Virtualization is a way to create a replica of a user's physical server, infrastructure, and online computing system. Specialized software enables multiple versions of the operating systems and applications to function simultaneously with the host machine and physical hardware.
In a way, it's similar to cloud computing, requiring some of the same services, including cloud migration services.
Cloud and virtualization service providers offer the original version of the physical hardware and software infrastructure of the same services to the virtual replicas. Hardware visualization delivers Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) solutions for cloud computing.
The cloud plays many roles in virtual environments. For one thing, cloud visualization enables users in remote locations to share data from their guest operating system to a hypervisor, which sends it to the host machine. For another, cloud visualization provides efficient, cost-effective, and scalable computing methods for public and private clouds.
The architecture of the original and virtual versions goes like this:
Base Hardware → Host Operating System → Application
Base Hardware → Hypervisor → Guest Operating Systems (multiple) → Applications (multiple)
The hypervisor plays an essential role in the server virtualization process. It creates virtual machines (guest operating systems - GOS) and provides them with the resources they need to function.
The virtual machines or GOS each have their own operating system, virtual storage, and computing power, so they can create applications that operate in their little isolated environment.
In this way, cloud virtualization instantly optimizes resource utilization with a series of knock-on effects that ultimately lead to fantastic ROI and a healthy bottom line.
The benefits of virtualization for business owners include the following.
1) Flexibility - You are in control of the online environments, so you can adjust resources as and when necessary. It's a quick and easy job for your virtualization software developer.
2) Security - Cloud computing and virtualization providers recognize that there is some risk involved in hosting servers this way. One of their methods to mitigate security threats is layer protection. Each layer of software and hardware gets a protective security coating.
This isn't the only method. They also use firewalls and end-to-end encryption and regularly back up all data, so it's retrievable should a breach of security compromise all the cloud providers' users.
3) Cost - Cloud computing and virtualization operate on a pay-per-use system. You only pay for what you use, which allows you to manage your budget more effectively.
4) Uptime - Virtual resources are shared, which provides backup redundancy and data security.
However, virtualized environments also have some drawbacks. The following are some of the major disadvantages of virtualization:
1) Applications Aren't Suitable - Some hardware and software applications can't be virtualized. In some instances, the application vendor might not have the resources to support virtualization. It could also be that your business's applications aren't suited for a virtualized environment.
More and more businesses are adapting their applications to suit virtual networks, but there are still some kinks to be worked out; for example, licensing complications and other licensing issues,
2) Server Sprawl - Some business owners love how easy it is to create virtual servers and want to keep adding virtualization technology. This defeats the purpose of virtualization solutions, primarily because server management becomes complicated, time-consuming, and inefficient. It's also easy to lose track of your budget when you adopt widespread network virtualization.
3) Upfront Costs - Virtualization is definitely cost-effective when it comes to operation and management. However, the initial set-up costs can be high because you have to buy all the servers and software licenses.
The good news is that costs are going down as demand for application virtualization increases and the market becomes increasingly competitive.
4) Data Privacy - There are some scary stories about data breaches and data leaks all over the internet. Even the biggest and most powerful companies have been hacked. However, it's important to note that privacy breaches are very rare.
One of the things you can do to help protect your data is to use as few vendors as possible. Each new vendor increases the risk because they provide an extra avenue for hackers to get hold of your data. After all, you don't have to be attacked directly. One of your vendors could be breached, and the resulting weak spot could lead hackers right to your door.
5) Vendor locking - This is another risk of using too many vendors because their services can become interlocked, and dependency could develop. This makes virtualization migration challenging.
Cloud computing is being used by organizations across a wide range of industries. Take a look at these top companies that have benefited from cloud computing:
Netflix streams over 125 million hours of entertainment per day. It needs the support of a strong cloud virtualization provider, and for Netflix, that is Amazon's AWS.
eBay provides its services to 175 million users around the world. It provides a range of e-commerce services, which means they need a virtualization provider that can support over a billion listings and transactions and supply secure data storage. eBay uses Google Cloud.
Pinterest was one of the first major online service providers to use cloud computing. Its popularity and growth went up like a rocket, so it needed a cloud service provider capable of supporting the glut of new pictures added daily. For Pinterest, that is Amazon's AWS.
PayPal was one of the earliest payment platforms to launch its online services. It has over 300 million users globally. It's essential for PayPal to use a virtualization provider capable of supporting millions of transactions a day and which provides the security necessary to protect all sensitive information. PayPal uses Google Cloud.
When you want to move your business applications to the cloud, getting a vendor who also provides virtualization services is a good idea. Shop around before you make your final choice to find a vendor that has a reputation for excellent uptime and security.If the time comes to switch servers, you want a vendor with a great reputation for cloud migration. Laminar Consulting has the expertise to migrate your cloud computing servers and infrastructure securely and efficiently. Contact us today at (888) 531-9995 for a consultation with our experts!
