Why hyperconvergence could be the solution your business needs
For many small- to medium-sized businesses (SMBs), resources can be scarce and, very often, IT takes a back seat. Hyperconverged IT infrastructures are a great way to keep your IT updated without the heavy expenses normally associated with it. What are hyperconverged infrastructures? In a traditional IT environment, networking, server, and storage hardware need to be purchased separately and configured to work together as a cohesive system. Later, manufacturers started offering converged systems — pre-built “stacks” of hardware that work together right out of the box and come with advanced management tools and tech support. Now, hyperconverged infrastructure packs the entire stack into one box and configures everything to be managed via a single interface. Not only is this box more affordable and easier to use, but it can also be used like Lego — just keep adding boxes as your business grows. Streamlined upgrades through software-centric computing Putting everything you need into a single box and then wrapping it with a flexible and adaptable management software makes receiving regular patches and updates more convenient. Restructuring or adding more hardware later is also easier than ever before. Unified administration Hyperconvergence consolidates a number of separate functions and services into one piece of technology. Your network manager can tweak storage, cloud, backup, and database settings from one control center, saving time and effort. Simple scalability Different hyperconvergence boxes come in different sizes and capabilities, and all it takes to scale up is to install additional units based on your forecasted needs. If all you need is a little extra, you can simply purchase a small upgrade. But when you’re expecting rapid growth, a bigger box should help you cope with the demands of bigger operations. An added benefit — hyperconverged boxes make for faster deployment of IT services to remote offices as well. Stronger data protections Complexity is the Achilles’ heel of IT networks. Staying on top of a mounting pile of account management settings, malware definitions, and data storage settings is next to impossible. A hyperconverged infrastructure combats this problem, as your servers and virtual machines form an all-in-one service. Keep in mind that while hyperconvergence is simpler than most virtualization solutions, rarely is it simple enough to be handled by in-house IT departments of SMBs. A managed services provider (MSP) is better equipped to handle the growth and evolution of technology catalyzed by hyperconvergence. The better your technology, the faster you can respond to business challenges. And the faster you can address your shifting needs, the less downtime you’ll experience. Call us today to find the hyperconverged system that best fits your business. Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.
What you need to know about virtualization
Keeping costs low and productivity high are keys to business success, but these aren’t easy to achieve if you’re relying on traditional in-house servers. Virtualization is one solution to this challenge, so let’s take a closer look at how it works. What is virtualization? Virtualization is the creation of a virtual version of a device or resource, anything from a server to an operating system. This allows you to turn one physical server into a group of virtual servers that all share the same resources. How is it different from other systems? If you’re paying a provider for access to virtual IT resources, you have instant access to nearly limitless computing resources. It also gets rid of haphazard IT rooms, cables, and bulky hardware, reducing your overall IT overhead and management costs. While many people confuse virtualization with the cloud, it’s better to think of virtualization as one of the many tools that enables cloud technology to function. For example, if you wanted to simultaneously run Windows and Mac OS X on the same computer, virtualization could do that. This improves overall application performance due to technology that can balance resources, and provide only what the user needs. When should you virtualize? Virtualization can be a solution for many businesses, but not for all. The key is to know exactly when to virtualize. Here are four situations where a business should make the leap: Virtualize if you rely on technology – Companies that are dependant on technology often end up with more hardware than they actually need. Virtualization prevents this from happening with more efficient use of IT. Virtualize if your company exceeds 20 employees – Tech experts agree that there is no need for virtualization if you employ fewer than 10-20 employees. With that number, traditional servers are more than enough to cater to your needs. Virtualize if you can cover the costs – While virtualization is meant to reduce costs, it still requires an initial investment. The cost of virtualization can be high for small businesses to implement, but you have the option of working with an IT partner like us. We can help you realize cost-savings or even a return on investment. Virtualize if you want more space – Certain business operators throw away a big chunk of their budget on extra office space to house large server racks, wires, or even IT personnel to maintain them. In this situation, virtualization can save space while reducing hardware costs. There are several reasons why businesses look into virtualization. Like any type of technology, it’s a tradeoff between practicality and money. If you think you’re ready to move your systems to a virtual world or are looking to learn more about virtualization solutions, contact us today. Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.
