8 reasons to consider hyperconverged infrastructure for your data center

Demand for on-premises data center equipment is shrinking as organizations move workloads to the cloud. But on-prem is far from dead, and one segment that’s thriving is hyperconverged infrastructure (HCI). HCI is a form of scale-out, software-integrated infrastructure that applies a modular approach to compute, network and storage capacity. Rather than silos with specialized hardware, HCI leverages distributed, horizontal blocks of commodity hardware and delivers a single-pane dashboard for reporting and management. Form factors vary: Enterprises can choose to deploy hardware-agnostic hyperconvergence software from vendors such as Nutanix and VMware, or an integrated HCI appliance from vendors such as HP Enterprise, Dell, Cisco, and Lenovo.

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ViON Corporation

ViON Corporation is a cloud service provider with over 37 years experience designing and delivering enterprise data center solutions to government agencies and commercial businesses. The company provides IT as-a-Service solutions including on-premise public cloud capabilities.

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Virtual Desktop Strategies, Server Hypervisors

The Business Benefits of Embracing Virtualization on Virtual Machines

Article | April 27, 2023

Neglecting virtualization on VMs hampers productivity of firms. Operations become complex and resource usage is suboptimal. Leverage virtualization to empower with enhanced efficiency and scalability. Contents 1. Introduction 2. Types of Virtualization on VMs 2.1 Server virtualization 2.2 Storage virtualization 2.3 Network virtualization 2.3.1 Software-defined networking 2.3.2 Network function virtualization 2.4 Data virtualization 2.5 Application virtualization 2.6 Desktop virtualization 3. Impact of Virtualized VMs on Business Enterprises 3.1 Virtualization as a Game-Changer for Business Models 3.2 Evaluating IT Infrastructure Reformation 3.3 Virtualization Impact on Business Agility 4. How can Businesses Scale ROI with Adoption of Virtualization in Virtual Machines? 5. Risks and Challenges of Virtual Machines in the Cloud 5.1 Resource Distribution: 5.2 VM Sprawl: 5.3 Backward Compatibility 5.4 Conditional Network Monitoring 5.5 Interoperability: 6. Overcoming Roadblocks: Best Practices for Successful Execution of VMs 6.1 Unlocking the Power of Resource Distribution: 6.2 Effective techniques for Avoiding VM Sprawl: 6.3 Backward Compatibility: A Comprehensive Solution: 6.4 Performance Metrics: 6.5 Solutions for Interoperability in a Connected World: 7. Five Leading Providers for Virtualization of VMs Parallels Aryaka Aryaka Liquidware Azul 8. Conclusion 1. Introduction Virtualization on virtual machines (VMs) is a technology that enables multiple operating systems and applications to run on a single physical server or host. It has become essential to modern IT infrastructures, allowing businesses to optimize resource utilization, increase flexibility, and reduce costs. Embracing virtualization on VMs offers many business benefits, including improved disaster recovery, increased efficiency, enhanced security, and better scalability. In this digital age, where businesses rely heavily on technology to operate and compete, virtualization on VMs has become a crucial strategy for staying competitive and achieving business success. Organizations need to be agile and responsive to changing customer demands and market trends. Rather than focusing on consolidating resources, the emphasis now lies on streamlining operations, maximizing productivity, and optimizing convenience. 2. Types of Virtualization on VMs 2.1 Server virtualization The server virtualization process involves dividing a physical server into several virtual servers. This allows organizations to consolidate multiple physical servers onto a single physical server, which leads to cost savings, improved efficiency, and easier management. Server virtualization is one of the most common types of virtualization used on VMs. Consistent stability/reliability is the most critical product attributes IT decision-makers look for when evaluating server virtualization solutions. Other important factors include robust disaster recovery capabilities and advanced security features. Server Virtualization Market was valued at USD 5.7 Billion in 2018 and is projected to reach USD 9.04 Billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 5.9% from 2019 to 2026. (Source: Verified Market Research) 2.2 Storage virtualization Combining multiple network storage devices into an integrated virtual storage device, storage virtualization facilitates a cohesive and efficient approach to data management within a data center. IT administrators can allocate and manage the virtual storage unit with the help of management software, which facilitates streamlined storage tasks like backup, archiving, and recovery. There are three types of storage virtualization: file-level, block-level, and object-level. File-level consolidates multiple file systems into one virtualized system for easier management. Block-level abstracts physical storage into logical volumes allocated to VMs. Object-level creates a logical storage pool for more flexible and scalable storage services to VMs. The storage virtualization segment held an industry share of more than 10.5% in 2021 and is likely to observe considerable expansion through 2030 (Source: Global Market Insights) 2.3 Network virtualization Any computer network has hardware elements such as switches, routers, load balancers and firewalls. With network virtualization, virtual machines can communicate with each other across virtual networks, even if they are on different physical hosts. Network virtualization can also enable the creation of isolated virtual networks, which can be helpful for security purposes or for creating test environments. The following are two approaches to network virtualization: 2.3.1 Software-defined networking Software-defined networking (SDN) controls traffic routing by taking over routing management from data routing in the physical environment. For example, programming the system to prioritize video call traffic over application traffic to ensure consistent call quality in all online meetings. 2.3.2 Network function virtualization Network function virtualization technology combines the functions of network appliances, such as firewalls, load balancers, and traffic analyzers, that work together to improve network performance. The global Network function virtualization market size was valued at USD 12.9 billion in 2019 and is projected to reach USD 36.3 billion by 2024, at a CAGR of 22.9%, during the forecast period(2019-2024). (Source: MarketsandMarkets) 2.4 Data virtualization Data virtualization is the process of abstracting, organizing, and presenting data in a unified view that applications and users can access without regard to the data's physical location or format. Using virtualization techniques, data virtualization platforms can create a logical data layer that provides a single access point to multiple data sources, whether on-premises or in the cloud. This logical data layer is then presented to users as a single, virtual database, making it easier for applications and users to access and work with data from multiple sources and support cross-functional data analysis. Data Virtualization Market size was valued at USD 2.37 Billion in 2021 and is projected to reach USD 13.53 Billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 20.2% from 2023 to 