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Posted on August 7th, 2012 in Virtualization by Simply Security | Be the first to comment | Tags: virtualization

Virtualization projects require planning to remain secure.

Virtualization and cloud service vendors often promise that their solutions can dramatically improve business efficiency and flexibility, while substantially reducing IT expenses. However, if decision-makers do not develop a thorough deployment plan for the technology, companies can stall mid-implementation and be susceptible to breaches or financial loss, according to a CIO report.

Chief information officers who don't properly plan for virtualization deployments can run out of money halfway through the process and increase the number of data security vulnerabilities within the corporate network. To reduce this risk, decision-makers need to calculate data protection costs, as well as infrastructure expenses and any other requirements needed to keep the system safe and efficient, CIO noted.

"For every dollar spent on virtualization software, the IT manager should expect to spend another $11 or $12 on infrastructure for that virtualization project," chief technology officer and executive vice president of Westcon Group Bill Hurley said, according to CIO. "They end up running out of money before they achieve the effects they were looking for."

According to Hurley, virtualization is the gas the powers cloud computing. Cloud deployments, similar to virtualization implementations, require a lot of planning. Cloud-based environments may not necessarily use software the same way enterprises do and avoiding common security pitfalls will require thorough preparation, CIO reported.

In a recent blog post, distinguished Gartner analyst Thomas Bittman noted that the server virtualization market is still evolving and maturing, especially as more businesses deploy the technology. As changes in the market happen, virtualization security will likely become a bigger initiative for many vendors.

A major reason for this, a 2010 InformationWeek study revealed, is because many companies are unsure of the protective capabilities virtualization technologies offer. The report found that only 18 percent of survey respondents believed virtual machines (VMs) were more secure than traditional physical servers, compared to 20 percent that thought so in 2008. Additionally, 14 percent of participants believed VMs were less safe than physical servers, while only 12 percent thought this was true in 2008.

Properly planning virtualization projects can ensure that companies experience the full benefits of the technology without skimping on security. These advantages can include improved disaster recovery plans, the ability to extend the life of legacy systems and increase uptime and availability.

Virtualization Security News from SimplySecurity.com by Trend Micro