IT Exchange Zone

Can Virtualization Save the Day?

Business requirements are changing almost as fast as the weather during a hurricane. Legacy servers lack the flexibility your data center environments demand to keep up the pace—including limited I/O and memory capacity. There are a variety of reasons that virtualization is in the catbird seat, among them the need to reduce the 70% spend of time and budget to maintain existing infrastructures, leaving only 30% of resources to devote to innovation.

The impetus for virtualization is the promise that it may just flip those two statistics to help IT provide improved value mapped to business performance. Confirming this intention is a recent survey that reported the top CIO priorities to include data center consolidation, server and storage virtualization and energy savings.

But, even more critically, the increasing demand for 24/7 IT services is adding pressure to how IT resources are applied to meet those business demands. With the year-over-year demands for IT to do more with less, something has to give. And, it must “give” without impacting the quality of service delivery, access to information, data and people. Trying to improve the way you’ve always done it to create new IT capabilities without virtualization will be a costly undertaking as most existing systems are likely approaching capacity levels and not agile enough to deliver on new business requirements.

As you look to virtualization to “save the day” there are a few things to consider:

• Performance levels of new systems must have adequate processing power and bandwidth to sustain workflows and response times.


• The system must be easy to manage and energy efficient to contribute to reduced operating costs.


• Consider the ease with which you’ll be able to create high-performance connections between servers and storage networks to enable the increased need for reads and writes that will be demanded of the infrastructure by consolidating applications. Costs also play here.

Virtualization can offer a lot of benefits to meet today’s needs, as well as tomorrows. If deployed purposefully, in line with business performance objectives, it can definitely help your IT department save the day.

Enterprise IT Gives Storage Virtualization a Thumbs Up

What's driving today's interest in virtualized storage?

In a recent survey of 180 end-user organizations, Aberdeen Group found that top pressures encouraging the deployment of storage virtualization tend to be related to the growing need for storage and computing capacity. Cited by 84% of responding organizations, the number one issue was increasing demand for storage.

"One contributing factor to this rising demand is the virtualization of servers and PCs, which increases the amount of data that needs to be stored centrally," states the research firm. "For example, each server VM (virtualized OS and application stack) has a copy of the operating system, rather than sharing one copy of the OS across multiple applications on the same server. Storage virtualization enables more efficient utilization of all the forms of storage (NAS, SAN and server-based disk) by collecting and managing them together as a single unit with no stranding of storage assets." 

Aberdeen found that companies that deployed storage virtualization are generally leaders in the transformation of IT data centers. They tend to have deployed multiple forms of virtualized products in their infrastructure. They have virtualized a higher percentage of their applications than others. And they are using more leading edge products than companies with no storage virtualization programs.

Companies that have embraced virtualized storage report benefits associated with reducing the complexity of the data center. Specifically, they point to reduced effort to manage SAN devices (63%), a reduction in number of SAN devices (48%) and reduced time to deploy new servers (44%).

So what does it take to realize storage virtualization success?

Aberdeen cites three best practices:

• Make a plan. It's imperative to clarify one's goals and objectives at the outset. Expect the biggest benefits to come in terms of operational efficiency as opposed to financial gains. Nevertheless, companies should build a case that incorporates some form of financial payback. Reducing the time to deploy new servers, for instance, contributes to financial results.


• Get formal training on tools. Forty three percent of companies deploying storage virtualization cite training as a key enabler of success. Training can ensure tools are successfully implemented and perform as expected.


• Measure your results. Thirty eight percent of organizations with storage virtualization measure IT against cost targets. This provides the insight necessary to take any necessary corrective actions and realize greater value on one's investment.

Through storage virtualization, organizations in this study claimed to address their challenges around low asset utilization.  By making a plan, getting trained on the tools and measuring their results, they realized impressive results through their programs.

Securing Your Network Against Unsupported Devices

As enterprises embrace the “anywhere, anytime, any device” vision of networking, they need to remain vigilant of emerging security risks. Taking steps to address these risks will be critical if enterprises are to confidently capitalize on the new business opportunities that borderless networks represent.

In a study of 512 IT security decision makers (ITSDM) conducted by Cisco and InsightExpress, more than half of respondents (56%) have determined that employees are using unsupported applications on enterprise networks. Among them, the largest proportion has discovered employees using social networking (68%).