2030. (Source: Verified Market Research) 2.5 Application virtualization In this approach, the applications are separated from the underlying hardware and operating system and encapsulated in a virtual environment, which can run on any compatible hardware and operating system. With application virtualization, the application is installed and configured on a virtual machine, which can then be replicated and distributed to multiple end-users. For example, users can run a Microsoft Windows application on a Linux machine without changing the machine configuration. According to a report, the global application virtualization market size is predicted to grow from USD 2.2 billion in 2020 to USD 4.4 billion by 2025, at a CAGR of 14.7% during the period of 2020-2025. (Source: MarketsandMarkets) 2.6 Desktop virtualization In desktop virtualization, a single physical machine can host multiple virtual machines, each with its own operating system and desktop environment. Users can access these virtual desktops remotely through a network connection, allowing them to work from anywhere and on any device. Desktop virtualization is commonly used in enterprise settings to provide employees with a secure and flexible way to access their work environment. The desktop virtualization market is anticipated to register a CAGR of 10.6% over the forecast period (2018-28). (Source: Mordor Intelligence) 3. Impact of Virtualized VMs on Business Enterprises Virtualization can increase the adaptability of business processes. The servers can support different operating systems (OS) and applications as the software is decoupled from the hardware. Business processes can be run on virtual computers, with each virtual machine running its own OS, applications, softwares and set of programs. 3.1 Virtualization as a Game-Changer for Business Models The one server, one application model can be abolished using virtualization, which was inefficient because most servers were underutilized. Instead, one server can become many virtual machines using virtualization software, each running on a different operating system such as Windows, Linux, or Apache. Virtualization has made it possible for companies to fit more virtual servers onto fewer physical devices, saving them space, power, and time spent managing them. The adoption of virtualization services is significantly increased by industrial automation systems. Industrial automation suppliers offer new-generation devices to virtualize VMs and software-driven industrial automation operations. This will solve problems with important automation equipment like Programmable Logic Controller (PLCs) and Distributed Control Systems (DCS), leading to more virtualized goods and services in industrial automation processes. 3.2 Evaluating IT Infrastructure Reformation IT infrastructure evaluation for virtualization needs to look at existing systems and processes along with finding opportunities and shortcomings. Cloud computing, mobile workforces, and app compatibility cause this growth. Over the last decade, these areas have shifted from conventional to virtual infrastructure. • Capacity on Demand: It is a concept that refers to the ability to quickly and easily deploy virtual servers, either on-premise or through a hosting provider. This is made possible through the use of virtualization technologies. These technologies allow businesses to create multiple virtual instances of servers that can be easily scaled up or down as per the requirement, providing businesses with access to IT capacity on demand. • Disaster Recovery (DR): DR is a critical consideration in evaluating IT infrastructure reformation for virtualization. Virtualization technology enables businesses to create virtual instances of servers that run multiple applications, which eliminates the need for robust DR solutions that can be expensive and time-consuming to implement. As a result, businesses can save costs by leveraging the virtual infrastructure for DR purposes. • Consumerization of IT: The consumerization of IT refers to the increasing trend of employees using personal devices and applications in their work environments. This has resulted in a need for businesses to ensure that their IT infrastructure can support a diverse range of devices and applications. Virtual machines enable businesses to create virtual desktop environments that can be accessed from any device with an internet connection, thereby providing employees with a consistent and secure work environment regardless of their device. 3.3 Virtualization Impact on Business Agility Virtualization has emerged as a valuable tool for enhancing business agility by allowing firms to respond quickly, efficiently, and cost-effectively to market changes. By enabling rapid installation and migration of applications and services across systems, the migration to the virtualized systems has allowed companies to achieve significant operational flexibility, responsiveness, and scalability gains. According to a poll conducted by Tech Target, 66% of the firms have reported an increase in agility due to virtualization adoption. This trend is expected to rise, driven by growing demand for cost-effective and efficient IT solutions across various industries. In line with this, a comprehensive analysis has projected that the market for virtualization software was estimated to be worth USD 45.51 billion in 2021. It is anticipated to grow to USD 223.35 billion by 2029, with a CAGR of 22.00% predicted for the forecast period of 2022–2029, including application, network, and hardware virtualization. (Source: Data Bridge) This is primarily attributed to the growing need for businesses to improve their agility and competitiveness by leveraging advanced virtualization technologies and solutions for applications and servers. 4. How can Businesses Scale ROI with Adoption of Virtualization in Virtual Machines? Businesses looking to boost their ROI have gradually shifted to Virtualizing VMs, in the past years. According to a recent study, VM virtualization helps businesses reduce their hardware and maintenance costs by up to 50%, significantly impacting their bottom line. Server consolidation helps reduce hardware costs and improve resource utilization, as businesses allocate resources, operating systems, and applications dynamically based on workload demand. Utilizing application virtualization, in particular, can assist businesses in optimizing resource utilization by as much as 80%. Software-defined Networking (SDN) allows new devices, some with previously unsupported operating systems, to be more easily incorporated into an enterprise’s IT environment. The telecom industry can greatly benefit from the emergence of Network Functions Virtualization (NFV), SDN, and Network Virtualization, as these technologies provide significant advantages. The NFV idea virtualizes and effectively joins service provider network elements on multi-tenant industry-standard servers, switches, and storage. To leverage the benefits of NFV, telecom service providers have heavily invested in NFV services. By deploying NFV and application virtualization together, organizations can create a more flexible and scalable IT infrastructure that responds to changing business needs more effectively. 