Heard about the 5 types of virtualization? 

Businesses today tend to embrace virtualization as it allows the business to reduce costs and optimize the available resources. This is done through the creation of a virtual IT device corresponding to a tangible, real-world IT device. This minimizes the maintenance and management aspects related to traditional devices. Here is how and where virtualization can be applied. 

 

1. Virtual desktops 

The virtual desktops allow the user to access his/her files and software through any computer, wherever the user is, discarding the need for taking a laptop or any other device wherever the user goes. Here the virtualization allows the separation of the user interface environment such that it is available online, taking away the need for the user to stick to one location for work. This is much like the synchronizing of data between your mobile and computer, though much advance since all information and software usage can be done through a ‘profile’ which you can log in to. Software licensing costs can be minimized through desktop virtualization.

2.  Virtual apps 

Here the apps used by the user can be logged into through any device (smartphones, tablets, or laptops) without needing to log-in to the workplace computer. The apps are virtualized and sent from a server to the device directly through the network. This is ideal for businesses which require constant mobility.

3. Virtual hardware 

This method of virtualization involves the shared use of hardware of large remote servers by several virtual computers which run on this server. This allows the efficient use of hardware resources moderated by a virtual machine manager and even allows the users of these virtual computers to run operating systems of their choice. Another advantage would be that there will be no need to upgrade the memory of the user’s computer as such allocations will be done by the Virtual machine manager as per the requirement. 

4. Virtual storage 

Like the case of virtual hardware, here all local memory resources have literally been piled up into one large chunk of memory, accessible by individual devices and is very useful in the case of disaster recovery as information in one virtual sector can be copied to another location. Also, the hassle of managing multiple storage resources is eliminated due this centralization and costs can be cut down. 

5. Virtual networks  

Network virtualization amalgamates all physical networking resources into one, software run resource. Businesses with a great number of users and with systems running 24/7 will benefit from network virtualization as it also allows splitting network bandwidths into multiple channels where these can be assigned to devices and servers. These channels, in turn, speed up all communications that run through the network improving work efficiency. 

 

All the above-mentioned advantages come with a certain level of seeming complexity and you might need experts to handle the virtualization of your business. For a safe and reliable service contact our experts for a better virtualization service for your business.   

Buying a new computer? What you need to know. 

With a vast choice of these brilliant machines to choose from, finding one that suits your work may be a bit of a hassle. Whether your purchase is for personal, family or business use, here is what you need your computer to have and what to look for. 

Type of computer that suits you 

Are you a frequent commuter who works at home, office and even while on your way to work? Then a laptop is the most suitable computer for you. Laptops are portable compact devices which allow you to work whenever and wherever you are. 

However, if you don’t intend to work out of your office and do not intend to work on the move, a desktop computer suits you better. They are much cheaper than laptops, easily upgradeable and generally have longer service lives. 

Computer memory 

This is where you store your files and depending on your type of work, say you are a film editor, you might need a large memory space. However, the use of an external drive is also an option, where drives with USB 3.1 achieve speeds of up to 10Gbps. External drives may be annoying to carry especially if you have decided to purchase a laptop and planning to move about.  

Another option with reference to memory is having a cloud storage. Its effectiveness depends on what kind of internet connection you use, where being on a metered connection may probably prove it useless for daily/frequent use for large file sizes. 

Computers today usually come with 1TB of internal memory which would be adequate for most users.

With a vast choice of these brilliant machines to choose from, finding one that suits your work may be a bit of a hassle. Whether your purchase is for personal, family or business use, here is what you need your computer to have and what to look for.

Type of computer that suits you

Are you a frequent commuter who works at home, office and even while on your way to work? Then a laptop is the most suitable computer for you. Laptops are portable compact devices which allow you to work whenever and wherever you are.

However, if you don’t intend to work out of your office and do not intend to work on the move, a desktop computer suits you better. They are much cheaper than laptops, easily upgradeable and generally have longer service lives.

Computer memory

This is where you store your files and depending on your type of work, say you are a film editor, you might need large memory space. However, the use of an external drive is also an option, where drives with USB 3.1 achieve speeds of up to 10Gbps. External drives may be annoying to carry especially if you have decided to purchase a laptop and planning to move about.

Another option with reference to memory is having a cloud storage. Its effectiveness depends on what kind of internet connection you use, where being on a metered connection may probably prove it useless for daily/frequent use for large file sizes.

Computers today usually come with 1TB of internal memory which would be adequate for most users.

The best processor and RAM for your computer 

Having the latest and most powerful processor allows you to multi-task, even with software and programs working in the background that require high processing power, at high speed. Processor performance is specified by its speed in GHz and its number of cores. Higher the number of cores, the better your processor performs. 

The RAM size determines how much multi-tasking you can do and how fast these tasks can be accomplished.  8GB of RAM would be adequate for most of your needs unless special tasks are expected to be done in your computer. 

The operating system (OS) 

There are a few OS options available for your computer that can be chosen from, where many users prefer Windows or Mac.  Depending on which OS you are familiar with, you might want to select an OS accordingly. 

 

Managing risks in Virtualization 

Indifferent to risks associated with other IT sectors you associate, virtualization too, faces its own risks. To keep your business safe, it is important to take precautions. Here are some risks and what you should do to keep them at bay. 

• The complexity of the Virtualization system 

The system being complex may pose greater difficulty to detect malfunctions and managing these malfunctions will similarly be difficult. 

• Constant change

With the dynamism involved in virtualization, an increased number of virtual systems will make it hard for you to keep track of it all and hence be harder to protect. Unlike a physical system where you can actually touch and feel, virtual systems are not subjected to such interactions, and hence it would be harder to maintain and protect. 

• Moving your data

With your virtualized system growing, time to time you may need to move your data from one sector to another, while this may seem normal, if the target sector has lower security as compared to the current sector, your data may be at a risk. 

 Keeping these risks at bay is important if you are to stay safe and sound. A few sectors where you need to pay attention to are mentioned below. 

• Auditing

Frequently audit your systems for security flaws and other issues. If possible automate such processes, where a separate system may be implemented to manage your virtual system. 

• Departmentalization

Keep separate departments for testing, developing and producing where virtualization is involved. 

• Update

Frequently update your Virtual systems, where security gaps can be filled with patches released by the software companies. 

• Human factor

Keeping a human factor involved in the security of your virtual system might be a good idea. Whether it be in-house or outsourced, such a measure will drastically improve the security of your system. 

 

For more information regarding the security of your virtualized system, feel free to give us a call.