Large gap between server and storage virtualisation levels

One of the most interesting findings was that while a significant percentage (62.5%) of respondents had virtualised their servers, a much lower percentage, only 15.5%, had taken the same route for their data storage. Virtual Instruments believes that companies are reluctant to introduce an additional level of virtualisation at the storage tier because it adds a further layer of complexity to the whole IT architecture. This can make it difficult to manage without specifically-designed solutions to give full visibility as part of an overall IPM strategy.

The survey responses also reveal that companies that have opted for virtualisation have found it to be a positive experience: more than half (58%) of the respondents who had a virtualised IT environment reported finding it easier to manage than their former physical systems. Furthermore, nearly 85% of these IT decision makers stated that virtualisation had provided measurable benefits in terms of better service as well as improvements in network and storage utilization.

Chris James, EMEA Marketing Director at Virtual Instruments says: “With positive feedback on virtualisation like this, it begs the question “why are so few organisations actually committing to complete infrastructure virtualisation?’”

As more than half (52%) of respondents said that they were excited by the creation of dynamic, virtual and cloud IT, it could be that the complexity of successfully managing such environments is what is thwarting virtualisation uptake.

Skip Bacon, Chief Technology Officer, Virtual Instruments says: “Without a strong Infrastructure Performance Management strategy, there’s no way to see how applications are performing in the physical, virtual and cloud environments.”

“IPM capabilities are especially critical when implementing storage virtualization. While fabric-based virtualizers can offer significant improvements in storage agility and flexibility, they also add another tier and the need for very careful configuration and tuning to achieve full benefit. An IPM strategy adds the real-time, highly-detailed visibility needed to assure performance in a virtualized storage environment, as well as to drive operational efficiency and cost savings across the host and storage infrastructure”, he concluded.