In the U.S., more than 60% have discovered use of unsupported collaborative tools such as Google apps. Meanwhile, about four in ten (41%) have determined that employees are using unsupported network devices.  The two greatest risks recognized by these respondents are social networking (51%) and unauthorized network users (55%).

The majority of ITSDMs said they have a complete technical process to lock employees from network access if necessary (74%) and have restrictions on what employees can bring onto the network (79%).  In fact, most enforce policies that restrict network behavior (75%) and impose consequences on those that breach them.  Globally, three out of four respondents said it was the IT department’s responsibility to set, maintain and communicate these security policies – though 40% of respondents in the U.S. stated that such responsibilities belong to human resources.

Interestingly, a majority of respondents (71%) recognize that “overly strict” security policies can negatively affect hiring and retention among employees under the age of 30. So there clearly is a tension between restricting network and device usage and appealing to younger workers. 

But ambitious enterprises need not be paralyzed by these conflicting issues. Intent on helping companies reconcile the challenge of network security with the demand for network accessibility, Cisco recently unveiled its “Validated Secure Borderless Networks” initiative.  The objective is to provide system designs that will secure mobility, strengthen data security and support security management.

Recognizing that key security challenges are associated with today’s dizzying array of point security products, the initiative validates and integrates third-party tools from firms such as ArcSight, Credant Technologies, EMC, HTC, LogLogic, Lumension, netForensics, Nokia,  Palm, RSA, Samsung and Splunk.

By validating these point solutions as part of larger, integrated solutions, Cisco intends to address the security hurdles associated with complexity, integration and management and we're helping our customers take advantage of these innovations.

 

Resolve Network Security and Access

As enterprises embrace the “anywhere, anytime, any device” vision of networking, they need to remain vigilant of emerging security risks. Taking steps to address these risks will be critical if enterprises are to confidently capitalize on the new business opportunities that borderless networks represent.

In a study of 512 IT security decision makers (ITSDM) conducted by Cisco and InsightExpress, more than half of respondents (56%) have determined that employees are using unsupported applications on enterprise networks. Among them, the largest proportion has discovered employees using social networking (68%).

In the U.S., more than 60% have discovered use of unsupported collaborative tools such as Google apps. Meanwhile, about four in ten (41%) have determined that employees are using unsupported network devices.  The two greatest risks recognized by these respondents are social networking (51%) and unauthorized network users (55%).

The majority of ITSDMs said they have a complete technical process to lock employees from network access if necessary (74%) and have restrictions on what employees can bring onto the network (79%).  In fact, most enforce policies that restrict network behavior (75%) and impose consequences on those that breach them.  Globally, three out of four respondents said it was the IT department’s responsibility to set, maintain and communicate these security policies – though 40% of respondents in the U.S. stated that such responsibilities belong to human resources.

Interestingly, a majority of respondents (71%) recognize that “overly strict” security policies can negatively affect hiring and retention among employees under the age of 30. So there clearly is a tension between restricting network and device usage and appealing to younger workers. 

But ambitious enterprises need not be paralyzed by these conflicting issues. Intent on helping companies reconcile the challenge of network security with the demand for network accessibility, Cisco recently unveiled its “Validated Secure Borderless Networks” initiative.  The objective is to provide system designs that will secure mobility, strengthen data security and support security management.

Recognizing that key security challenges are associated with today’s dizzying array of point security products, the initiative validates and integrates third-party tools from firms such as ArcSight, Credant Technologies, EMC, HTC, LogLogic, Lumension, netForensics, Nokia,  Palm, RSA, Samsung and Splunk.

By validating these point solutions as part of larger, integrated solutions, Cisco intends to address the security hurdles associated with complexity, integration and management and we're helping our customers take advantage of these innovations.

Secure Your Kingdom with Identity Management

At the heart of our endeavors to create dynamic networks that drive collaboration, information sharing and business performance to new levels is the essential concept of identity management.  If IT managers are to provide extensive access to the kingdom without compromising it, they must ensure that the barbarians remain beyond its perimeter.

As Tom Gillis argues in Securing the Borderless Network, conventions of the past have been blown away by the considerable demands and risks of the present:

As businesses embrace collaboration and globalization, the hard connection between policy and physical infrastructure becomes strained. To transact business without borders, we need security policies that express simple ideas about which workers can access which applications and data, without being hard-wired to IP addresses, subnets, and the complex infrastructure that powers all networks.

