Data virtualisation enables hardware to be used even more efficiently. It also provides the foundation for cloud computing.
Large data centres consume huge amounts of energy. However, we live in an age where global warming or energy shortages are not unfamiliar to us. In the past, data centre virtualisation was primarily used to test server environments. Today, however, it offers many more possibilities. The technology helps companies meet today's business needs and solve many performance, cost or access challenges.
Understanding data centre virtualisation
The main goal of data centre virtualisation is to create a scalable, secure, and accessible data centre. With virtualisation, an existing data centre facility can be used to host multiple virtualised data centres. This of course significantly reduces operational costs and optimises resource utilisation. All this is made possible by cloud computing and data virtualisation.
On the surface, the concept of data virtualisation may sound very similar to the definition of the cloud. So, what is the difference between these two? Simply put, virtualisation is the technology and cloud is the environment.
Data centre virtualisation enables multiple virtual data centres to be housed in a single facility. Cloud computing, on the other hand, provides memory resources, services, software, platforms, and more. Sharing physical hardware resources with virtual environments is virtualisation. The cloud is only created when these resources are allocated into centralised pools (called clouds). Virtualisation therefore allows the creation of clouds (although it is not the only method).
Benefits of data centre virtualisation
Managing a data centre can be really expensive. Companies are therefore looking for cheaper ways to store data. Virtualisation comes to the rescue by minimising, among other things, expenditure on hardware (for example, servers). However, there are many more interesting benefits behind data centre virtualisation:
- Emergency data recovery: Every data centre requires a carefully prepared strategy for dealing with data loss. Virtualised servers have a very important advantage: with the right software, they can automatically recover data in the event of a disaster, without the intervention of the IT department. What is more, backups are significantly cheaper, as a virtualised data centre does not require additional investment in hardware (thanks to the server consolidation we mentioned before).
- Less heat: Heat dissipation is a major issue for any data centre. After all, too much heat can lead to disaster and loss of equipment and data. By virtualising your data centre, you can reduce the number of servers and therefore reduce the amount of heat generated.
- Reduced footprint: Fewer servers and other devices significantly reduce the amount of floor space required, while reducing operating costs. This makes it ideal for small and medium-sized enterprises in particular.
- Faster deployment of resources: With data centre virtualisation, deploying new resources does not require configuring all hardware and devices or installing components. Resources are automatically “distributed”.
- Sustainability: Data centre virtualisation increases data centre energy efficiency by reducing the energy required for power and cooling.
Last but not least - the future of work is hybrid. More and more employees are working remotely. However, they still need access to all data, files, or applications. A virtual data centre means greater mobility, which goes hand in hand with security and centralised insight.
If you want to learn about even more data centre trends, be sure to check out this article.