5. Risks and Challenges of Virtual Machines in the Cloud 5.1 Resource Distribution: Resource availability is crucial when running applications in a virtual machine, as it leads to increased resource consumption. The resource distribution in VMs is typically managed by a hypervisor or virtual machine manager responsible for allocating resources to the VMs based on their specific requirements. A study found that poor resource management can lead to overprovisioning, increasing cloud costs by up to 70%. (Source: Gartner) 5.2 VM Sprawl: 82% of companies experienced VM sprawl, with the average organization having 115% more VMs than they need, as per a survey. (Source: Veeam) VM sprawl can occur in virtualization when an excessive proliferation of virtual machines is not effectively managed or utilized, leading to many underutilized or inactive VMs. This can lead to increased resource consumption, higher costs, and reduced performance. 5.3 Backward Compatibility: Backward compatibility can be particularly challenging in virtualized systems, where applications may run on multiple operating systems than they were designed for. A recent study showed that 87% of enterprises have encountered software compatibility issues during their migration to the cloud for app virtualization. (Source: Flexera) 5.4 Conditional Network Monitoring: A study found that misconfigurations, hardware problems, and human error account for over 60% of network outages. (Source: SolarWinds) Network monitoring tools can help organizations monitor virtual network traffic and identify potential network issues affecting application performance in VMs. These tools also provide visibility into network traffic patterns, enabling IT teams to identify areas for optimization and improvement. 5.5 Interoperability: Interoperability issues are common when implementing cloud-based virtualization when integrating the virtualized environment with other on-premises or cloud-based systems. According to a report, around 50% of virtualization projects encounter interoperability issues that require extensive troubleshooting and debugging. (Source: Gartner) 6. Overcoming Roadblocks: Best Practices for Successful Execution of VMs 6.1 Unlocking the Power of Resource Distribution: By breaking up large, monolithic applications into smaller, more manageable components, virtualizing allows organizations to distribute resources effectively, enabling its users with varying needs to utilize the resources with optimum efficiency. With prioritizing resource distribution, resources such as CPU, memory, and storage can be dynamically allocated to virtual machines as needed. Businesses must frequently monitor and evaluate resource utilization data to better resource allocation and management. 6.2 Effective techniques for Avoiding VM Sprawl: VM sprawl can be addressed through a variety of techniques, including VM lifecycle management, automated provisioning, and regular audits of virtual machine usage. Tools such as virtualization management software, cloud management platforms, and monitoring tools can help organizations gain better visibility and control over their virtual infrastructure. Monitoring applications and workload requirements as well as establishing policies and procedures for virtual machine provisioning & decommissioning are crucial for businesses to avoid VM sprawl. 6.3 Backward Compatibility: A Comprehensive Solution: One of the solutions to backward compatibility challenges is to use virtualization technologies, such as containers or hypervisors, that allow older applications to run on newer hardware and software. Another solution is to use compatibility testing tools that can identify potential compatibility issues before they become problems. To ensure that virtual machines can run on different hypervisors or cloud platforms, businesses can implement standardized virtualization architectures that support a wide range of hardware and software configurations. 6.4 Performance Metrics: Businesses employing cloud-based virtualization must have reliable network monitoring in order to guarantee the best possible performance of their virtual workloads and to promptly detect and resolve any problems that may affect the performance. Businesses can improve their customers' experience in VMs by implementing a network monitoring solution that helps them locate slow spots, boost speed, and avoid interruptions. 6.5 Solutions for Interoperability in a Connected World: Standardized communication protocols and APIs help cloud-based virtualization setups to interoperate. Integrating middleware like enterprise service buses (ESBs) can consolidate system and application management. In addition, businesses can use cloud-native tools and services like Kubernetes for container orchestration or cloud-native databases for interoperability in virtual machines. 7. Five Leading Providers for Virtualization of VMs Aryaka Aryaka is a pioneer of a cloud-first architecture for the delivery of SD-WAN and, more recently, SASE. Using their proprietary, integrated technology and services, they ensure safe connectivity for businesses. They are named a Gartner ‘Voice of the Customer leader’ for simplifying the adoption of network and network security solutions with organization standards for shifting from legacy IT infrastructure to various modern deployments. Gigamon Gigamon provides a comprehensive network observability solution that enhances observability tools' capabilities. The solution helps IT organizations ensure security and compliance governance, accelerate the root-cause analysis of performance issues, and reduce the operational overhead of managing complex hybrid and multi-cloud IT infrastructures. Gigamon's solution offers a deep observability pipeline that harnesses actionable network-level intelligence to amplify the power of observability tools. Liquidware Liquidware is a software company that offers desktop and application virtualization solutions. Their services include user environment management, application layering, desktop virtualization, monitoring and analytics, and migration services. Using these services, businesses can improve user productivity, reduce complexity in managing applications, lower hardware costs, troubleshoot issues quickly, and migrate to virtualized environments efficiently. Azul Azul offers businesses Java runtime solutions. Azul Platform Prime is a cloud-based Java runtime platform that provides enhanced performance, scalability, and security. Azul provides 24/7 technical support and upgrades for Java applications. Their services improve Java application performance, dependability, and security for enterprises. Azul also provides Java application development and deployment training and consultancy. 8. Conclusion Virtualization of VMs in businesses boosts their ROI significantly. The integration of virtualization with DevOps practices could allow for more streamlined application delivery and deployment, with greater automation and continuous integration, thus achieving greater success in current competitive business landscape. We expect to see more advancements in developing new hypervisors and management tools in the coming years. Additionally, there will likely be an increased focus on security and data protection in virtualized environments, as well as greater integration with other emerging technologies like containerization and edge computing. Virtualization is set to transform the business landscape in future by facilitating the effective and safe deployment and management of applications as technology advances and new trends emerge. The future of virtualization looks promising as it continues to adapt to and revolutionize the changing needs of organizations, streamlining their operations, reducing carbon footprint, and improving overall sustainability. As such, virtualization will continue to be a crucial technology for businesses seeking to thrive in the digital age.