Backup challenges in data virtualization
Despite having many advantages over conventional data storage, data virtualization still needs backup, an essential security measure to protect data. Here are some common challenges you need to overcome to successfully back up your virtualized data. Data virtualization involves taking all enterprise data stored in different local computers or systems, and moving them to a virtual server for centralized management and for on-demand delivery to business users. This provides multiple long-term benefits, including integration of various data types, centralized governance and security, minimized data replication, reduced movement of data across different locations, and real-time data delivery to consumers. But data backup can be a bit tougher with virtualized data, because of these hurdles. Overwhelming rapid file growth Before, businesses had to worry about managing servers containing millions of files. Now, they have to manage billions of files. For this reason, it has become almost impossible to back up servers of such immensity through traditional means using legacy systems. You should take steps to ensure that your backup solution can handle immense volumes of data. While a virtual solution may be working now, it is a good idea to check that your IT partner can easily scale to handle all your data. Rapid server growth The advent of virtualization has led to the development of an “app mentality” among many users and business owners. There’s an application for every function, with many being delivered through a virtual machine. For businesses, this means an increasing number of virtual servers needed to host your virtual solutions. It is crucial to protect these virtual machines and the servers that host them because they are quickly becoming the most essential tools for your business. If your business is growing, your current virtual machines are likely backed up, but you will need to ensure that these are also backed up as you add more servers. Very high user expectations Needless to say, users have high expectations caused by misunderstandings about technology, and virtualization in particular. Users expect their IT partners to have emerging issues resolved in an instant or as quickly as possible. While backup speeds are increasing year on year, it still takes time to copy data files from backup servers, especially when there are over a billion files to be copied. It is worthwhile talking with your IT partner about backup and recovery times to know what you can expect when you need to recover virtual systems. If you have questions about data virtualization or virtualization in general, don’t hesitate to contact us. Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.
3 Things to consider with virtualization
Virtualization can help boost operational efficiencies like never before, but there are a few concerns you need to address before implementing it.
10 Essential virtualization terms
Virtualization, or the act of moving physical systems to a digital environment, has become one of the most sought-after tech solutions by small- to medium-sized businesses (SMBs). While the technology is popular, it has many potentially confusing terms associated with it. To help, we have created a short glossary of 10 popular virtualization terms. 1. Virtual machine (VM) You will often hear virtualization experts discuss the term VM. What they are talking about is the virtual machine. VMs are essentially virtual representations of the computer on your desk. They can do everything a physical machine does, only everything is virtual and usually delivered over a network connection. Because VMs are software-based, you can often run more than one VM on the same physical machine. This could be two separate versions of Windows running at the same time, or even running a different operating system (OS), say Windows on your MacBook. 2. Virtual server A virtual server is a specific type of VM running in a virtual environment. A common setup many offices use is to have one physical server on-site. This server hosts separate virtual servers that, in turn, host different services like email, networking, and storage, among others. Other businesses choose to rely completely on virtual servers. This is where another company hosts the servers delivered to you over the internet. This way, virtual servers appear to be present on the network just like physical ones. 3. Virtual desktop Much like the virtual server, the virtual desktop is a specific type of VM. In this case, it is a virtually delivered version of an operating system like Windows, Linux, or even macOS. Since the advent of virtual desktops, the idea that companies have to limit a machine to its OS has become irrelevant. For example, if you own a Mac and need to access a Windows-based program, you could set up a virtual desktop that runs Windows. 4. Hypervisor The hypervisor is essentially a small OS that enables virtualization. It takes physical hardware resources and combines them into a platform delivered virtually to one or many users. 