What is virtualization and how can it benefit businesses?

What is virtualization and how can it benefit businesses?

Many businesses invest in servers primarily to increase processing capability. With a powerful server, a business can store large volumes of data, improve PC performance, and free up computer storage space. However, on-site physical servers can be expensive, considering upfront costs and maintenance. Server failures can be costly too – while the cost of downtime events varies per business, Gartner estimates the average cost at $5,600 per minute.

Businesses without the budget or IT resources to maintain a server can solve server-related problems by leveraging the benefits of virtualization.

What is virtualization?

Virtualization technology allows organizations to use one physical server to simulate multiple servers. These “virtual” machines (VM) allow functions such as running multiple applications, operating systems and computers to be separated, with dedicated resources for increased security and efficiency.

In virtualized environments, users can simultaneously share resources of the same physical server, regardless of unique computing needs such as storage, network, and desktop uses.

How does virtualization benefit businesses?

Virtualization is designed to optimize IT infrastructure and is beneficial to companies looking to achieve a greater return on investment (ROI). Implementing virtual machines reduces an organization’s need to buy and maintain servers for specific purposes, and facilitates efficient use of computing resources. In addition to virtualized infrastructure leading to substantial cost savings, businesses benefit from an agile, flexible, and scalable computing environment.

Implementing virtual machines reduces an organization’s need to buy and maintain servers for specific purposes, and facilitates efficient use of computing resources.

Slash IT costs

Many businesses need dedicated servers to host business processes, which often means purchasing a physical server with more capacity than they are able to utilize. The average lifespan of a server is 3 to 5 years, leading to recurring investments in hardware and configuration. A physical server also increases costs for cooling equipment, power consumption, and maintenance.

Cloud technology is pivotal in virtualization deployments and is the main mechanism that allows businesses to enjoy highly scalable computing solutions. In a shared cloud-based virtual environment, a single physical server can be utilized by multiple users who pay only for the resources utilized. Companies spend significantly less money on both servers and maintenance, and businesses can easily scale such resources up or down depending on changing needs.

Optimize floor space

Virtualization helps reduce office space required for IT equipment, especially for businesses utilizing shared servers in the Cloud. A business utilizing virtualization not only reduces or eliminates the need for office space devoted to housing a server but also creates increased efficiency to an external provider of shared VMs.

An environmental benefit to utilizing virtual servers is reduced power consumption. As an operational benefit, fewer servers means that IT personnel can spend less time on server-related maintenance tasks such as installing and applying updates, and focus more energy on business-enhancing IT concerns to boost productivity.

Scale personal computing solutions

Virtual machines play an important role in streamlining personal computing resources, as virtual computers can be easily added to or deleted from servers as necessary. Installation of operating systems, programs, and applications can be done more quickly than on non-virtualized personal computers.

Provisioning of virtual PCs is much easier than physical ones, which is especially beneficial for companies with a large number of PCs for multiple users. Instead of installing operating systems, business applications and upgrades on each physical computer, virtual desktops are typically hosted in remote data centers that already have established operating systems and applications.

If you are considering server virtualization, Roebuck Technologies’ IT professionals can offer your business a thorough analysis of server requirements and business applications. We can also assist with virtualizing personal computing. Get in touch with us today.


Doug Coleman

Doug Coleman

Chief Operating Officer

Doug possesses over 20 years of expertise in corporate finance, information systems, logistics, supply chain management and competitive strategies. He has served in executive management not only for The Roebuck Group, but also Commercial Carrier Corporation, a nationwide transportation and logistics provider. Additionally, he served in senior management at Vology, a global value-added reseller of technology solutions. Doug earned his Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering and Master of Business Administration degrees from the University of Florida as well as a Juris Doctorate degree from Stetson University College of Law.