Before we discuss the specific benefits of switching to virtualization let’s first define what virtualization is and some of the reasons why more companies are making the change.

Virtualization and IT Infrastructure

Virtualization is defined as a method that is used to allow a single system to run multiple infrastructures simultaneously.  The method can be applied to network infrastructures, storage processes, and servers. It combines resources into one unit which is controlled by a central interface. The end result is a reduction of IT costs that would otherwise be spent on additional hardware technology to operate standalone systems.

In terms of storage area networks, virtualization is applied in a similar manner by combining hardware devices that can be controlled from a single interface.  For this reason, more companies are considering virtualization as a viable alternative to older infrastructures that are costly to run and require additional manpower to administer standalone configurations.

Specific Benefits of Virtualization

 To provide a further explanation of why more companies and organizations are switching to virtualization, here are some of the key benefits virtualization can offer to businesses of all sizes:

• Speedy Recovery Time:  In the event of a system failure or disaster virtualization allows for faster recovery of IT resources which provides for improved business continuity and revenue.  Older infrastructures are incapable of recovering within a few hours and in most cases, companies experience a much longer downtime which results in revenue loss.
• Better Scalability:  Virtualized environments are designed to be scalable; allowing for more flexibility when it comes to company growth.  Instead of purchasing additional infrastructure components, new applications and upgrades can easily be implemented with virtualization.
• Cost and Space Savings:  Saving on the costs of IT infrastructure is a reality when you switch to virtualization.  The cost savings also extends to reduced energy consumption and IT personnel while reducing the amount of space that is required to house an IT environment.
• Better Return on Investment:  In addition to reducing the costs of maintaining an older infrastructure, companies can increase their ROI by ensuring business continuity following a disaster and preventing revenue loss.

These are the basic benefits which can be gained by switching to virtualization.  There are additional benefits which will depend upon the type of infrastructure necessary for your specific industry. All of these benefits point to the fact that virtualization presents a win-win situation when it comes to helping companies maintain a competitive advantage.

Many companies choose to deploy virtualization in-house where others find it easier and much more cost effective to outsource it to a virtualization services provider.  Although virtualization saves on costs using either method, the implementation of virtualization in-house will take much longer than if you use a service provider.

Prior to implementing the technology, there are a number of issues that must be taken into account when transitioning to a new IT environment.  Some of these concerns include cost estimates, technical challenges in terms of compatibility, security, and training, to name a few concerns.  Because of the numerous ways virtualization can impact a company it is necessary to collect in-depth knowledge in advance of implementation to ensure a smooth transition to the new environment.

Enhance the productivity of your staff and network with virtualization. Contact Thrive today to discover ways to reduce costs while increasing server utilization.

The post Virtualization Can Enhance Your Business’s Productivity appeared first on Thrive.

Before we discuss the specific benefits of switching to virtualization let’s first define what virtualization is and some of the reasons why more companies are making the change.

Virtualization and IT Infrastructure

Virtualization is defined is a method that is used to allow a single system to run multiple infrastructures simultaneously.  The method can be applied to network infrastructures, storage processes, and servers and combines resources into one unit which is controlled by a central interface.   The end result is a reduction of IT costs that would otherwise be spent on additional hardware technology to operate standalone systems.

In terms of storage area networks, virtualization is applied in a similar manner by combining hardware devices that can be controlled from a single interface.  For this reason, more companies are considering virtualization as a viable alternative to older infrastructures that are costly to run and require additional manpower to run the standalone configurations.

Specific Benefits of Virtualization

 To provide a further explanation of why more companies and organizations are switching to virtualization here are some of the key benefits virtualization can offer to businesses of all sizes:

• Speedy Recovery Time:  In the event of a system failure or disaster virtualization allows for faster recovery of IT resources which provides for improved business continuity and revenue.  The older infrastructures are incapable of recovering within a few hours and in most cases, companies experience a much longer downtime which results in revenue loss.
• Better Scalability:  Virtualized environments are designed to be scalable which allows for more flexibility when it comes to company growth.  Instead of purchasing additional infrastructure components, new applications and upgrades can easily be implemented with virtualization.
• Cost and Space Savings:  Saving on the costs of IT infrastructure is a reality when you switch to virtualization.  The cost savings also extends to reduced energy consumption and IT personnel while reducing the amount of space that is required to house an IT environment.
• Better Return on Investment:  In addition to reducing the costs of maintaining an older infrastructure, companies can increase their ROI by ensuring business continuity following a disaster and preventing revenue loss.

