Data center virtualization could unlock a multitude of efficiency benefits for IT infrastructure including cost savings, scalability and the ability to recover from disasters. To maximize the benefits, IT departments must use carefully chosen tools and implement best practices. This collection of IT infrastructure whitepapers focuses primarily on the essential components required to build and maintain a modern virtualized data center that is highly accessible, flexible and secure.
Virtualization allows multiple virtual machines to run on one physical hardware. This reduces the number of servers needed. This reduces the amount of equipment needed, leading to a reduction in cooling, hardware, and power expenses as well as maintenance costs. It also allows for greater utilization of assets which can be an enormous benefit to businesses looking to reduce their environmental footprint. VMs can be separated from one other, so that a failure in one VM does not impact other VMs, or the hardware used in the underlying. This provides a level of security for sensitive data. Additionally, scalability is enabled so that adding or eliminating VMs without the requirement to purchase new hardware is done quickly. This lets companies adapt to changing demands for workload and to a constantly changing technological environment with ease.