are and begin making progress slowly, you may be able budget for these expenditures more easily. Here are a few tips:
- Use the IT you already own. You may not need to replace much hardware—if any at all. Begin virtualizing the servers you have already.
- Introduce new innovations a piece at a time. Virtualization allows for real-time allocation of resources, so you don’t have to cause too much disruption to your employees.
- Virtualize your entire infrastructure, including servers, applications, storage, and networking.
- Enable your company to respond dynamically to business demands.
Are you taking the virtualization plunge? What has been your experience so far?
Author Bio:
Matt Smith works for Dell and has a passion for learning and writing about technology. Outside of work he enjoys entrepreneurship, being with his family, and the outdoors.