These are the basic benefits which can be gained by switching to virtualization.  There are additional benefits which will depend upon the type of infrastructure which is necessary for a specific industry. All of these benefits point to the fact that virtualization presents a win-win situation when it comes to helping companies maintain a competitive advantage.

 Many companies choose to deploy virtualization in-house where others find it easier and much more cost effective to outsource it to a virtualization services provider.  Although virtualization saves on costs using either method, the implementation of virtualization in-house will take much longer than if you use a service provider.

Prior to implementing the technology, there are a number of issues that must be taken into account when transitioning to a new IT environment.  Some of these concerns include cost estimates, technical challenges in terms of compatibility, security, and training, to name a few concerns.  Because of the numerous ways virtualization can impact a company it is necessary to collect in-depth knowledge in advance of implementation to ensure a smooth transition to the new environment.

Enhance the productivity of your staff and network with virtualization. Contact Thrive Networks today to discover ways to reduce costs while increasing server utilization.

The post What is Virtualization and How Can it Benefit You? appeared first on Thrive.

Many improvements have been made to the scalability of the vCenter Server Appliance (VCSA) since 5.5 which now puts it on equal footing with the venerable Windows installation option. With 6.5 Update Manager has been rolled in as well which previously required a separate Windows Server.  VMware has steadily been eliminating the objections around running vCenter as an appliance.

vSphere 6.0 had a very welcome interface speedup for the Web Client which is the primary method for managing vCenter and the only location that brand-new features like VM Encryption, VSAN, and NSX were available. vSphere 6.5 made it even a bit snappier but is moving away from the web client we know today with all the Flash plugin and Integration Plugin issues it brings in favor of a HTML5 interface. They are not yet at feature parity but the common day to day tasks of an IT Admin can now be done in the HTML5 client which is easier and faster than the Flash web client without worrying about if the device you are connecting from will have the right software and fixes loaded ahead of time.

Speaking of changes; the next version is slated to be 6.7. The biggest shift we know of today will be that the only way to deploy vCenter will be as the appliance and the Windows Server based edition will be retired. The VCSA introduced automated file level backups and restore built in. For better or worse the VCSA will be entirely supported by VMware all the way from the hardened Photon OS through vCenter and all its native plugins. It should result in a more stable environment with less patching – be sure to sign up for the VMware security notices though!

In the next post I’ll focus more on the specific improvements and why your organization should begin moving to the VCSA if you are not yet convinced

The post Improvements in vSphere 6.5 and what will version 6.7 bring? – Part 1 appeared first on Thrive.

In the more complex electronics world, we now find ourselves in we have to design IT systems for redundancy. Selecting the hardware is a critical starting point. Do you go with individual servers, hyper-converged systems (see our previous post on what HCI is), or blades?

Each type has their role to play. Blade servers were quite a bit more popular in the past but are due for a comeback. Virtualization has led to dense installations in data centers and a blade chassis is a great way to minimize the number of network and power cables required compared to the traditional “pizza box” style deployments of standalone servers. The downside is the added complexity and management that comes with this middle layer of hardware.

When selecting a hypervisor host a blade can be a great fit. Generally, hypervisor hosts need significant CPU and Memory resources and a few networking uplinks but little in the way of local storage. Blades offer a solution of deployments with efficient use of power and cooling while minimizing the floor space in use. Blade chassis systems usually hold 16 half-height blades in the same space as 10 single U height servers. That’s a 60% improvement!

The up-front costs associated with the chassis and networking will be higher if the system isn’t used to capacity on day one, but future upgrades become much easier with reduced risk as your IT staff does not need to be changing cables on a routine basis to bring an additional host or two online. Remote management and monitoring of these systems has come a very long way in the last ten years as well, and can reduce the need to be physically present in front of the device in order to work on it.

Every project will have its own unique goals and requirements. When your next project calls for additional compute hosts perhaps it is time to forget what you used to know about them take a second look at blades. To learn more call Thrive today to speak with one of our experts.