5. Host system The host system, also referred to as the parent, is where the physical hardware and software are installed. These physical components are then copied by the hypervisor and delivered in a virtual state to the user. If you are creating a virtual desktop environment, then the host system will have the desktop’s OS installed on it, along with the necessary software. 6. Guest system The guest system, also referred to as the child, is where the VM is accessed. From the example above, the OS installed on the host machine is replicated by the hypervisor and the copy is then delivered to the user. The user can interact with the OS just as they would with the physical host machine, because the guest system is an exact copy of the host. The guest machine, in contrast, is virtual instead of physical. 7. Virtual Infrastructure By combining a bunch of different types of VMs together into one solution such as hardware, storage, desktops, and servers, a virtual infrastructure is formed. This is ideal for organizations looking for an entirely virtualized solution. In this setup, the whole IT infrastructure is virtualized and combined into one solution. Many companies look for a solution like this because it reduces the need for on-premises hardware, while making it easier for an IT partner to manage. 8. P2V P2V, or physical-to-virtual, refers to the act of migrating a physical system to a virtual one. A common example is the merging of physical servers into a virtual environment hosted on one server. 9. Snapshot A snapshot is an image of the state of the virtual machine at a specific point of time. This includes all of the data, configurations, and even windows or programs open at that certain moment. Snapshots are like the save button on video games — they save your progress. When you next load up the VM, your data, programs, and configurations will be right where you left them. Snapshots are also kept in case something goes wrong with the VM. Then, you can easily revert back to an older snapshot, one that was taken before the problem occurred. 10. Clone The action of taking one VM and creating an exact copy that can be used by another computer or user. If you are looking to learn more about virtualization, contact us today to see how we can help. Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.
4 Common misconceptions about virtualization
Small businesses can accomplish a lot by implementing virtualization in their office IT network. Unfortunately, many SMBs shy away from it because of various misconceptions. Here are four myths about virtualization you should stop believing. Myth #1 – Virtualization is too expensive for SMBs Many people assume that the more advanced an IT solution is, the more expensive it is to install and maintain. That’s not the case at all for virtualization, which is a strategy to boost hardware efficiency and cut costs. Sure, a virtual server requires more support than a traditional one, but the capacity boost means you won’t need to purchase a second server for a long time, resulting in a net reduction of hardware and IT support expenses. Furthermore, managed virtualization services usually follow a pay-as-you-go model that costs just a few bucks per hour. Myth #2 – Virtualization adds workplace complexity Most people feel comfortable with the traditional computing model, wherein one set of hardware equals one computer. Contrary to what many may think, adding a new model isn’t necessarily more complicated than a traditional setup. With virtualization, one “traditional” computer can run as two or more virtual computers. The technical aspects of how that’s accomplished may be confusing, but virtualization actually reduces complexity because it allows business owners to expand their IT systems whenever necessary without having to worry about hardware limitations. Myth #3 – Support is hard to come by or inconvenient You may be more familiar with the cloud than with virtualization, but that doesn’t mean the latter is a niche technology. In fact, it was one of the most in-demand technologies in 2016. Virtualization also works well with remote support, which means technicians can install upgrades or resolve issues without having to travel to your office. Myth #4 – Software licensing is more difficult There’s a misconception that if your server is running three virtual Windows 10 computers, you’ll have to jump through extra licensing hoops. In reality, virtualization follows the same licensing rules as traditional computing: one desktop, one license. This means you won’t need to rethink your software budget. It’s natural for new technologies to cause confusion, and virtualization does require a new way of thinking about IT hardware. But as long as you have certified technicians like ours on hand, everything will run smoothly. Give us a call today to find out how we can lower your hardware costs and simplify your IT support. Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.
