Pub. 6 2011-2012 Issue 1

May/June 2011 17 Extraordinary Service for Extraordinary Members. V IRTUALIZATION IS A PROVEN software technology that is rapidly transforming the IT landscape and fundamen- tally changing the way people com- pute. Virtualization lets you enhance the way your IT environment oper- ates. It simplifies the physical infra- structure, providing centralized man- agement and better flexibility for resource sharing. From data centers to desktops, virtualization lets banks pool and share IT resources centrally and standardize computer deployment and resources so data is more secure. For years, bankers have beenwatch- ing and waiting for the definitive direction of virtualization. Although the technology isn’t new, adoption has been delayed for reasons ranging from an overall lack of knowledge about the benefits, to banks fearing a shift in their day-to-day operations. Today, virtualization technology is maturing and the tangible benefits are being realized—and the timing couldn’t be better. In the recent uncertain eco- nomic environment, the industry-wide virtualization initiative has generated immediate and ongoing operating ef- ficiencies and cost savings for many banks nationwide. More and more banks are progressively plugging in. Below are the top five reasons banks are implementing server virtualization. Get More Out of Resources With virtualization, banks can pool common infrastructure resources and break the legacy “one application to one server” model with server consoli- dation. Virtualization can dramatically reduce the number of physical servers and dynamically redistribute excess computing power to where it is needed most. As the processing power of to- day’s servers continues to increase, it is now easier than ever for one more powerful server to replace multiple smaller servers. Reducing the number of physical servers also reduces ongoing energy re- quirements, making it a more environ- mentally friendlyway of doing business. This option is attractive to banks that are adopting “green” business practices. Reduce Data Center Costs Cost reduction is one of the primary reasons banks are increasingly taking advantage of virtualization. Virtualiza- tion requires fewer servers and related IT hardware and can reduce real estate, power, and cooling requirements. It also provides more efficient manage- ment tools, which can enable banks to improve their server-to-admin ratio and even reduce personnel require- ments. Looking at the big picture, virtualization dramatically reduces the hassle and costs associated with ongo- ing hardware maintenance. Enhance Availability and Security Virtualization increases availabil- ity of hardware and applications, improving business continuity and disaster recovery. It enables banks to securely back up and migrate entire virtual environments with practically no interruption in their day-to-day operations. With virtualization, banks can eliminate planned downtime and recover quickly from unplanned busi- ness interruptions. Gain Operational Flexibility Virtualization enables banks to Q Top Benefits — continued on page 18 The Top Five Benefits of Server Virtualization There’s never been a better time to consider this valuable operational enhancement. Chris Sutherland , Network Engineer, Advanced, Matrix Network Services, a JHA Solution