Even though the title above may sound quite like something out of a sci-fi movie, it is perhaps not what you are thinking about. Virtualization, in very basic terms, is the process of creating something virtual. But for our use, virtualization refers to a computing process that lets us create virtual replacements for computer hardware and IT processes.
The most significant for businesses is the virtualization of servers. The concept is not new or innovative. Businesses were ready for virtualization even half a decade ago. But because of poor understanding, low priority, and little interest, only a small number of businesses started making the switch to virtual servers.
When the pandemic hit, these businesses were able to access large portions of their important data, system processes, and IT services as they didn’t have to access or maintain their servers physically.
Virtual machines, acting as virtual servers, were doing all the work.
These virtual machines are not incapable machines either. Since they are hosted on extremely powerful server hardware, many times more powerful than traditional server hardware, they’re able to leverage that incredibly hardware for multiple computing processes. Letting end-users utilize the virtual servers just like they would a physical server.
As businesses worldwide are clawing their way out of the national and global economic slump, it provides the perfect opportunity for businesses to start thinking about virtualization again.
Benefits of Virtualization
- Reduced Costs – Servers are expensive. They require expensive hardware, and small businesses aren’t using them to full capacity often enough. A virtual servers for small business is around 60% cheaper, but magnitudes’ orders are more cost-efficient. It also reduces your electricity costs as you no longer have massive power-hungry hardware to run. Not to mention the opened up extra office space as well.
- Increased Efficiency – By partitioning your server over several virtual servers, it removes the need for IT professionals to waste time on routine administrative tasks and server upkeep. Instead, they can focus on more developmental IT operations on a single virtual server that is easily capable of running multiple operating systems.
- Reduced Risk of Permanent Data Loss – Data Loss is one of the most crippling accidents that can happen to any business. Most organizations are never able to recover from any significant amount of data loss. Virtual servers reduce the likelihood that your organization’s data is somehow permanently lost. Recovery is almost instant as all of your data is already on an independent server.
- Increased Flexibility – Shifting to a virtual server allows your organization to easily downscale or upscale its operations on the virtual server, depending on your organization’s current needs.
Virtualization is Future-Proofing Virtualization is one of those processes that are often misunderstood quite badly. The clear benefits that virtualization can offer to small businesses are easy to see. The post-pandemic world provides a further reason to show why virtualization will be the way to go for smaller firms in the future. Organizations that lag will, sooner or later, feel the effects of not jumping on the virtual train on time.