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Server Hypervisors

ProtonVPN iOS app now supports the OpenVPN protocol

Article | May 18, 2023

Your ProtonVPN iOS app is now better equipped to fight censorship and offers more flexible connection options with the launch of OpenVPN for iOS. The OpenVPN protocol is one of the best VPN protocols because of its flexibility, security, and because it is more resistant to blocks. You now have the option to switch between the faster IKEv2 protocol and the more stable and censorship-resistant OpenVPN protocol.

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VMware, Vsphere, Hyper-V

Network Virtualization: Gaining a Competitive Edge

Article | May 2, 2023

Network virtualization (NV) is the act of combining a network's physical hardware into a single virtual network. This is often accomplished by running several virtual guest computers in software containers on a single physical host system. Network virtualization is the gold standard for networking, and it is being adopted by enterprises of all kinds globally. By integrating their existing network gear into a single virtual network, enterprises can save operating expenses, automate network and security processes, and set the stage for future growth. Businesses can use virtualization to imitate many types of traditional hardware, including servers, storage devices, and network resources. Three Forces Driving Network Virtualization Demand for enterprise networks keeps rising, driven by higher end-user demands and the proliferation of devices and business software. Through network virtualization, IT businesses are gaining the ability to respond to evolving needs and match their networking capabilities with their virtualized storage and computing resources. According to a recent SDxCentral survey, 88% of respondents believe that adopting a network virtualization solution is "mission critical" and that it is necessary to assist IT in addressing the immediate requirements of flexibility, scalability, and cost savings (both OpEx and CapEx) in the data center. Speed Today, consider any business as an example. Everything depends on IT's capacity to assist business operations. When a company wants to 'surprise' its clients with a new app, launch a competitive offer, or pursue a fresh route to market, it requires immediate IT assistance. That implies IT must move considerably more swiftly, and networks must evolve at the rapid speed of a digitally enabled organization. Security According to a PricewaterhouseCoopers survey, the average organization experiences two successful cyberattacks every week. Perimeter security is just insufficient to stem the flood, and network experts are called upon to provide a better solution. The new data center security approach will: Be software-based Use the micro-segmentation principle Adopt a Zero Trust (ZT) paradigm In an ideal world, there would be no difference between trustworthy and untrusted networks or sectors, but a ZT model necessitates a network virtualization technology that allows micro-segmentation. Flexibility Thanks to the emergence of server virtualization, applications are no longer linked to a specific physical server in a single location. Applications can now be replicated to eliminate a data center for disaster recovery, moved through one corporate data center to another, or slipped into a hybrid cloud environment. The problem is that network setup is hardware-dependent, and hardwired networking connections restrict them. Because networking services vary significantly from one data center to the next, as an in-house data center differs from a cloud, you must perform extensive personalization to make your applications work in different network environments—a significant barrier to app mobility and another compelling reason to utilize network virtualization. Closing Lines Network virtualization is indeed the future technology. These network virtualization platform characteristics benefit more companies as CIOs get more involved in organizational processes. As consumer demand for real-time solutions develops, businesses will be forced to explore network virtualization as the best way to take their networks to another level.