In short, security can no longer be tied inextricably to the physical infrastructure underneath it. The unconstrained access to information we seek requires an advanced security system that abstracts the underlying network fabric. The system needs to enable businesses to express policies in terms of who a user is, what applications he or she uses, and what content he or she accesses. It must work both inside and outside the traditional corporate network to meet the security challenges of today’s decentralized and highly collaborative work environment. And it must enable an enterprise that transcends borders, where users, assets, and critical information are all protected.  

Cybercriminals are everywhere now – prepared to unleash their malware, steal data and initiate all manner of destructive chaos. They have even become quite skilled at mimicking the identities of legitimate users.

Unfortunately, the challenge of determining identity is more complex than ever, particularly as users switch between locations and devices (corporate- and non-corporate issued).

Going forward, security systems will have to be smart enough to detect the precise identity of the user – no matter what device is being deployed. Indeed, devices must be fully authenticated. Policies must clearly define which actions can be performed and which cannot.

“To reduce this complexity, the security architecture of tomorrow must operate at a high level,” concludes Gillis. “Identity is the foundation of this system, and it is the common language that will enable businesses large and small to collaborate with confidence.”

Borderless Networks - The Driver of Business Advantage

Mobility, remote workers and flexible work styles are putting more pressure on companies to remove the borders that keep employees from being productive—no matter where they are or on what device.

The results of the Cisco Connected World Report were released this week, reflecting the perspectives of employees across 13 countries about the concepts and challenges related to mobility. One thing you may find surprising is that 66% of respondents said they'd choose a job that offered lower pay but more flexibility over a higher salary without mobility.

Reviewing the perspectives across all the countries reveals a few interesting insights:

• 88% of US workers without remote access said not being able to work remotely didn't bother them. Only 25% of workers from India agreed.
• The biggest obstacle to working remotely is reported as job role.
• More people in the US say they have no limitations on accessing information they need on the corporate network than in any other country.
• 49% of US workers say they work an additional hour per day with remote access. However, 19% of workers from Spain say they are always working during their waking hours.
• The top challenge for supporting a mobile workforce is, you guessed it, security. In second and third place are corporate cultures and budget limitations.

Take a look at all the study results. Enabling workers to work from anywhere on any device should be making its way onto the top of your priority list if you want your company to have a global business advantage.

Cisco Connected World Report

View more presentations from Cisco Systems.

Your Network's Need for Speed

The business world is changing. People no longer need to be at work to do work. The problem is that many enterprise network architectures place restraints on how users can access information, resources and each other. This results in diminishing the productivity possible with an increasingly mobile workforce. If this is true for your company, it's time to get your network up to speed.

If you're like many businesses we work with, it's likely that your network has evolved over time. New innovations spawned one-off projects that enabled new capabilities, but didn't take into account a long-term view. These ad hoc changes kept costs low and served the purpose-meeting compliance regulations, solving problems or addressing specific initiatives.

This worked really well for companies that weren't growing fast or didn't need to address rapid changes in their marketplace.

But that's changed. Growth and change are two of the driving forces in business today. Add in complexity driven by the consumerization of IT and companies are finding that a piecemeal approach is no longer feasible. One-off projects create management and consistency issues that drain time and resources and impact the performance of the networks workers rely on to conduct business.

The separate management of endpoint devices and equipment also creates a lack of visibility across the network. Consolidating that view can help IT gain the insights needed to improve overall network performance as well as to implement a strategy that moves their companies forward in step with user demands.

Consider these 5 Components for Network Improvements:

1. Reliability Impacts Productivity
   As the need for real-time access to applications like video, voice and desktop sharing grows, productivity is impacted by insufficient bandwidth and lost connections.
2. Ubiquitous Coverage
   With more remote and mobile workers, networks need to be accessible beyond the workplace-from wireless LANs, WiFi hotspots on the road and via broadband connections in hotel rooms.
3. Comprehensive Security
   Users preferences for endpoint devices needs to be enabled, not restrained. Because users will access sensitive information from any device at any time, security must reach beyond traditional borders.  This includes policies for authentication, encryption and remote disablement, should a device be lost or stolen.
4. Unified Management
   Administrators need a single view to reduce tasks and improve visibility across all equipment, a growing array of devices and users. The ability to enact security policies from a central point that are enforced by the network-across the network.
5. Workplace Experience
   Different devices present different user experiences. The ability for the network to determine session conditions and adjust accordingly can play a big role in removing disruption from user productivity. For example, consider the automatic resizing of video for a specific device as well as adjusting for the available bandwidth capacity.

