Knowing about the perks of virtualization is cool, but setting this up and implementing it properly will require you to tackle a few things.

Virtualization — the process of creating a software version of a hardware component such as a server — is one of the most beneficial tech solutions for small organizations. For many business owners and managers, however, this is a vastly complex concept that comes with some pretty heavy jargon.

Explaining the concept of virtualization is no easy task and failed attempts to do so have left it with a less-than-ideal reputation. We want to set the record straight about virtualization's many benefits by dispelling four of the most common misconceptions about it.

Virtualizing your servers, networking devices, and other machines can drastically lower costs and dramatically shorten IT infrastructure deployment times. However, implementing this requires a lot of IT expertise that can’t just be pulled off by regular technicians.

Having an effective virtualized data storage system is crucial for your business. It increases efficiency, productivity, and revenue. While its setup can be fairly easy, it also has its own pitfalls. Here are three common virtualization problems and how best to resolve them.

Virtualization addresses many challenges that businesses face when upgrading their hardware and network. That’s because deploying virtualized systems offers an affordable and flexible solution to a typically arduous problem. But before you invest in a virtualized infrastructure, consider the following costs and benefits.

Servers need to be replaced and/or upgraded at some point. The older the servers are, the harder they become to maintain because finding replacement parts become more time-consuming and costly. What's more, you could be missing out on new features that could benefit your business if you don't upgrade your servers.

Server virtualization offers improved system utilization, workload flexibility, and other advantages for the data center. Today, many businesses have already adopted virtualization, but virtualization can still fail in some ways. Practices and policies that arise from virtualization can waste resources and drive administrators to give up.

Powering your IT equipment costs money, but how much will you actually spend? If you have no idea, you’re in for a treat. Here are four questions you need to ask yourself before considering virtualization. 

Studies have shown that over 70% of IT budgets go to “keeping the lights on.

Whether your business is hit with a brief power outage or by a natural disaster, any kind of interruption to your organization’s productivity cuts into your profits. A business continuity plan (BCP) is critical to ensuring your organization stays open.