Think back to the last time you had to buy a new computer. How much work did you go through, installing new applications and setting up email? Wouldn’t it be nice if you could simply take your old system, copy it onto a new piece of hardware, and start running your new computer instantly?

Virtualization helps you do just that. Virtual Machine (VM) technologies such as VMWare and Microsoft Hyper-V Server allow you to run several operating systems simultaneously on a single workstation or server. Here are a few of the many benefits to virtualization:

• greater flexibility
• reduced cost of operations
• more energy-efficient
• requires less physical space
• maintenance is cheaper
• less hardware to maintain
• less software to upgrade

If you’re still unsure about virtualization, just think back to that last time you bought a new computer. Think about the time it took, and the pain involved. Are you convinced yet?
The cost savings may not be as great as an enterprise-run data center, but the benefits still far outweigh any costs. Don’t let the thought of change intimidate you. Virtual IT experts like Responza will gladly help you to implement the most cost-effective virtualization strategy.