New research from Fujitsu Technology Solutions has revealed that enterprises are changing the way they approach virtualisation, as attention shifts from the data centre to the desktop.
The survey found that 63% of IT leaders admitted to needing to improve IT infrastructure flexibility as business priorities shift in response to the recession. Of these, 46% says they are looking to server virtualisation while 29% said they were planning a desktop virtualisation project.
Speaking to CBR about the results of the survey, Chris Bone, Fujitsu’s enterprise products and solutions specialist, said that although the technology behind virtualisation is in place, its use could be widened.
“Virtualisation is the most misunderstood term in the IT industry – it’s a fantastic tool. All the products and platforms are good,” he told CBR. “But companies should be looking at much more virtualisation. Desktop virtualisation has the potential to save significant amounts of money in terms of provisioning. But it’s still a new technology and has a way to go.”
Bone described desktop virtualisation as the next logical step for companies using desktop managed services – but that it also offers plenty for companies to think about. “My advice would be that there are a few key aspects to consider,” Bone said. “Integration has to be done correctly for it to work, especially regarding visibility. Some platforms will not do anything about a failed server – it’ll just tell you that it has happened. If an app crashes and the OS continues to run nothing will happen because it’s the OS that is being monitored.”
The other key aspect is automation, Bone said, which can release people from management and enable them to have a more business-critical focus.
The survey also found that 22% of respondents were looking towards cloud computing as a way of cutting costs and driving business agility during the recession. Bone believes that cloud computing offers, “as many challenges as benefits. There have been a number of high profile security breaches – would you want your data in an unregulated environment?”
The rise of cloud computing and virtualisation as realistic ways for companies to save money during the recession has resulted in the role of the CIO becoming much more important, Bone believes.
“IT is back on the radar and companies know it can impact on cost and profitability. The CIO role is now critical, it’s not just about providing a service to the business, it’s much more strategic than that. The CIO is now part of the profit centre,” he said.
As well as taking a more central role in the strategic direction of a company, Bone believes that CIOs themselves are changing along with their roles. “We are seeing more CIOs that have less tech experience and more business experience. That’s the big change,” he said. “It’s not just about the technology but how it delivers a better service. If the CIO can shift resources out of ‘keeping the lights on’ and put it into development projects, it will be better for the business.”
