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The "Growing" Benefits of Virtualization
As Professional Services Manager for a provider of leading IT solutions, I'm able to see firsthand the challenges that companies are facing in the race to both understand and use technology to be competitive. In Groupware's new quarterly newsletter, this column is a rare opportunity to share my thoughts, and, hopefully, insight on the latest issues and trends affecting our business. I appreciate this opportunity and welcome your comments and feedback.
For first issue of Groupware's CommunITy, I'd like to briefly look at one of the most important industry trends in the last decade: virtualization. While almost every Fortune 500 Company has either integrated a virtualization strategy or are considering it, virtualization is having a profound effect on businesses of all sizes. In my opinion, it's changing the technology-business landscape and delivering on the promise of innovative efficiency in a way few solutions can. While storage and network virtualization are certainly valuable, I believe the greatest impact is being generated in the server space.
Using software to create "virtual" machines within the same hardware infrastructure can yield benefits for large and small companies from the inside out. Server Virtualization instantly expands capacity while reducing hardware and software costs and can elevate performance beyond the component level. It can enhance development time and faster deployment and testing of proof of concepts. These benefits are so immediate that many software OEMs have restructured their licensing models to accommodate improved power and flexibility from the same processor set. I believe two of virtualization’s most important benefits address serious issues facing our industry: space and energy.
Every IT organization struggles to find the physical space needed to support corporate expansion and success. It seems we're constantly running out of room because sustaining business growth relies more than ever on a scalable technology infrastructure. Hardware manufacturers race to deliver innovation in increasingly smaller footprints, but they can't keep up. The fact is, no one can, which is why, in the continuing battle for space, virtualization is a truly powerful weapon.
But equally critical is the need to lower energy consumption. It's not surprising that the amount of electricity we're using each month continues to rise, along with its cost. What is surprising is the limited options IT organizations have in response. By expanding computing capacity and performance within the same energy framework, virtualization elevates IT capability without elevating the electric bill.
For almost a year, Groupware has been utilizing virtualization throughout its IT environment, and I’ve seen the power of this technology firsthand. If you don't have a virtualization strategy for your company, I strongly encourage you to learn more. In my opinion, this is an IT solution that will have a broad and positive impact not just on business, but the world.
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As president and CEO, I'm proud to say Groupware Technology has always been driven by two simple, yet powerful principles.
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