
What Is Data Virtualization?
Imagine that you have a machine which needs to process the input data. The incoming data is unknown, unstructured and from the sources which are varied. There must be some processing solution in place which can accept this input and convert it to the usable and readable output to be used by the various businesses. This is the concept of Data Virtualization.
Data virtualization is a framework that takes a layered approach to deal with huge volumes of data from disparate sources. The phrase virtualization is used because data virtualization is the aggregation of the data from different sources, including databases, systems and storage, to create a single virtual view from within a front-end systems; such as applications or dashboards. Data virtualization is commonly associated with business or enterprise applications including sales force automation (SFA), customer relationship management (CRM), enterprise resource planning (ERP) and business intelligence (BI).
In the present time, there is a tremendous increase in the number of data sources. This also increases the opportunity to use what was not acceptable to the technology earlier. This input information can be highly valuable, and that is the reason the industry trend is focusing to the Data Virtualization today.
Do you know who can benefit the most with the Data Virtualization?
Small and Medium Businesses (SMBs)… After all, the whole purpose of the virtualization process is the elimination of the multiple processors, hardware and memory. It is meant to reduce these to a minimum number possible. While the large businesses can afford to invest on the administration costs, for SMBs, it is critical to save all that it can other than the very compulsory investments.
And do you know who resist the Data Virtualization the most?
It is Small and Medium Businesses again… Why?? There are multiple reasons to that, which are more driven by the misconceptions than the facts. A few of the widely followed myths amongst SMBs need to be clarified before an Enterprise decides to rule out the option of virtualization completely.
1. Data Virtualization Needs Huge Investments:
Yes, it needs investment which may be considerable at first. And still, the SMBs must adopt the virtualization process to cut down the costs involved over the time. Reducing number of servers to the minimum data centers bring down the capital expenditure straight away. Also, it cuts down administration and maintenance costs related to too many servers. With the virtualization of data, space constraint is also resolved which is another major aspect for most SMBs located in smaller areas.
2. Post Deployment Training And Support Are Complex:
False. Most of the reputed vendors providing virtualization solution offer the training free of cost. All these solution providers also provide the complete support for deployment and product maintenance for a stipulated time at no additional charges. This solves the costing issue involved in training and support.
In terms of how complex the training is, it is like learning any other technology. For the administrators, who are already in charge of the maintenance and repairs find it easier to adopt any expansion in the area, where they are quite versatile.
3. Recovery Is Difficult:
In fact, recovery is a much easier process if your data is virtualized. This can be understood at once. Recovering the data from a crashed server is nothing less than a nightmare. It is like getting something of use from a dead machine. Similarly, recovering the data from the back-up requires hardware to be same before the recovered data can be considered usable at all.
On the other hand, recovering the data from virtual machines can be as easy as copying the files from one location to other. This recovery can be made using any hardware, which is a major advantage. To guarantee the migration and format of the recovered data, the key is the use of a reliable backup and recovery software. After this, there are no migration or back up issues what-so-ever.
In brief, the SMBs which resist the transformation need to compare the advantages against investments in the true light. It becomes even crucial when the further advancements in technology are concentrated on virtualization. If at all there is a change planned, it needs to be employed now before the current set-ups get obsolete.
So have a discussion with you friends on these misconceptions and leave comment below if you like the post!
Imagine that you have a machine which needs to process the input data. The incoming data is unknown, unstructured and from the sources which are varied. There must be some processing solution in place which can accept this input and convert it to the usable and readable output to be used by the various businesses. This is the concept of Data Virtualization.
Data virtualization is a framework that takes a layered approach to deal with huge volumes of data from disparate sources. The phrase virtualization is used because data virtualization is the aggregation of the data from different sources, including databases, systems and storage, to create a single virtual view from within a front-end systems; such as applications or dashboards. Data virtualization is commonly associated with business or enterprise applications including sales force automation (SFA), customer relationship management (CRM), enterprise resource planning (ERP) and business intelligence (BI).
In the present time, there is a tremendous increase in the number of data sources. This also increases the opportunity to use what was not acceptable to the technology earlier. This input information can be highly valuable, and that is the reason the industry trend is focusing to the Data Virtualization today.
Do you know who can benefit the most with the Data Virtualization?
Small and Medium Businesses (SMBs)… After all, the whole purpose of the virtualization process is the elimination of the multiple processors, hardware and memory. It is meant to reduce these to a minimum number possible. While the large businesses can afford to invest on the administration costs, for SMBs, it is critical to save all that it can other than the very compulsory investments.
And do you know who resist the Data Virtualization the most?
It is Small and Medium Businesses again… Why?? There are multiple reasons to that, which are more driven by the misconceptions than the facts. A few of the widely followed myths amongst SMBs need to be clarified before an Enterprise decides to rule out the option of virtualization completely.
1. Data Virtualization Needs Huge Investments:
Yes, it needs investment which may be considerable at first. And still, the SMBs must adopt the virtualization process to cut down the costs involved over the time. Reducing number of servers to the minimum data centers bring down the capital expenditure straight away. Also, it cuts down administration and maintenance costs related to too many servers. With the virtualization of data, space constraint is also resolved which is another major aspect for most SMBs located in smaller areas.
2. Post Deployment Training And Support Are Complex:
False. Most of the reputed vendors providing virtualization solution offer the training free of cost. All these solution providers also provide the complete support for deployment and product maintenance for a stipulated time at no additional charges. This solves the costing issue involved in training and support.
In terms of how complex the training is, it is like learning any other technology. For the administrators, who are already in charge of the maintenance and repairs find it easier to adopt any expansion in the area, where they are quite versatile.
3. Recovery Is Difficult:
In fact, recovery is a much easier process if your data is virtualized. This can be understood at once. Recovering the data from a crashed server is nothing less than a nightmare. It is like getting something of use from a dead machine. Similarly, recovering the data from the back-up requires hardware to be same before the recovered data can be considered usable at all.
On the other hand, recovering the data from virtual machines can be as easy as copying the files from one location to other. This recovery can be made using any hardware, which is a major advantage. To guarantee the migration and format of the recovered data, the key is the use of a reliable backup and recovery software. After this, there are no migration or back up issues what-so-ever.
In brief, the SMBs which resist the transformation need to compare the advantages against investments in the true light. It becomes even crucial when the further advancements in technology are concentrated on virtualization. If at all there is a change planned, it needs to be employed now before the current set-ups get obsolete.
So have a discussion with you friends on these misconceptions and leave comment below if you like the post!