The post Selecting a Compute Platform for Virtualization Hosts appeared first on Thrive.

Before we discuss the specific benefits of switching to virtualization let’s first define what virtualization is and some of the reasons why more companies are making the change.

Virtualization and IT Infrastructure

Virtualization is defined is a method that is used to allow a single system to run multiple infrastructures simultaneously.  The method can be applied to network infrastructures, storage processes, and servers and combines resources into one unit which is controlled by a central interface.   The end result is a reduction of IT costs that would otherwise be spent on additional hardware technology to operate standalone systems.

In terms of storage area networks, virtualization is applied in a similar manner by combining hardware devices that can be controlled from a single interface.  For this reason, more companies are considering virtualization as a viable alternative to older infrastructures that are costly to run and require additional manpower to run the standalone configurations.

Specific Benefits of Virtualization

 To provide a further explanation of why more companies and organizations are switching to virtualization here are some of the key benefits virtualization can offer to businesses of all sizes:

• Speedy Recovery Time:  In the event of a system failure or disaster virtualization allows for faster recovery of IT resources which provides for improved business continuity and revenue.  The older infrastructures are incapable of recovering within a few hours and in most cases, companies experience a much longer downtime which results in revenue loss.
• Better Scalability:  Virtualized environments are designed to be scalable which allows for more flexibility when it comes to company growth.  Instead of purchasing additional infrastructure components, new applications and upgrades can easily be implemented with virtualization.
• Cost and Space Savings:  Saving on the costs of IT infrastructure is a reality when you switch to virtualization.  The cost savings also extends to reduced energy consumption and IT personnel while reducing the amount of space that is required to house an IT environment.
• Better Return on Investment:  In addition to reducing the costs of maintaining an older infrastructure, companies can increase their ROI by ensuring business continuity following a disaster and preventing revenue loss.

These are the basic benefits which can be gained by switching to virtualization.  There are additional benefits which will depend upon the type of infrastructure which is necessary for a specific industry. All of these benefits point to the fact that virtualization presents a win-win situation when it comes to helping companies maintain a competitive advantage.

 Many companies choose to deploy virtualization in-house where others find it easier and much more cost effective to outsource it to a virtualization services provider.  Although virtualization saves on costs using either method, the implementation of virtualization in-house will take much longer than if you use a service provider.

Prior to implementing the technology, there are a number of issues that must be taken into account when transitioning to a new IT environment.  Some of these concerns include cost estimates, technical challenges in terms of compatibility, security, and training, to name a few concerns.  Because of the numerous ways virtualization can impact a company it is necessary to collect in-depth knowledge in advance of implementation to ensure a smooth transition to the new environment.

Enhance the productivity of your staff and network with virtualization. Contact Thrive today to discover ways to reduce costs while increasing server utilization.

The post Benefits of Virtualization appeared first on Thrive.

Management Challenges for IT Administrators

IT administrators are responsible for the backbone of modern information technology systems which are reliant on complex network infrastructures. For medium to large-sized companies there can be literally hundreds of thousands of devices which are mission critical to company operations.  The server and network devices can include many different types of hardware from a variety of vendors, security components, switches, routers, and other components that make up the infrastructure.  Here are some of the challenges in terms of a manual approach to managing server and network infrastructures.

• Configuration Tasks: When using the conventional approach to network administration IT personnel typically invests a lot of time into performing configurations which are repetitive and time consuming.  This takes time away from planning for future innovations that increase productivity.
• Network Growth: As a company expands so does the number of devices and applications. This means additional tasks in terms of configuration. IT administrators end up prioritizing according to business task importance which increases the risk of errors and network outages.
• Network Security: The tasks associated with network security can be monumental in terms of patching, firewalls, intrusion detection monitoring, and other security measures which are used to secure data on a server.  This leaves a lot of room for error which increases the risk for data breaches.
• No Centralized Management: When you use the conventional approach to server and network management there is no centralized control for keeping track of configuration changes, updates, and other mission critical steps which are required to meet compliance regulations.  Performing each management task separately is time consuming and repetitive.
• Lack of Accountability: With most network infrastructures there is no way to ensure accountability for device configurations and user actions.  If a security breach occurs or there is an unauthorized configuration change there is typically no way to trace the action back to a specific user.

