Getting virtual

There are very few organisations today that are not either considering or already implementing virtualisation. There are also many already running virtualised solutions.

There are typically two approaches to virtualisation and these can be applied separately or in conjunction: internal or outsourced. When planning or deploying a virtualised solution, there are common factors involved whatever choices are made, but let's consider the major differences between internal and external solutions.

Internal virtualisation enables server consolidation. This is attractive because it can reduce capital expenditure and IT admin and maintenance costs. Fewer servers, running at greater utilisation levels, means reducing the expense of hardware purchasing as well as the ongoing operational expenses. This also contributes to freeing up IT staff for more critical activities.

Moving out from the data centre, internal virtualisation can also enable deployment of uniform images for end-users' machines. This reduces risk. If there is a tested, standard image for desktops, there is better control of the applications and devices that run on the network - better security against either internal or external threats. At the same time, standard machines running virtual applications can be more thin-client and less expensive than machines that have to run resource-hungry applications that are resident on each desktop. Correctly implemented, all of this reduces the support and management costs throughout the network.

Over the last few years, nearly all enterprise operations have moved in this direction with advantages that have been measured and documented in the field. On a smaller scale, even SME-level operations can achieve the same benefits.

This leads on to looking at external virtualisation: hosted storage, hosted applications and use of cloud solutions for anything from line-of-business to mission-critical applications and services.

The advantages here are even greater reduction of on-site needs for expensive servers and lower operational costs, depending on the implementation. Again, IT staff productivity is typically improved.

The difference with an outsourced solution is that security and reliability risks have to be examined even more carefully than with internal solutions.

In both cases, however, there has to be an end-to-end, effective IT management system in place. Virtualised solutions don't just run themselves. They must be monitored, managed and improved in a live environment, as individual problem areas are identified and business needs and processes change over time.

[Virtualisation] is dynamic and must respond effectively to changing conditions.

Andrea Lodolo is technical operations manager of CA Southern Africa.

Whatever the obvious savings in capital and operational expenses, the investment in virtualisation also generates savings through improved productivity and added value for the business through better rationalisation and integration. But this can only be achieved and measured if there is an IT management solution supporting the virtualisation.

Whether an organisation chooses internal or cloud solutions - or some combination of the two - the advantages are similar. It is critical, however, to scope, plan, deploy and manage the solution if those advantages are going to be realised to their full extent.

That requires a very detailed understanding of the business processes and needs, a competent service provider for deployment and/or hosting and a genuine IT management solution that involves both software and the people who are part of the workflow and management system.

Virtualisation is not a silver bullet. It is not something that can be dropped in place and then left to run by itself. Like the business, it is dynamic and must respond effectively to changing conditions. That requires monitoring and management - though much less than running a “spaghetti” network of server, desktop and software platforms.

To recap, these are the compelling advantages that make virtualisation a primary goal:

* It can save enormously on capital expenses. Servers can be rationalised and client machines can be standardised and less costly.
* It saves on operational costs. There is potential for saving power - an increasingly important cost factor for data centres. This is not only for the power usage of however many servers there are, but also the equally burdensome costs of cooling systems. IT admin and maintenance costs are immediately less, especially if there is a cloud solution.
* It can provide a more secure, reliable and better integrated network that supports productivity as well as reducing admin overheads.

From the SME market to the enterprise level and major public-sector organisations, decision-makers are quickly attracted to the potential savings that virtualisation offers.

It must be remembered, however, that virtualisation is not a standalone solution. It is a project that affects every element of the network and the business in general. A virtual solution that fails to take into account the real business needs, processes and workflow, will not produce the desired outcomes.

For the solution to work, it needs planning that takes into account both the business aspects and the people who will be running and using the solution.

Beyond that, it must be integrated with IT management software, so accurate reporting and management can be achieved. Without that, the results will be impossible to measure and optimise. There might even be no real advantages unless virtualisation is properly managed.

Properly implemented, however, virtualisation provides established savings in the short- and long-term, as well as additional benefits in productivity and scalability for rapidly changing business needs.