Virtualization

Our position on virtualization is simple. It is a technology tool that should be deployed based on business need, not technical whims. It is our view that business goals should always drive technology decisions. Unfortunately, there is no “magic bullet” for virtualization.

Questions organizations should ask themselves include:
• What specific value points do we want to realize from a virtualization initiative?
• Which services should we, or should we not, virtualize and why?
• Which vendors should we choose and what results can we expect from them?
• What is a reasonable timeline for workloads, implementation, and results?

At DSA Technologies, we are prepared to help our clients realize all of the benefits while greatly diminishing the risks of virtualizing the IT infrastructure.

What is Virtualization And Why Should We Deploy It?

Virtualization is software that emulates hardware. This architecture abstracts the resources of a computer (CPU, NIC, RAM, Disk) from the Windows or Linux Operating System. These resources can then be allocated into many “virtual machines” that are deployed from one physical machine. The virtual machines are encapsulated software files that provide both mobility and flexibility. There are many benefits to this approach.

Cost Reductions:
Virtualization reduces the number of physical machines needed to deliver services to the enterprise, which reduces the number of physical machines to be managed. Compression of the technology footprint reduces the cost of power, cooling, network connectivity, and data center floor space.

Flexibility:
Because virtual machines are software based, new virtual servers can be deployed in minutes, as opposed to hours or days for physical machines. This allows new services to be brought online at lightning speeds compared to traditional means. This allows test environments to be created and dismantled as needed – something traditional environments could never offer. This also allows virtual servers to be re-deployed from one physical box to another at will, which means that planned and unplanned downtime no longer have to interrupt services to users.

Business Continuity:
Because virtual machines are not associated with any one specific physical device, they can easily be backed up to remote disaster recovery facilities. In the event of a disaster, firms can quickly recover data, applications, and virtual servers in a short period of time. In the past, solutions that provided this level of support were only affordable for very large businesses and were difficult to implement and manage.

How Can We Help Your Business Virtualize?

We understand the impact of technology on business and operations, not just on the Information Technology (IT) department. We can create a strategic plan for virtualizing all, or only parts, of your technology infrastructure based on business needs. We also can develop an implementation plan that is based on your timelines, budgets, and operation plans.

We are not bound to any particular technology vendor or approach to virtualization. Our payments come from our clients, not from technology manufacturers. This empowers us to be objective and place our clients’ interests at the center of our thinking, planning, and actions.

We bring best practices, usually deployed only in enterprise environments, to medium sized businesses. This means that the implementations we plan and execute, either with or for our clients, are organized, well documented, thoroughly communicated, and ultimately successful.

Why Should You Choose DSA Technologies For Virtualization?

Technology Expertise:
Virtualization represents a fundamental shift in the way companies procure, deploy, manage, and maintain the technology infrastructure. It effects servers, storage, networking, backup, applications, active directory policies, business continuity – in other words, the entire enterprise. For two decades, we have helped clients make the best decisions about how to build and maintain technology environments that offer solid performance and real value.

Business Focus:
While the technology is new and fascinating, we never lose sight of how it should align with business goals. We spend time interviewing key executives to understand what business goals they are trying to accomplish. We only recommend virtualization for services and support areas where it can add real business value.

Best Practices:
Virtualization is new technology with all of the benefits and drawbacks. There are numerous technical issues that product manufacturers either are only learning about or prefer not to discuss. We deploy enterprise-class best practices that reduce or eliminate issues and deliver the results our clients desire.

Guarantee:
We stand behind the solutions we recommend, the architectures we design, and the implementations we deploy.

What Is Our Virtualization Methodology?

Analysis:
We interview key stakeholders as well as perform a thorough analysis of the existing technology environment. We garner an understanding of business objectives.

Project Assessment:
We provide an assessment of where we believe virtualization can benefit our clients. The assessment includes recommended architectures, benefits, budget, implementation schedules, and timelines.

Deployment:
Using sophisticated project management tools, we deploy the solution, with or for our clients, and train staff in how to manage the new environment effectively.

Ongoing Support:
We provide ongoing support and monitoring where needed to ensure optimal performance and value.