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Virtual Desktop Tools, Server Hypervisors

Virtual Machine Security Risks and Mitigation in Cloud Computing

Article | April 28, 2023

Analyzing risks and implementing advanced mitigation strategies: Safeguard critical data, fortify defenses, and stay ahead of emerging threats in the dynamic realm of virtual machines in cloud. Contents 1. Introduction 2. 10 Security Risks Associated with Virtual Machines in Cloud Computing 3. Best Practices to Avoid Security Compromise 4. Conclusion 1. Introduction Cloud computing has revolutionized the way businesses operate by providing flexible, scalable, and cost-effective infrastructure for running applications and services. Virtual machines (VMs) are a key component of cloud computing, allowing multiple virtual machines to run on a single physical machine. However, the use of virtual machines in cloud computing introduces new security risks that need to be addressed to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data and services. Effective VM security in the cloud requires a comprehensive approach that involves cloud providers and users working together to identify and address potential virtual machine security threats. By implementing these best practices and maintaining a focus on security, cloud computing can provide a secure and reliable platform for businesses to run their applications and services. 2. 10 Security Risks Associated with Virtual Machines in Cloud Computing Denial of Service (DoS) attacks: These are attacks that aim to disrupt the availability of a VM or the entire cloud infrastructure by overwhelming the system with traffic or resource requests. Insecure APIs: Cloud providers often expose APIs that allow users to manage their VMs. If these APIs are not properly secured, attackers can exploit them to gain unauthorized access to VMs or manipulate their configurations. Data leakage: Virtual machines can store sensitive data such as customer information or intellectual property. If not secured, this data can be exposed to unauthorized access or leakage. Shared resources: VMs in cloud environments often share physical resources such as memory, CPU, and network interfaces. If these resources are not isolated, a compromised VM can potentially affect the security and performance of other VMs running on the same physical host. Lack of visibility: Virtual machines in cloud environments can be more difficult to monitor than physical machines. This can make it harder to detect security incidents or anomalous behavior. Insufficient logging and auditing: If cloud providers do not implement appropriate logging and auditing mechanisms, it can be difficult to determine the cause and scope of a security incident. VM escape: This is when an attacker gains access to the hypervisor layer and then escapes into the host operating system or other VMs running on the same physical host. Side-channel attacks: This is when an attacker exploits the physical characteristics of the hardware to gain unauthorized access to a VM. Examples of side-channel attacks include timing attacks, power analysis attacks, and electromagnetic attacks. Malware attacks: VMs can be infected with malware, just like physical machines. Malware can be used to steal data, launch attacks on other VMs or systems, or disrupt the functioning of the VM. Insider threats: Malicious insiders can exploit their access to VMs to steal data, modify configurations, or launch attacks. 3. Best Practices to Avoid Security Compromise To mitigate these risks, there are several virtual machine security guidelines that cloud service providers and users can follow: Keep software up-to-date: Regularly updating software and security patches for virtual machines is crucial in preventing known vulnerabilities from being exploited by hackers. Software updates fix bugs and security flaws that could allow unauthorized access, data breaches, or malware attacks. According to a study, 60% of data breaches are caused by vulnerabilities that were not patched or updated in a timely manner.(Source: Ponemon Institute) Use secure hypervisors: A hypervisor is a software layer that enables multiple virtual machines to run on a single physical server. Secure hypervisors are designed to prevent unauthorized access to virtual machines and protect them from potential security threats. When choosing a hypervisor, it is important to select one that has undergone rigorous testing and meets industry standards for security. In 2018, a group of researchers discovered a new type of attack called "Foreshadow" (also known as L1 Terminal Fault). The attack exploits vulnerabilities in Intel processors and can be used to steal sensitive data from virtual machines running on the same physical host. Secure hypervisors that have implemented hardware-based security features can provide protection against Foreshadow and similar attacks. (Source: Foreshadow) Implement strong access controls: Access control is the practice of restricting access to virtual machines to authorized users. Multi-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security by requiring users to provide more than one type of authentication method before accessing VMs. Strong access controls limit the risk of unauthorized access and can help prevent data breaches. According to a survey, organizations that implemented multi-factor authentication saw a 98% reduction in the risk of phishing-related account breaches. (Source: Duo Security) Monitor VMs for anomalous behavior: Monitoring virtual machines for unusual or unexpected behavior is an essential security practice. This includes monitoring network traffic, processes running on the VM, and other metrics that can help detect potential security incidents. By monitoring VMs, security teams can detect and respond to security threats before they can cause damage. A study found that 90% of organizations that implemented a virtualized environment experienced security benefits, such as improved visibility into security threats and faster incident response times. (Source: VMware) Use Encryption: Encryption is the process of encoding information in such a way that only authorized parties can access it. Encrypting data both in transit and at rest protects it from interception or theft by hackers. This can be achieved using industry-standard encryption protocols and technologies. According to a report by, the average cost of a data breach in 2020 was $3.86 million. The report also found that organizations that implemented encryption had a lower average cost of a data breach compared to those that did not (Source: IBM) Segregate VMs: Segregating virtual machines is the practice of keeping sensitive VMs separate from less sensitive ones. This reduces the risk of lateral movement, which is when a hacker gains access to one VM and uses it as a stepping stone to gain access to other VMs in the same environment. Segregating VMs helps to minimize the risk of data breaches and limit the potential impact of a security incident. A study found that organizations that implemented a virtualized environment without adequate segregation and access controls were more vulnerable to VM security breaches and data loss. (Source: Ponemon Institute) Regularly Back-up VMs: Regularly backing up virtual machines is a critical security practice that can help mitigate the impact of malware attacks, system failures, or other security incidents. Backups should be stored securely and tested regularly to ensure that they can be restored quickly in the event of a security incident. A survey conducted found that 42% of organizations experienced a data loss event in 2020 with the most common cause being accidental deletion by an employee (29%). (Source: Veeam) 4. Conclusion The complexity of cloud environments and the shared responsibility model for security require organizations to adopt a comprehensive security approach that spans multiple infrastructure layers, from the physical to the application layer. The future of virtual machine security concern in cloud computing will require continued innovation and adaptation to new threats and vulnerabilities. As a result, organizations must remain vigilant and proactive in their security efforts, leveraging the latest technologies and best practices to protect their virtual machines, the sensitive data and resources they contain.

