Virtualization
and cloud computing sound like unnecessary expenses that might only apply to
Fortune 500 companies with vast IT departments and extensive data processing
needs. Once you understand the concept, though, you begin to see how moving
your operations "in the cloud" will save your business a lot of money
in a few different ways.
That's
because the core concept behind virtualization is the idea of taking equipment
(like servers and backup drives) out of your office, and into a remote location
- one with better hardware, better security and monitoring, and a team of
technicians who are ready to look out for any problems. In other words, it's
about taking your technology to a better place... both literally and
figuratively.
But
what would virtualization mean for your organization in a bottom-line way? Here
are three of the biggest and most important benefits to companies:
1.
Reduced hardware expenses. Because
your company no longer has to buy its own hardware, you don't have to make any
huge, one-time investments in things like server systems, either. Instead, your
outsourced IT partner will spread those costs over a number of clients, meaning
that you can get all the advantages that come with continuously replaced,
top-of-the-line computing and communications equipment for a regular monthly
fee. Making your technology more reliable, and your budget more predictable, is
one of the biggest benefits of virtualization.
2.
Lower costs for software and updates. In
the same way, major software developers like Microsoft are encouraging
businesses of all sizes to move into the cloud. As a result, many of the
products that they traditionally offered (like Microsoft Office) are being
replaced with virtual alternatives (such as Microsoft 365). These don't just
allow for significant cost savings, for the same reason that virtualized
hardware does, but also the ability for your team to collaborate and work
together in real time across different workspaces and locations. Best of all,
software updates in the cloud are handled quickly and automatically, so you
never have to worry about your most important applications being out of date.
3.
Better security. Do you have a team that's available
to look after your hardware and software - not to mention your customers' data
information - 24 hours a day, 365 days a year? If not, then you'll love the
added safety and security that comes with cloud computing in virtualized
systems. Why worry about your technology, when you could have a team of
specialists monitoring everything at your outsourced IT partner's facility?
Virtualization
and cloud computing are still new enough that a lot of business owners and
executives don't fully understand them yet. You can be sure that will change in
the near future, though, as more and more of them start to get a firm
understanding of the immediate bottom-line benefits.
