You may have heard the word “virtualization,” especially alongside the word “cloud computing.” But what is it?
If your small business relies on its own internal servers, you may not be using all of your server capacity. For example, if you have one server for email, one web server, and one that runs programs that your employees access, you are maintaining three separate physical servers, one for each task. In the past, this was the most efficient practice.
Virtualization allows your business to unlock your physical servers’ full potential by splitting your physical server’s “brain.” Thus, server virtualization allows you to use the same hardware for several different tasks. That means you could combine your email server and the one that runs your employee programs, and ditch your third server together.
This may not sound like a huge feat, but virtualization has many benefits for your business. However, it is highly recommended that you enlist an expert’s help before interfering with your servers.
Here’s how server virtualization can benefit you.
1) Save on energy costs
Physical servers use a lot of electricity and cost a lot of money to upkeep. Lower your monthly bill and ecological footprint by using your physical servers to their full capacity. When you adopt virtualization, an expert can best combine your business’s programs and needs — and you may end up getting rid of excess servers you don’t need.
2) Increased business uptime
Newer servers that can use virtualization often have advanced features that servers in the past didn’t. Attributes like live migration, storage migration, fault tolerance, high availability, and distributed resource scheduling all add up to increased flexibility and enhanced server effectiveness. Adopting more advanced servers can also benefit your company’s disaster recovery program by minimizing the effects of physical server damage in the case of an earthquake or flood.
3) Reduce data center footprint
When you run a small business, space is always at a premium. By using virtual servers, you can eliminate excess servers for a more easily accessible data center. When it comes time to move offices, you can also save money by not having to haul excess servers as well. The space-saving benefits of server virtualization might not seem like much, but it could free up room for a few new offices.
The Virtual Machine
When you discuss server virtualization with your IT provider, they may mention the term “virtual machine.” A virtual machine is a computer that fully relies on a server to complete all tasks. Using a kind of software called a “hypervisor,” virtual machines are increasingly popular in both small and large businesses.
With virtual machines, your employees can work on any computer, anywhere, and have access to all of their files and data as long as they’re connected to the server.
Vodigy Networks is a leading IT service provider in Minneapolis and St. Paul. We work with businesses to make technology simple, easy, and seamless. Contact us today.