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Spotlight

ViON Corporation

ViON Corporation is a cloud service provider with over 37 years experience designing and delivering enterprise data center solutions to government agencies and commercial businesses. The company provides IT as-a-Service solutions including on-premise public cloud capabilities.

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Virtualized Environments

VeriSilicon Unveils the New VC9800 IP for Next Generation Data Centers

Business Wire | January 09, 2024

VeriSilicon today unveiled its latest VC9800 series Video Processor Unit (VPU) IP with enhanced video processing performance to strengthen its presence in the data center applications. The newly launched series IP caters to the advanced requirements of next generation data centers including video transcoding servers, AI servers, virtual cloud desktops, and cloud gaming. The VC9800 series of VPU IP boasts high performance, high throughput, and server-level multi-stream encoding and decoding capabilities. It can handle up to 256 streams and support all mainstream video formats, including the new advanced format VVC. Through Rapid Look Ahead encoding, the VC9800 series IP improves video quality significantly with low memory footprint and encoding latency. With capable of supporting 8K encoding and decoding, it offers enhanced video post-processing and multi-channel encoding at various resolutions, thus achieves an efficient transcoding solution. The VC9800 series of VPU IP can seamlessly interface with Neural Network Processor (NPU) IP, enabling a complete AI-video pipeline. When combined with VeriSilicon’s Graphics Processor Unit (GPU) IP, the subsystem solution is able to deliver enhanced gaming experiences. In addition, the hardware virtualization, super resolution image enhancement, and AI-enabled encoding functions of this series IP also offer effective solutions for virtual cloud desktops. “VeriSilicon’s advanced video transcoding technology continues leading in Data Center domain. We are working closely with global leading customers to develop comprehensive video processing subsystem solutions to meet the requirements of the latest Data Centers,” said Wei-Jin Dai, Executive VP and GM of IP Division of VeriSilicon. “For AI computing, our video post-processing capabilities have been extended to smoothly interact with NPUs, ensuring OpenCV-level accuracy. We’ve also introduced super resolution technology to the video processing subsystem, elevating image quality and ultimately enhancing user experiences for cloud computing and smart display.” About VeriSilicon VeriSilicon is committed to providing customers with platform-based, all-around, one-stop custom silicon services and semiconductor IP licensing services leveraging its in-house semiconductor IP.

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Backup and Disaster Recovery

Minimize the Cost and Downtime of Disaster With Scale Computing's Business Continuity/Disaster Recovery Planning Service

PR Newswire | October 25, 2023

Scale Computing, a market leader in edge computing, virtualization, and hyperconverged solutions, today announced its Business Continuity/Disaster Recovery (BCDR) Planning Service, designed to help organizations establish a comprehensive, regulated plan for responding to unforeseen downtime. The service provides Scale Computing customers and partners with the tools, guidance, and resources to create a playbook for data backup and recovery, enabling businesses to endure a disaster scenario with minimal loss. Scale Computing also recently announced that it is a finalist for the Business Continuity/Disaster Recovery Project of the Year in the 2023 SDC Awards for its work with Austrian managed service provider GiGaNet and its long-time partner the Zillertaler Gletscherbahn group. Voting for the SDC Awards is open at sdcawards.com/vote until November 10th, 2023. Data breaches are one of the biggest and most costly contributors to downtime for businesses. In 2023, the average cost of a data breach globally reached an all-time high of $4.45 million, a 15.3% increase from 2020. Simultaneously, the average length of business disruption following a ransomware attack in the United States reached 24 days last year, up 60% from just two years prior — a significant increase when downtime costs exceed $300,000 per hour for over 90% of mid-sized and large enterprises. For more than half of those businesses, the hourly outage costs range from $1 million to over $5 million. Recovery from an outage adds additional expense from which many enterprises are unable to bounce back. "Disaster can strike at any time, and every organization needs a consistently regulated playbook for how the business will respond — from action plans to recovery plans for bringing online the mission-critical servers businesses depend on," said Jeff Ready, CEO and co-founder, Scale Computing. "Knowing what systems need to be protected, planning for the ability to recover them, and having a full action plan for recovery should be at the forefront of every IT department's agenda, at the beginning of any infrastructure addition. With Scale Computing Platform, the plan for disaster recovery starts before equipment is even put into production, so IT leaders have a plan in place from day one that they can enact to ensure their business stays up and running, with minimal loss, should disaster strike. Our Business Continuity/Disaster Recovery Planning Service enables businesses to proactively classify systems based on their importance and implement a robust action plan, ensuring that our customers' and partners' critical systems are protected, validated, tested, and ready for recovery at any time." Whether a minor data loss or a business-wide shutdown, having a well-defined business continuity strategy is crucial to minimize financial impact, ensure continuous employee productivity, meet compliance and regulatory requirements, decrease liability obligations, reduce downtime, and minimize the risk of negative exposure. Scale Computing's BCDR Planning Service includes planning, deployment, documentation creation, and disaster recovery testing, covering every aspect to keep businesses prepared and resilient. The service is offered to Scale Computing Platform customers, which brings simplicity, high availability, and scalability together to replace existing infrastructure for running virtual machines with an easy-to-manage, fully integrated platform that allows organizations to run applications regardless of hardware requirements. About Scale Computing Scale Computing is a leader in edge computing, virtualization, and hyperconverged solutions. Using patented HyperCore™ technology, Scale Computing Platform automatically identifies, mitigates, and corrects infrastructure problems in real-time, enabling applications to achieve maximum uptime, even when local IT resources and staff are scarce. Edge Computing is the fastest-growing area of IT infrastructure, and industry analysts have named Scale Computing an outperformer and leader in the space, including being named the #1 edge computing vendor by CRN. Scale Computing's products are sold by thousands of value-added resellers, integrators, and service providers worldwide.

