Lessons from the virtualised enterprise
SMEs are chomping at the bit to get some of the action.
By Nick Turnbull, Marathon Technologies | Published 01:00, 16 August 07
2. The implications of a new implementation
Reasons for adopting virtualisation should not be simply because it’s a trend – and so an unnecessary cost - but rather because it will truly benefit the business.
While any new technology implementation sets out to benefit the business in some way, it is important to understand any associated risk, and whether this could ultimately negate any benefits reaped. If there is no clear benefit, what is the point of installing a solution that will not do the job it is meant to?
3. Selecting the right technology
When considering virtualisation technologies, businesses are likely to immediately think of a couple of well-known providers.
These providers have been working with large enterprises to implement virtualisation systems; yet newer players in the market are offering solid alternatives at a more affordable level. Some are based on open source technology and offer system availability software to boot which may suit a smaller business better. SMEs need to find a solution that matches its needs, that has all the necessary support and, most of all, is reliable.
4. Afford to spend the time
As any IT manager knows, implementing a new system requires dedicated resources, budget and time. More complex systems will take longer to implement, need re-engineering, incur more – and often unforeseen – costs, and require specialist staff or training to manage the system.
Other implementations can be more streamlined and be relied upon to run themselves. It is important therefore to assess whether the solution deserve the time, resources and cost spent on implementation versus the actual benefit to the business. Understanding your own business requirements and researching the technical offerings can really impact the success of the project.
5. Assess levels of application availability and risk to business continuity
Most importantly companies need to be able to benefit from the virtualisation solution without sacrificing reliable protection for critical workloads. Application availability and business continuity are increasingly at the top of the technology agenda as they are essential for the performance and success of any business. Implementing a new system for managing a business environment can directly impact application availability.
SMEs should consider a solution that combines virtualisation technology with the high availability necessary to keep the business going through disruptions.
The technology adoption model will, on the whole, remain: the enterprise will be the first to the line, while SMEs sensibly watch and learn. As long as lessons are learnt, and with emerging technologies specifically catering to bring enterprise solutions to the mid-market and smaller businesses, SMEs can win – they just need to be a bit clever about it.
Nick Turnbull is the EMEA sales director at Marathon Technologies, a high availability company.
