Many business owners find virtual machines to be a blessing, if not a necessity, in the modern work environment. At this point, over 90% of businesses have some degree of virtuality. Virtual Machines, or VMs, allow network users to operate their businesses with an incredible degree of flexibility. They empower users to run numerous operating systems on a single device, and they allow IT teams to quickly and securely get your network up and running. Most importantly, they save businesses a ton of time, space, and money, all resources that are to be well-managed in the current work climate.
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What Virtual Machines Can Do for Your Business
Many businesses are predicted to downsize office space to accommodate more flexible working conditions. While smaller office environments typically mean reduced energy costs and lower rent prices, it does leave the disadvantage of less space for hardware. Virtual machines easily solve this problem through the utilization of a hypervisor, also referred to as a Virtual Machine Manager (or VMM if you’re short on time). Hypervisors work by consolidating multiple VMs to one server, reducing the amount of hardware needed to run your business. This is especially useful for minimizing the amount of physical servers, whose cooling costs alone commandeer over 40% of energy used by data centers. With fewer machines running in your office space, this further reduces your already lowered energy bill!
All of these factors also allow for greater productivity. Many offices are now offering remote or flexible work arrangements, and virtualization enables workers to access their work desktop from home. And more condensed systems means your system is easier to maintain and monitor, taking much of the maintenance responsibility off of your busy IT department.
Managing Your Virtual Machines
1. Don’t Neglect Your Overall Security
While virtual machines offer an incredible convenience, they are not infallible when it comes to security breaches (and some say they might not be the most secure option). Reliable, AI-driven EDR solutions can autonomously secure all network devices and eliminate potential threats to your network. Even with advanced endpoint security, it doesn’t hurt to exercise common sense measures, such as using unique passwords and restricting host access, to secure your network.
2. Monitor Your Performance Metrics.
It doesn’t do any good to have your system condensed if all your resources are being stretched to their limits. While virtual machines do allow business owners to stretch their resources, those resources are not unlimited. Network users have to be conscious of how much space is required to run numerous VMs on one server. Otherwise, users will see problems with network speed, memory, stability, and other important factors. CPU capability, RAM, and other factors can all impact power and storage allotment as well. Ensure that your hardware and software is up to the task and run appropriate stress tests to ensure your network can handle whatever you throw at it.
3. Manage Your Growth and Future Capacity
Your network is more likely to grow than it is to shrink over time. While growth would typically be considered a positive change, it’s easy to overlook potential sprawl occurring in your network. In most instances, it would be best to monitor your growth on a monthly basis and utilize a quality virtualization management program. These strategies help provide a better understanding of what resources you currently have, and what you might need in the future.
4. Over Prepare Your IT Department
For an extra layer of security, special tasks should be delegated to specific individuals or teams within your IT department. In the event of a virtual machine attack or malfunction, this will keep everyone certain of their role and avoid confusion or misunderstandings about handling certain tasks.
5. Common Sense Goes A Long Way
Cyber attacks have been especially rampant this past year, and there’s no telling what new threat may be lurking around the corner. If you never update your operating system or your software, it won’t matter if you monitor your network’s resource allocation and have the best endpoint security in place. If your software is out of date, it’s likely that it will go unsupported . Be certain that your software and OS are always current, and be diligent about patching your current machines as much as needed.
Nothing in tech is foolproof, and virtual machines are no exception. But don’t let that deter you from employing hypervisors to fully modernize your workspace. Virtual machines can shrink your physical footprint, increase company productivity, and save you a ton of money in the process. And given the added flexibility without losing any network capability, any maintenance is a small price to pay.