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Server Virtualization, VMware

StorMagic Introduces Edge Control Software to Simplify SvSAN Monitoring and Management

Business Wire | October 18, 2023

StorMagic®, solving the world’s edge data problems, today announced the immediate availability of a new Software as a Service (SaaS) tool that allows users to easily monitor and manage all of their SvSAN clusters around the world. StorMagic Edge Control simplifies the process and tools required for day-to-day SvSAN cluster administration. SvSAN customers with multiple locations can significantly reduce the time spent managing their edge sites, whether they are using VMware, Microsoft or KVM hypervisors. “ESG research shows increasing demand for data storage at the edge which fuels an increased need for monitoring solutions that can help address the complexity of storage at the edge,” said Scott Sinclair, practice director at Enterprise Strategy Group. “SvSAN customers can greatly benefit by adding StorMagic Edge Control into their toolkits; the dashboard views and list formats will make centralized data management much easier and more accessible.” Edge Control delivers centralized administration for SvSAN environments of all sizes. Customers can now manage all SvSAN deployments in any location from a single pane of glass. Dashboard and system views provide a fast but comprehensive status of all of their virtual storage appliances (VSAs), allowing them to keep their environment up-to-date more easily and react faster as needed. “StorMagic customers of any size can now manage their entire SvSAN estate, whether it’s one site or thousands of sites around the world,” said Bruce Kornfeld, chief marketing and product officer, StorMagic. “Edge Control is particularly interesting for customers who are considering switching from VMware to Microsoft or Linux KVM because SvSAN and Edge Control are both hypervisor agnostic.” Pricing and Availability Edge Control version 1.0 is available today from StorMagic. SvSAN customers can download and begin using the software immediately, free of charge. About StorMagic StorMagic is solving the world’s edge data problems. We help organizations store, protect and use data at and from the edge. StorMagic’s solutions ensure data is always protected and available, no matter the type or location, to provide value anytime, anywhere. StorMagic’s storage and security products are flexible, robust, easy to use and cost-effective, without sacrificing enterprise-class features, for organizations with one to thousands of sites.

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Virtualized Environments

VeriSilicon Unveils the New VC9800 IP for Next Generation Data Centers

Business Wire | January 09, 2024

VeriSilicon today unveiled its latest VC9800 series Video Processor Unit (VPU) IP with enhanced video processing performance to strengthen its presence in the data center applications. The newly launched series IP caters to the advanced requirements of next generation data centers including video transcoding servers, AI servers, virtual cloud desktops, and cloud gaming. The VC9800 series of VPU IP boasts high performance, high throughput, and server-level multi-stream encoding and decoding capabilities. It can handle up to 256 streams and support all mainstream video formats, including the new advanced format VVC. Through Rapid Look Ahead encoding, the VC9800 series IP improves video quality significantly with low memory footprint and encoding latency. With capable of supporting 8K encoding and decoding, it offers enhanced video post-processing and multi-channel encoding at various resolutions, thus achieves an efficient transcoding solution. The VC9800 series of VPU IP can seamlessly interface with Neural Network Processor (NPU) IP, enabling a complete AI-video pipeline. When combined with VeriSilicon’s Graphics Processor Unit (GPU) IP, the subsystem solution is able to deliver enhanced gaming experiences. In addition, the hardware virtualization, super resolution image enhancement, and AI-enabled encoding functions of this series IP also offer effective solutions for virtual cloud desktops. “VeriSilicon’s advanced video transcoding technology continues leading in Data Center domain. We are working closely with global leading customers to develop comprehensive video processing subsystem solutions to meet the requirements of the latest Data Centers,” said Wei-Jin Dai, Executive VP and GM of IP Division of VeriSilicon. “For AI computing, our video post-processing capabilities have been extended to smoothly interact with NPUs, ensuring OpenCV-level accuracy. We’ve also introduced super resolution technology to the video processing subsystem, elevating image quality and ultimately enhancing user experiences for cloud computing and smart display.” About VeriSilicon VeriSilicon is committed to providing customers with platform-based, all-around, one-stop custom silicon services and semiconductor IP licensing services leveraging its in-house semiconductor IP.

