Virtualization can be the proverbial gift that keeps on giving. Once you’ve implemented your initial virtualization strategy and begun moving your systems over, you shouldn’t stop there. You can continue to reap increasing benefits of virtual networks as you transition more workloads and find new uses for the system.
When you design your virtualization strategy, you should look towards the future and be aware of how you can reap further benefits of virtualization by continuing on past the initial project. Here are a few of the added benefits that you can enjoy if you continue the virtualization process:
- Improved disaster recovery capabilities: Redundancy and backups are the key to disaster recovery, and for many companies, keeping separate off-site physical systems is too costly to consider. A virtualized server system allows you to easily create redundant backups and have them ready to roll out on minutes’ notice when needed.
- Reduced IT response time: Provisioning new virtual servers is a process that can take minutes, rather than hours or days. Any department in need of server upgrades will benefit from virtualization the first time they implement those upgrades. Further, since more problems with virtual servers can be fixed remotely, response time and labor costs for internal tech tickets can be greatly reduced as well.
- Improved application stability: A virtual server crash does not affect other virtual servers on the same system, so widespread outages can become more rare. Further, a problem on a virtual server can often be fixed through a quick remote log-in, allowing your internal applications to have an improved uptime.
- More efficient use of resources: Fewer physical servers are needed when using a virtual system, saving you on upgrade costs in the long run. Further, older workstations can be repurposed to run virtual machines, allowing their operational lifespan to be significantly increased.
- Server automation: Virtual network systems come with a variety of automation options, allowing your IT staff to automate tasks such as server load management, workload migration, and power consumption. Once a virtual server is in place and functioning properly, these options can create further savings on your overhead.
The Benefits Snowball
Basically, once you start moving towards a virtual network, the benefits of virtual networks continue to snowball as the process continues. You should make sure that your virtualization strategy continues on past the initial deployment, to ensure you get the best return on your new investment.