VITAL PROCESSES
The hidden dangers of virtualisation The trend for companies to move to virtualisation is growing. Increased agility and reduced complexity can help to improve IT efficiency, while a reduction in space requirements and power usage through server consolidation can also help to cut a company’s costs and its carbon footprint. However, as Ray Homan, CEO for BDNA reports, the success of virtualisation is entirely dependent on the approach taken and the tools used — getting these wrong can prove costly.
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efore implementing a virtualisation strategy, it is vital to establish accurate, up-to-date insight and analysis of the existing IT environment. This process does not simply mean checking boxes; it requires retrieving the latest data regarding hardware and software usage, coupled with detailed product specifications. This includes vendor information, software support dates and hardware warranty expiration data. Knowing exactly what you have already will allow for more effective optimisation of physical and virtual systems. A potential pitfall of virtualisation arises when the virtual environment is not managed in the same way as the physical one. Businesses must take a holistic view of the IT network. Managing application software licenses effectively, maintaining hardware and software updates, protecting security and managing risk are crucial, regardless of whether
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September / October 2008 : VitAL