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Backup and Disaster Recovery

Minimize the Cost and Downtime of Disaster With Scale Computing's Business Continuity/Disaster Recovery Planning Service

PR Newswire | October 25, 2023

Scale Computing, a market leader in edge computing, virtualization, and hyperconverged solutions, today announced its Business Continuity/Disaster Recovery (BCDR) Planning Service, designed to help organizations establish a comprehensive, regulated plan for responding to unforeseen downtime. The service provides Scale Computing customers and partners with the tools, guidance, and resources to create a playbook for data backup and recovery, enabling businesses to endure a disaster scenario with minimal loss. Scale Computing also recently announced that it is a finalist for the Business Continuity/Disaster Recovery Project of the Year in the 2023 SDC Awards for its work with Austrian managed service provider GiGaNet and its long-time partner the Zillertaler Gletscherbahn group. Voting for the SDC Awards is open at sdcawards.com/vote until November 10th, 2023. Data breaches are one of the biggest and most costly contributors to downtime for businesses. In 2023, the average cost of a data breach globally reached an all-time high of $4.45 million, a 15.3% increase from 2020. Simultaneously, the average length of business disruption following a ransomware attack in the United States reached 24 days last year, up 60% from just two years prior — a significant increase when downtime costs exceed $300,000 per hour for over 90% of mid-sized and large enterprises. For more than half of those businesses, the hourly outage costs range from $1 million to over $5 million. Recovery from an outage adds additional expense from which many enterprises are unable to bounce back. "Disaster can strike at any time, and every organization needs a consistently regulated playbook for how the business will respond — from action plans to recovery plans for bringing online the mission-critical servers businesses depend on," said Jeff Ready, CEO and co-founder, Scale Computing. "Knowing what systems need to be protected, planning for the ability to recover them, and having a full action plan for recovery should be at the forefront of every IT department's agenda, at the beginning of any infrastructure addition. With Scale Computing Platform, the plan for disaster recovery starts before equipment is even put into production, so IT leaders have a plan in place from day one that they can enact to ensure their business stays up and running, with minimal loss, should disaster strike. Our Business Continuity/Disaster Recovery Planning Service enables businesses to proactively classify systems based on their importance and implement a robust action plan, ensuring that our customers' and partners' critical systems are protected, validated, tested, and ready for recovery at any time." Whether a minor data loss or a business-wide shutdown, having a well-defined business continuity strategy is crucial to minimize financial impact, ensure continuous employee productivity, meet compliance and regulatory requirements, decrease liability obligations, reduce downtime, and minimize the risk of negative exposure. Scale Computing's BCDR Planning Service includes planning, deployment, documentation creation, and disaster recovery testing, covering every aspect to keep businesses prepared and resilient. The service is offered to Scale Computing Platform customers, which brings simplicity, high availability, and scalability together to replace existing infrastructure for running virtual machines with an easy-to-manage, fully integrated platform that allows organizations to run applications regardless of hardware requirements. About Scale Computing Scale Computing is a leader in edge computing, virtualization, and hyperconverged solutions. Using patented HyperCore™ technology, Scale Computing Platform automatically identifies, mitigates, and corrects infrastructure problems in real-time, enabling applications to achieve maximum uptime, even when local IT resources and staff are scarce. Edge Computing is the fastest-growing area of IT infrastructure, and industry analysts have named Scale Computing an outperformer and leader in the space, including being named the #1 edge computing vendor by CRN. Scale Computing's products are sold by thousands of value-added resellers, integrators, and service providers worldwide.

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Server Virtualization, VMware

StorMagic Introduces Edge Control Software to Simplify SvSAN Monitoring and Management

Business Wire | October 18, 2023

StorMagic®, solving the world’s edge data problems, today announced the immediate availability of a new Software as a Service (SaaS) tool that allows users to easily monitor and manage all of their SvSAN clusters around the world. StorMagic Edge Control simplifies the process and tools required for day-to-day SvSAN cluster administration. SvSAN customers with multiple locations can significantly reduce the time spent managing their edge sites, whether they are using VMware, Microsoft or KVM hypervisors. “ESG research shows increasing demand for data storage at the edge which fuels an increased need for monitoring solutions that can help address the complexity of storage at the edge,” said Scott Sinclair, practice director at Enterprise Strategy Group. “SvSAN customers can greatly benefit by adding StorMagic Edge Control into their toolkits; the dashboard views and list formats will make centralized data management much easier and more accessible.” Edge Control delivers centralized administration for SvSAN environments of all sizes. Customers can now manage all SvSAN deployments in any location from a single pane of glass. Dashboard and system views provide a fast but comprehensive status of all of their virtual storage appliances (VSAs), allowing them to keep their environment up-to-date more easily and react faster as needed. “StorMagic customers of any size can now manage their entire SvSAN estate, whether it’s one site or thousands of sites around the world,” said Bruce Kornfeld, chief marketing and product officer, StorMagic. “Edge Control is particularly interesting for customers who are considering switching from VMware to Microsoft or Linux KVM because SvSAN and Edge Control are both hypervisor agnostic.” Pricing and Availability Edge Control version 1.0 is available today from StorMagic. SvSAN customers can download and begin using the software immediately, free of charge. About StorMagic StorMagic is solving the world’s edge data problems. We help organizations store, protect and use data at and from the edge. StorMagic’s solutions ensure data is always protected and available, no matter the type or location, to provide value anytime, anywhere. StorMagic’s storage and security products are flexible, robust, easy to use and cost-effective, without sacrificing enterprise-class features, for organizations with one to thousands of sites.

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