How to Conquer Server and Network Management Issues

Thanks to a higher availability of solutions providers and automated tools, server and network management can be simplified. This leaves more time for IT administrators to focus on new company innovations instead of performing time consuming and repetitive tasks.  Automated tools provide a way to keep track of configurations, reduce the possibility for human error, improve policy compliance, and reduce operational costs.

Additionally, many companies choose to use a virtualization solutions provider that can oversee and manage server and network infrastructures either onsite or from a remote location.  Most solutions providers offer configuration, change, and compliance management services.  They are also equipped with the necessary automation tools to reduce errors and perform audits and reports on the status of network configurations.

With a quality virtualization solution  in place companies can make the best use of their resources and time.  To learn more about how you can improve productivity and business continuity while cutting costs contact Thrive Networks today for a consultation.

The post Server and Network Management Challenges appeared first on Thrive.

The answer to this dilemma is the incorporation of new technologies into your IT infrastructure.  Although this may sound like you are increasing IT capital expenditures you are actually cutting costs while increasing productivity in response to the ever changing market.  Here are some thoughts on how to reduce costs while still maintaining the competitive advantage.

IT Lifecycle

 It is a well known fact that IT infrastructures which are older are much more expensive to maintain and present many challenges in terms of working with hardware and software that is no longer compatible with new applications.  In many cases the older IT infrastructures tend to remain in operation because they serve as a comfort zone, so to speak, for the IT department and management despite the fact that the system is very costly to maintain.  If one were to analyze the exact cost of retaining the older infrastructure chances are the results would show exorbitant maintenance and operating costs in addition to high energy consumption.  So what is the answer?

Let’s consider the virtualization model.  Virtualization is a methodology that provides a solution for companies to consolidate older infrastructures.  This is accomplished by combining servers which can then be controlled through single point access.  This type of system increases the utilization of hardware by as much as 85 percent where the older infrastructures may use as little as 20 percent.

Transitioning to virtualization means cutting operating costs significantly while improving reliability and reducing downtime.  Server consolidation is also scalable so you can deliver IT services on-demand. Plus fewer servers mean lower energy consumption and reduced cooling requirements.

Information Lifecycle Management and Data Storage

 Without a doubt, the growth of data and information is a major contributor to the increase in IT costs. The older infrastructures are unable to meet the demand for more affordable solutions that help to reduce the data storage footprint.  Older methods such as tape storage can increase downtime in the event of a disaster plus offsite storage is typically more expensive compared to the newer methods for data storage and backup.

When you consider a cloud hosted model, virtualization is the channel to a solid data storage and backup system in the cloud.  This means that your IT resources are consolidated into logical steps for storage, network, and servers which create a virtual datacenter.  This is known as a holistic approach to information lifecycle management and data storage requirements. The result is the reduction of IT capital expenditures in terms of maintenance and administration while improving the level of service.

Virtualization and cloud hosted services are being considered by more companies for the reasons we have discussed in the article.  Hopefully these thoughts will help to spur some ideas and options as to how your company can save on IT capital expenditures.  When it comes to remaining competitive in today’s marketplace most companies should not be asking, “Why should we consider virtualization and cloud hosting?”  Instead, the question should be, “Why are we not already using virtualization and cloud services?”

If you are trying to find ways to reduce the cost of IT capital expenditures, contact Thrive Networks today for assistance with designing a strategy for reducing IT costs over the next one to three years.

The post Thoughts on Reducing IT Capital Expenditures appeared first on Thrive.

When you apply regulatory compliance to IT, the regulations apply to two different aspects of company operations which include the internal requirements for IT and compliance standards that are set forth by external entities.  Both types of regulatory compliance affect IT company operations and can potentially restrict what a company can and cannot do.

Company Concerns with Regulatory Compliance

When it comes to information technology and security, regulatory compliance for IT can impose added costs on company operations depending upon the industry.  At the same token, the cost of not complying with regulations both internally and externally can be significantly higher in terms of fines and time invested following up on a security breach.

One of the primary issues with regulatory compliance is information security and the potential for data leaks.  Although there may be policies in place, it is necessary to ensure that employees follow the policies as well as the entire staff within a company.  This is an ongoing process and one that can lead to a high profile data breach if companies become too lax on policy enforcement.  A primary example of this is the Sony breach earlier this year which can undermine a company reputation and end up costing more in fines than it would if you followed the compliance policies.