3 Potential issues to watch out for during virtualization
Virtualization can boost operational efficiencies like never before, but you have to understand that the benefits aren’t always immediate. As valuable as it is, it does come with flaws to those who don’t know how to properly adopt it. Here are a few concerns that can become an issue in virtualization adoption. Backing up data can be such a hassle Incorporating a robust backup system in a virtualized setting can become a huge challenge. This is because you have to determine which data you want to store and how often it should be backed up, then you have to decide whether you should back up all your virtual machines or just some vital ones that have important apps and data. In short, the amount of data that needs to be backed up can be overwhelming. The only way to overcome this is to integrate a powerful virtual backup solution offered by a reputable managed services provider (MSP). Ensuring security complicates the virtualization process Security concerns are more complicated in a virtualized setting since you have to monitor security on a couple of tiers: virtual machine security and physical host security. If a physical host server is compromised, let us say by someone plugging in an infected USB drive into one of its ports, it will affect every virtual machine running on it. In a similar way, a compromised virtual machine may disrupt the physical server and may affect other virtual machines residing on the same host. To address this, you need to set up strong network defenses, including firewalls, intrusion prevention systems, antivirus software, and virtual machine security tools. Beyond these, you also need a hardened physical security system comprised of surveillance cameras, locks, biometric scans, and security guards. Of course, if you don’t have the funds to set these up, it may make more sense to leave it to a security-conscious MSP. Monitoring your systems is resource-intensive Since your team has to oversee both virtual machines and physical servers to ensure you have a fully operational environment, they’ll experience a couple of pain points. First, running monitoring software on a physical host server is likely to impede the performance of the virtual machines on that server since the former takes up precious processing power and memory. You’ll practically have to monitor your monitoring system to ensure that it’s not hogging the resources of your servers. Second, keeping tabs on your virtual machines and making sure they’re secure and running at all times is a full-time job. So unless you have a team of professionals in-house, you’ll definitely need some help from the outside. Without a doubt, virtualization brings a lot of benefits to the table, but you have to know how it affects every aspect of your business. Let us show you how you can use it to its full potential. Just give us a call today! Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.
3 Common storage virtualization issues
Your data storage virtualization plan can go awry when done hastily, causing your business to miss out on the benefits of virtualization altogether. To guide you, we highlighted three of the most common storage virtualization problems you may encounter. Poorly structured storage from the get go Within a virtualized data storage framework, information is grouped into tiers based on how quickly it needs to be accessible when requested. Most networks will have to organize data into three different tiers to avoid breaking the bank. For example, you probably don’t need to access archived data as fast as the images on your eCommerce website. Without a virtualization expert on hand, organizing these data could quickly go off the rails. Consult with your managed IT services provider (MSP) to plan where various data types will be stored and what’s the most effective way to set up your data storage framework. Inadequately maintained virtualized storage You need to regularly update your virtualized data storage plan so that it always meets your company’s evolving needs and it performs optimally. Whoever is in charge of your virtualization solution needs to have intimate knowledge of how data is being accessed. If you’re using virtual machines to access your database, they need to be precisely arranged to make sure you don’t have 10 workstations trying to access information from the same gateway. Incorrect application placement Placing all of your data-intensive applications on virtual storage networks might cause too much bandwidth usage and network traffic. Your MSP needs to understand and closely monitor how those applications work so they can recommend how to best distribute them across virtual machines and physical machines to solve connectivity issues. Deploying any type of virtualized IT within your business is no small feat. So if you want to set up a virtualization solution without any issues, contact us today. Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.
Is virtualization right for your company?
