cdw small business server virtualization roadmap preview

SMALL BUSINESS SERVER VIRTUALIZATION ROADMAP PREVIEW

August 31, 2011

22COPYRIGHT CDW 2011, CITE AS: CDW SMALL BUSINESS SERVER VIRTUALIZATION ROADMAP

INTRODUCTION

How can small businesses know if virtualization is a fit? To answer this question, CDW surveyed nearly 300 small business Information Technology (IT) professionals* through Spiceworks, a social network for IT, for their perceptions of and experiences with server virtualization.

The roadmap includes:

• Step-by-step guidance from assessment through deployment

• Benefits realized by small businesses that have implemented server virtualization

• Advice, guidelines and tips from small business IT professionals and CDW solution architects

The full report is available for download at www.cdw.com/sbservervirtualization.

* For this survey, CDW defined “small business” as firms with 20-99 employees

http://www.cdw.con/sbvirtualization


• Virtualization gives small businesses the ability to streamline IT and meet their growing needs, while managing IT costs

WHAT IS VIRTUALIZATION?

What is server virtualization?

Virtualizing a server means running multiple, independent virtual operating systems on a single server – creating several “virtual machines” within one physical server

Benefits of server virtualization:

Enhances hardware efficiency by increasing the percentage of a server’s capacity that is actually used

Eases management

Improves disaster recovery

Increases business agility, enabling launch of new servers in hours vs. days


• Server virtualization is gaining ground in small businesses:

• 25% of small businesses are using server virtualization today

• Those using virtualization report that it provides substantial benefits:

• 79% of those that have virtualized say small businesses can see significant benefits from server virtualization

• 65% say it has significantly improved their organization's IT Return on Investment (ROI)

• Looking ahead, small businesses will increase investments:

• Those that have virtualized plan to invest an average of 23% of their IT budgets in server virtualization over the next two years

• 73% of those that have not virtualized say they are investigating or planning to implement the technology

KEY FINDINGS


• One in four small businesses has implemented server virtualization

VIRTUALIZATION IN SMALL BUSINESSES

of small businesses have server virtualization in

place today*

*Based on data from 1.6M small businesses within Spiceworks, a social network for IT

25%


• Of those small businesses that have not yet virtualized, 73% are investigating or planning to implement server virtualization

MORE LOOKING TO VIRTUALIZE

*Based on survey data from 84 respondents whose small businesses have not implemented server virtualization

Virtualization status of those that have not yet virtualized:*

We are not currently considering server virtualization

27%

We are researching it and how it can work for our organization40%

16% We are developing a plan for adoption

17% We have developed a strategic plan and are preparing for implementation


IS VIRTUALIZATION RIGHT FOR YOU?

• Small businesses that have virtualized say the need to replace aging hardware was the top driver for their implementation

Replace aging hardware

“Virtualization allows for a predictable and regimented approach to managing hardware life cycle management while minimizing effort

involved in the process.”**

Small businesses that have virtualized say they were driven by the following:*

Server consolidation

Improve disaster recover/backup

Improve efficiency of IT infrastructure

Reduce IT operating costs

*Based on survey data from 214 respondents whose small businesses have implemented server virtualization. Respondents asked to select their top two drivers **CDW Corporate Advisory Board crowdsourced quote


Then: Using internal or third party expertise, assess your current environment:

• Which of your servers, if any, are compatible with a virtualization operating system?

• Is your storage environment adequate?

• Do the software vendors for your applications support them in a virtual environment?

• How much will the transition to virtualization cost? Do you have the budget?

• How will you measure virtualization success?

STEP ONE: SYSTEM ASSESSMENT

First ask yourself: Do you, or does anyone on your IT team, have the knowledge and expertise to perform the assessment yourself, or do you need to seek it from a third party?*

• CDW experts offer advice on conducting a virtualization assessment:

*Throughout the report, CDW expert advice is noted with this directional image


STEP TWO: STAFF ASSESSMENT

• Successful small businesses point to virtualization training for implementation and support knowledge

*Based on survey data from 214 respondents whose small businesses have implemented server virtualization **Based on survey data from 61 respondents whose small businesses have not implemented server virtualization, but are researching or planning to implement the technology

*

**

Percentage who believe their organization has the expertise to implement and support server virtualization:


STEP THREE: MANAGEMENT ASSESSMENT

• Virtualized small businesses work with their organization’s management to ensure they fully understand and support the investment

Havevirtualized*

Have not virtualized**

My organization's

management fully

UNDERSTANDS the

benefits of server

virtualization

71% 43%

My organization's

management fully

SUPPORTS the adoption

of server virtualization

84% 45%

Explain the benefits:

96% of management who understand

server virtualization

benefits support its adoption*

*Based on survey data from 214 respondents whose small businesses have implemented server virtualization **Based on survey data from 84 respondents whose small businesses have not implemented server virtualization


CDW says:“A few things that small businesses often overlook with virtualization: adopting new technology one step at a time; designing and implementing with future growth in mind; taking the time to get educated; utilizing good project management processes; and not letting day-to-day issues take you off track.”

• Those small business that have virtualized report compatibility issues, timelines and funding as the major challenges faced during implementation

STEP FOUR: EXECUTION

Which of the following challenges did your organization face?*

9%

13%

14%

30%

31%

34%

37%

41%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%

Compatibility issues

Time required to implement

Funding

Technical support requirements

Training requirements

Uncertainty of ROI

Security concerns

Perception that virtualization is not beneficial for small businesses

*Based on survey data from 214 respondents whose small businesses have implemented server virtualization. Respondents asked to select all that apply


• To small businesses using virtualization, there is no question that the technology provides substantial, measurable benefits for their organizations

STEP FIVE: MEASURING SUCCESS

Of those that have virtualized:*

On average, small businesses are saving 18% of their IT budget due to server virtualization

implementation, or $19,400 each year**

79% say small businesses can see

significant benefits from server virtualization

65%say server virtualization has significantly improved their

organization's IT ROI

&

$$$

*Based on survey data from 214 respondents whose small businesses have implemented server virtualization **Based on the average have-virtualized respondent’s IT budget of $108,000

FOR ALL INQUIRIES, PLEASE CONTACT:

KELLY CARAHER

CDW PUBLIC RELATIONS

847-968-0729

[email protected]

THANK YOU.

Download the full report at cdw.com/sbservervirtualization to understand:

• Key factors to tell if your small business is ready for virtualization• Steps to take to implement virtualization in your small business• Biggest benefits of virtualization for small businesses• Largest challenges small businesses that virtualized faced

cdw small business server virtualization roadmap preview

Technology

server virtualization

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virtualization report

virtualization success

virtualization right

small businesses thathave

single server

server consolidation