When it comes to regulatory compliance for IT on the external level, companies that follow the regulations set forth by external organizations are more likely to survive a potential investigation than companies that neglect regulatory compliance.  Additionally, there are many benefits that come with following regulatory compliance policies which include protection of company reputation.

Issues Associated with Regulatory Compliance

In order to ensure that the proper steps are taken to meet regulatory compliance policies, it is first important to understand where the weaknesses in IT are so you know exactly what practices should be applied.  If you skip this step and then try to meet regulations and policies, it is highly likely it will cost more over the long term since the practices were not implemented correctly.

The main issue that surrounds regulatory compliance is that many companies face multiple policies and regulations with regard to IT and data storage.  This presents a challenge for most businesses, especially if the IT personnel changes frequently or over a number of years.  Some compliance regulations require companies to archive data for a specified period of time. If IT staff changes over a period of time it is easy to lose sight of data storage and retrieval processes.

How to Make Regulatory Compliance Work

The number one priority for making regulatory compliance work is assessment and evaluation.  If you do not know where the company weaknesses are in terms of IT then this makes it nearly impossible to put the best practices into action.

Once you know where the best practices should be applied there are many new tools that assist with simplifying the processes for regulatory compliance.  These are automation tools that save time and perform the necessary requirements according to schedule.  Tools for regulatory compliance are also capable of monitoring IT processes and providing reports to be used for analysis and future modifications.

The other alternative that ensures policies and procedures are carried out according to requirements is to consider using a virtualization solutions provider.  A professional solutions provider such as Thrive Networks can help your company design strategies that guarantee your business will remain in compliance both within the company and with the external organizations that audit your processes.

The post What is Regulatory Compliance? appeared first on Thrive.

Not only are VPNs used to communicate securely over a public network such as the Internet VPNs are also deployed for virtualized services such as customer service call centers and other business services that companies typically outsource on a routine basis.  Although other new technologies have emerged during the past few years, it has been found by many IT experts that a virtual private network offers more advantages than disadvantages when it comes to secure communications.

VPN Pros and Cons

If your business is considering using a virtual private network here are some of the pros and cons associated with deploying this type of communications technology.

VPN Security and Design

• Pro – Virtual private networks offer a much higher level of secure communication when compared to other remote methods of communication.  This is due to the advanced technologies that are used to protect the network from unauthorized access.
• Con – The design and security implementation for a virtual private network can be complex.  This means that it requires a professional with a high level of understanding for the best type of VPN configuration and some of the security issues that can occur when using a VPN.

VPN Cost

• Pro – When it comes to operating a virtual private network within an organization the costs are significantly lower than other types of configurations.  This is mainly due to the absence of variables for different types of communications over the VPN and the opportunity to communicate securely at low cost in other parts of the world.
• Con – Reliability can become a factor depending upon the service provider that you choose.  If the VPN utilizes the Internet it is important to work with a provider that can guarantee minimal downtime.

VPN Scalability

• Pro – Virtual private networks are very flexible in terms of growing with the company and adding new users to the network.  This type of infrastructure allows for scalability without having to add new components to accommodate the growth.
• Con – If it happens to be necessary to create additional infrastructure the solutions can become incompatible and cause technical issues if you use a different product vendor than you used for the current infrastructure.  On the other side of the coin and depending upon the product vendor you use, working with the same vendor can sometimes increase the cost of deploying additional infrastructure.

• VPNs and Mobile Workers

Pro – Virtual private networks offer more flexibility for business partners to communicate over a secure connection.  A VPN will also create more ease of communication with remote workers and enable them to check in at the office without sacrificing security.

Con – The use of mobile devices to initiate connectivity to the virtual private network can cause security issues especially if the connection is wireless. For this reason, an added solution is sometimes needed to tighten up security when logging on to the VPN with a mobile device.

Despite the pros and cons of virtual private networks they still offer a viable solution for secure communications between distributed users.  However, it is important to use IT professionals that are highly skilled in VPNs to ensure that you get a secure solution for your business that is free of technical issues and problems. This is just one more solution that Thrive Networks has to offer! Please contact us here to learn more!

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