Virtualization has become a popular solution for many businesses to back up servers, upgrade hardware, or move to the cloud. Deploying virtualized systems has proven cost-effective and efficient for many companies, but is it right for your organization? Here are some factors you ought to consider. The advantages One of the most significant advantages of virtualization is that it eliminates the need to buy more hardware to supplement your company’s requirements. Because it consolidates your physical servers, there’s no need to maintain and update unnecessary hardware. This means less time and money spent on maintaining and running your servers and managing desk side support. Moreover, virtual machines have made backing up your entire data center a lot less demanding. That’s because virtual machines take up-to-date snapshots of your servers and redeploy them seamlessly to another device. Unlike physical servers that require you to create backups of your server and current data, virtual backups cut the waiting time for server reboots. Virtualization also eliminates the risk of accidentally losing files. Should disaster strike your physical servers, you can easily migrate your virtual machines to another device and keep working as if the incident never happened. Additionally, opting for virtualization allows your company to have a higher degree of technological versatility because virtual machines have the added flexibility to run on different platforms, servers, and hardware. This means you won’t be tied down to a single IT provider. What’s more, your company has the freedom to upgrade hardware without long server downtimes. Finally, utilizing virtualization solutions puts your business in a good position to easily migrate to a prolific cloud environment. Factors to consider With no apparent disadvantages to virtualization, you’re probably getting ready to set up some virtual machines. But before you start virtualizing your business, consider the following factors first: Initial costs to set up your network’s hardware and software still exist, so thoroughly check the services and devices that your company needs before moving forward. Note that virtualization is an effective solution when you start with 5–7 servers running at your workplace. Usually, 10–15 is the optimal number of servers when you’ll start seeing a return on your investment. If you have fewer servers than the ones suggested above, then it’s probably best to opt for a different IT solution. It’s important to consider your staff’s skills and experience with technology before switching to virtualized systems. Do they need training? How can you help them transition quickly to the proposed infrastructure? Will your business have enough storage capacity? As a general rule, you should set aside 30–40 GB per user. Think about setting up failovers to ensure the security of your virtual system. Some applications are not compatible with virtualization such as mobile, media-rich, and certain security apps. So if your employees tend to use these types of software, it would probably be best to deploy a smaller-scale virtualization solution. Pay attention to the conditions of your software license. Installing some applications on several computers could lead to increased costs. Overall, the increased flexibility and reduced cost that a virtualized system offers are well worth the effort. While there are initial challenges to implementing virtual machines, many small businesses believe that the benefits outweigh the costs. To find out if virtualization solutions are for you, contact us today. Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.
Software challenges for virtual environments
Since the very first software release, software licensing was already considered a challenge. In the past, many software licensing models were based on concurrent connections or number of installations. Today, virtualization and multicore CPUs add a new level of complexity, making it more difficult to track costs and how many licenses you’ll need. Let’s take a closer look at the following considerations to help you make a better decision. Why are licenses an issue? Virtualization is a complex topic, but here’s a quick overview of how it works and why licensing is almost always an issue. Most people are starting to work the concept of cloud storage into their everyday lives. Think of virtualization as a cloud where your server(s) store their hardware capabilities and your network computers can pull from that cloud as needed. In this scenario, let’s assume employee A and employee B have two identical desktop computers with barebones hardware. Employee A needs to perform some basic text editing while employee B needs an in-depth scan of your client database. With the right infrastructure management, both employees will connect to your business’s server for the necessary physical processing power and server-hosted software. That means employee A will request the appropriate amount of processing power to edit text (which is likely very little) from the server, while employee B requests a much larger chunk of RAM, processing, and hard drive space for scanning the database. It gets really tricky when we start asking how many licenses are required for the server-hosted software. Licensing models were originally based on the number of physical hard drives with installed copies. However, in a virtualized environment, that’s not an accurate reflection of usage. Using the most recent platforms, administrators can divide their CPU into as many virtual machines as the SMB requires. What do current virtualized licensing models look like? Sadly, virtualization and software industries are still deciding on the best way to move forward. The very vendors that sell the software required to manage the creation of virtual machines and segmentation of your server disagree about which model to use. The company behind the popular VMware software has switched to a per-virtual-machine model after a huge response from customers, while other powerhouse vendors like Oracle and Microsoft have stuck with the per-CPU-core model that is based on server hardware capacity. In any software selection process there is almost always the option of open source software. Under the open source model there are no licenses and usage is free, and just last month, AT&T committed to virtualizing 75 percent of its office under the OpenStack cloud computing platform by 2020. What should I do? In the end, software license considerations and total cost of ownership calculations should be a huge factor in how you plan to virtualize your SMB. When discussing the possibility of an infrastructure migration with your IT services provider, make sure to ask about the advantages and disadvantages of different virtualization platforms compared with their licensing models. You may find that paying more for hardware-based models is worth it, or that open source platforms provide you with everything you need. No matter which platform you choose, remember to list every piece of licensed software in your office. Find out which licenses you can keep, which ones you’ll need to update, and most importantly, what the license migration will cost you in the short and long run. The process of virtualizing your SMB alone is a real pain. Get in touch with us now to avoid the headache entirely and we’ll walk you through all of the steps necessary to guide your organization through this next step in modernizing your business model. Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.