Virtualization of data is here to stay, at least according to survey numbers. According to ESG Research, 93% of respondents are either currently using virtualized technology or are planning to do so in the next two years. Advertising and education dollars have apparently paid off, and companies are beginning to see the benefits of moving their data to a platform that is not a physical server in their local office. They’re pleased with the cost savings they’ve received and in many cases are choosing to purchase more virtual services, but are they really getting the most they can out of their technology?
IT providers are great at making things seem streamlined, but the reality is often different than the picture they paint. One of the most intriguing aspects of virtual machines (VMs) is that they do not really exist. A VM thinks that it is in fact a single, physical computer but it is not – it is stored on a larger server entity, hanging out with other VMs from all over the state or country. In theory, this VM can be migrated from server to server, data center to data center, and between any public and private clouds out there. The technology exists to do as much, but it turns out that only 30% of companies take advantage of this mobility often, while 43% use it “occasionally.”
What this means is that more work needs to be done in the cloud and virtual private server industries to shore up the true advantage the cloud brings – flexibility. Mobility of servers means a far more nimble company network and the ability to work anywhere in the world. Cost savings are great – but it’s mobility that will pay the bills.
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