The Importance and Benefits of Server Virtualization for Modern Businesses

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In the sprawling landscape of corporate IT, a tale as old as time exists: the saga of legacy servers. These stalwart machines, once the backbone of operations, now stand as relics of a bygone era, tethering businesses to outdated technology and spiraling maintenance costs.

According to recent surveys, a staggering 65% of businesses still rely on legacy servers, clinging to their familiar hardware like an old friend. However, the tide is turning, with a growing number of enterprises recognizing the transformative potential of virtualization solutions. While systems such as SPARC, VAX, PA-RISC, and others may have once served them well, they’re now problematic for the business and its most vital operations.

Not only is the system obsolete and at significant risk for unplanned downtime and unable to perform its necessary functions, but there are also increased maintenance costs to consider. The older and more outdated a system becomes, the more complex and costly it is to find support. Sometimes, it may even be impossible, leading to permanent data loss.

Thankfully, however, there is a simple solution, server virtualization, which offers many unique benefits to modern businesses.

What is Server Virtualization?

For those new to server virtualization solutions, migrating essential applications to a modern platform or the cloud can seem daunting. However, it’s not quite intimidating when one understands what server virtualization is and how it works.

Simply defined, server virtualization allows organizations to split their servers into separate, isolated servers via software. Once this transition has occurred, the servers are virtual or “virtualized,” allowing them to run their own operating systems, new or old. In this way, virtualization can increase performance, allowing legacy software to run on new server hardware.

In the early 2000s, with VMware at the forefront, server virtualization gained traction in enterprises. Previously, server virtualization was integrated into Windows operating systems to run LINUX OS side by side. The advantage of having two different OS running on the same hardware was something of a novelty. Since then, integration with server virtualization has proliferated due to its extensive benefits.

How does this process benefit you and your business, exactly? It may surprise you to learn that it does so in a multitude of unique ways. So, here are the benefits you can expect from virtualization server infrastructure.

Understanding the Importance and Benefits of Server Virtualization

Virtual servers are not a new technology. They became popular in the early 2000s and have been evolving since then. Server virtualization is gradually becoming mainstream for businesses as it simplifies the organization’s IT infrastructure with its virtual servers.

Here are some points that will help you understand the benefits of virtualized servers and their importance in businesses:

1. Increase Efficiency

Virtualization saves money because there is no need to track down technicians who can work with and repair outdated server systems, which they often do at a high cost. However, via resource optimization, virtualization also helps you save time, money, and energy.

In basic terms, instead of having an outdated system that lacks capacity, server virtualization allows you to switch to a much more robust system that generally has more capacity. And you can put that extra capacity to good use in ways such as:

• Increasing storage space
• Improving network bandwidth
• Reducing idle time
• Reducing the number of connected users, which frees up even more space

When your system is working efficiently and effectively in these ways, crashes, data loss, wasted time, and frustration quickly become things of the past.

Statistics reveal a compelling case for server virtualization. Studies show that businesses leveraging virtualization solutions experience up to 80% reduction in total cost of ownership (TCO) and a 70% increase in operational efficiency. Furthermore, virtualized environments boast an impressive 90% improvement in application uptime, ensuring uninterrupted service delivery and customer satisfaction.

2. Eliminate Hardware

Cloud virtualization can also allow a business to stop relying on on-premises hardware and even eliminate it if desired. And, when hardware goes away, so do its high costs and the cost of maintaining, running, and housing it and its infrastructure. Moreover, virtualized environments boast a 60% decrease in energy consumption, contributing to sustainability efforts. It is another way virtualization makes sense for modern businesses; for some, it can be the solution that allows them to continue operating and dramatically reduces overhead costs.

3. Optimized Disaster Recovery

One significant upside of virtualized servers is data transfer from one server to another. Furthermore, it gives businesses an additional advantage of integrating a robust disaster recovery plan. Virtualization of servers allows businesses to develop replication sites without any complications. There is also an option for testing disaster recovery backup systems on virtual servers.

4. Elevation in Business Continuity

Virtual servers boost businesses’ productivity by allowing them to operate seamlessly without any disruptions. They eliminate downtime issues, ensure the data is always accessible, and offer live migration of information from one server to another without terminating any server activity, thus elevating business continuity.

5. Better Management and Storage Capacity

The virtualized server offers better storage capacity management and ensures all the applications are easy to process and run relatively faster than the old and traditional storage systems. As the admins can adjust storage allocations, the efficiency of the storage can be guaranteed. Also, server virtualization software provides centralized management, which means the operations can be observed and modified accordingly. Thus, removing multiple-point management and saving time.

Stromasys: Your One-Stop Solution

In enterprise IT, legacy servers are akin to cherished heirlooms, cherished for their reliability but burdened by the weight of obsolescence. The imperative to adapt and evolve is palpable, yet the path forward is shrouded in uncertainty.

While there are different kinds of virtualization to choose from, here at Stromasys, we are more than confident that we can find the perfect solution for you and your needs. Our Cross-Platform Server Virtualization options are designed to work for every business and every challenge. They enable businesses to extend the lifespan of their mission-critical applications without the constraints of obsolete hardware or software dependencies.

To learn more about how we can empower your business and bring it into the present and beyond, contact us today.