Not too long ago, the cloud was the money-saving IT trend for consumers and business owners. Now, that title goes to virtualization technology. It’s new, it’s complicated, but it’s not something you can ignore. Here are a few ways you can use virtualization to improve efficiency and productivity in your office.

Server virtualization allows you to deliver computing resources to workstations in your network. Those resources are packed into virtual machines (VMs), which can be deployed at a moment’s notice so you can easily add users to your network. However, there are risks associated with trying to manage lots of VMs.

The dangers of VM sprawl
VM sprawl is a phenomenon that occurs when there are too many virtual machines on a network.

The next big thing in cloud computing is capturing small-business owners’ attention, and it’s easy to see why. Even after migrating to the cloud, businesses are still forced to deal with configuring and maintaining servers; it’s just done over the internet.

With cybersecurity threats targeting small and large businesses, solutions that protect mobile devices are no longer a niche service. More work is being handled away from the office, which means more opportunities for security breaches. Virtualization vendors are leading the charge to tackle these challenges with innovative solutions.

Until recently, business owners had to choose between cloud-based virtualization and on-premises virtualization. Although implementing either option from scratch was affordable, moving an existing on-premises setup into the cloud was expensive. Thankfully, two of the biggest virtualization vendors are working together to make this problem a thing of the past.

Preparing your business for every type of disaster is critical. Even if you weren’t affected by this year’s historic hurricane season, earthquakes, fires and power outages are ever-present threats to any business’s future. Virtualization might just be your ticket to surviving the next disaster.

If you own an Apple computer, you might think it’s impossible to install Windows-based software on it. But with operating system (OS) virtualization, you can run any application you want and enjoy exciting new cross-platform features.
Configure an entire machine with a few clicks
With programs like VMware and Parallels, installing Microsoft’s OS on your Mac is almost as easy as creating a new document in Office.

With feature-rich cloud applications like Docs and Slides in G Suite, users can work whenever and wherever they want from any internet-connected device. To help businesses get more out of their cloud platform, Google announced that they are working with Citrix to run virtual desktops and applications in a cloud-hosted environment.

If your business is considering cloud virtual desktops, you’ve undoubtedly looked into Amazon Web Services. AWS offers one of the most reliable and easily accessible options on the market, including the recent release of high-powered machines with direct access to Amazon’s data centers.

Truly understanding the ins and outs of virtualization is not for the faint hearted. It’s a complicated field that is constantly evolving, but one thing remains mostly the same: its benefits. Read on for an uncomplicated recap of just a few of virtualization’s greatest advantages.