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The proven benefits of software-based server virtualization on x86 platforms over the past few years have made virtualization an important element in customer IT environments. Companies of all sizes and from all industries have begun to leverage virtual machine technology. To date, IDC finds, there have been two primary benefits of virtualization: improved hardware utilization and server consolidation due to virtual machine containment and improved time to deployment because of the portability of
virtual machines.
As with all new technologies, however, there is a support, training, and management burden associated with the rapid spread of virtual environments. Support and operations teams, already overburdened in many companies, have to develop new approaches to the management of rapidly proliferating virtual environments. In addition, as virtual machines are deployed increasingly into production environments, where performance and response times are critical, the need for dynamic, real-time
management solutions is even greater.
IDC believes that companies adopting widespread virtualization should explore innovative IT management solutions that address the challenges posed by these highly flexible, dynamic environments. These management solutions should provide both automation and service-level monitoring, to improve IT staff response times while maintaining adherence to policies and service level agreements.
The incorporation of policy-based automation solutions can have a significant impact on the performance and cost of IT operations and can enable companies to protect as well as derive even greater benefits from their investments in virtualization
technologies.