Research shows mass-adoption of server virtualization
As organizations expand their network borders, or eliminate them altogether, virtualization becomes a more important and relevant technology.
Nemertes’ virtualization research shows mass-adoption of server virtualization: 93% of companies have virtualized at least some of the servers in their data centers. Those companies have virtualized 38% of their workloads, and 78% use virtual servers for customer-facing applications—a testament to the reliability of server virtualization. There still is plenty of room for growth within companies, though, as only 27% of physical servers is hosting virtual servers.
Several factors are driving server virtualization. First, the need for agility is rising in importance—IT staffs must have flexibility in adding and moving applications. Second, business continuity and disaster recovery are rising in importance. By running virtual servers in multiple data centers, administrators can run apps for remote workers from back-up data centers in the event of a disaster. Finally, cost control has become very important, and server virtualization not only reduces the number of servers required, it reduces energy costs in the data center.
The other growth spot is in desktop virtualization. IT staffs typically look at desktop virtualization (and also application virtualization) as a replacement for traditional terminal services. Only 22% of companies are virtualizing desktops now, but among those companies, 54% of the desktops are virtualized. More companies are evaluating and planning to use desktop virtualization for a few key reasons.
First, desktop virtualization enables the virtual workplace, whether from home, branch offices, hotels, or airports. IT staffs can better control software versions, security updates, and data control by streaming a consistent desktop image, rather than having the applications individually loaded on each machine.
Second, desktop virtualization gives the IT staff the control of who gets which applications, which is particularly relevant for business partners or contractors who need temporary access to applications or data.
Finally, it reduces costs. Individuals basically need dumb terminals, or very low-cost laptops. Either way, they are less expensive than a typical set-up for an individual worker—and their lifespan is three to five years, on average, rather than 18 months for a full-functioning laptop.
Moving forward, we expect to see continued growth in virtualization technologies.