Improving network performance is not a nice to have, but a requirement to compete effectively in today's marketplace. Through analyzing the network's current performance, applications in use, inherent security, management policies and integration opportunities networks can be purposefully architected to drive big-picture business strategies.

Virtualization's Role in Information Service Delivery

Thanks to the ubiquitous nature of the internet and the access to information it provides, corporate users and customers alike expect the same easy access to corporate information.  Whether a user accesses internal corporate application data or a customer seeks their own information, IT must deliver seamless, always-on access, up-to-date information to global users.

IT organizations can significantly enhance information services delivery through data center and desktop virtualization.  When virtualized IT infrastructures are combined with unified communications systems, users are empowered to access real-time, up-to-date corporate or customer information.  Such infrastructures also serve to increase information availability and security as they reduce capital and operating expenses.

Data center virtualization is the unified “back-end” for a Unified Communications platform.   A virtualized data center with virtualized desktops offers ubiquitous, always on access to critical customer and corporate information.  The seamless integration of applications and data services within a virtualized IT infrastructure enhances user information access and the overall user experience.

• Always On: Virtualized application and desktop services assure that applications are always available to users or customers. Virtual machines provide automatic failover for resiliency. 


• Up-to-Date: Virtualized data services assure that information is always up-to-date and in sync regardless of access methods (e.g., web or CRM) or application instance.  Customers and users can tap into pertinent information from any access point.


• Ubiquitous response:  Whether a customer is signing in from New Delhi or a user is in New York, virtualization enables them to be routed to the most efficient resource to meet their information needs.  Users are routed to the most efficient resource pool within the virtualized infrastructure assuring optimum performance and response times regardless of locale or current application/information workloads.


• Reduced Cost: The cost of providing information application services is dramatically reduced, thanks to a reduction in CapEx and OpEx costs associated with the procurement appointment and ongoing management of a virtualized IT infrastructure.

When combined with Unified Communications, data center and desktop virtualization empowers IT to deliver the information needed quickly, reliably and in real time, wherever it’s required.

Strategically Sourcing Borderless Networks

Networks, once viewed as "tactical "plumbing," have become a strategic platform for enterprise growth, performance and productivity. Has your strategy for sourcing and developing your network evolved to match these great expectations?

Not in many cases. While networks are now expected to link the extended enterprise of internal employees, customers, suppliers and partners, many companies continue to invest in their networks based on conventional criteria. What will enable them to better position themselves for the future?

Yankee Group, a research firm, identifies three possible network purchasing strategies that enterprises now pursue:

• Cost-based purchasing: Cost-based strategies that focus on purchasing the lowest priced equipment may end up providing an organization with a real cost advantage in the short term (which can be important in a down economy). But eventually, the cost model breaks down and Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) goes up.


• Best-of-breed technology: The best-of-breed purchasing approach, in which organizations select the very best technology available for every point in the network, may result in a cutting edge network with the latest and greatest capabilities... Within just a two- to three-year period of time, however, the organization ends up with a collection of non-interoperable network devices that support limited, specific functions. This makes manageability and support very expensive, eventually driving up TCO.


• Systems approach: This strategy, which evaluates the network as an end-to-end system, involves purchasing as many of the infrastructure products from a single vendor as possible. While it may result in purchasing equipment that is not quite so cutting-edge as best-of-breed, it has many advantages in the areas of training, interoperability and manageability, and it typically has a lower TCO than best-of-breed or cost-based purchasing strategies. This is because new services in an end-to-end single-vendor network are easier to provision and consistency of performance is easier to maintain.

Yankee Group points out that it's vital to choose the right purchasing strategy, particularly if one is taking a long-term view for network investments.  While acknowledging that some organizations (with "static environments") might benefit from using a low-cost vendor and some (who are willing to continually upgrade and test) may benefit from the best-of breed approach, most companies will achieve superior results and TCO from a systems approach.

"The integration of the network with business processes and applications requires that organizations treat the network as a holistic entity by taking a systems approach," according to Yankee Group. "The only way to ensure that the network can deliver the required level of security, application optimization and performance is to ensure it acts as a platform. This means it is crucial to choose a vendor that can deliver on the vision of a systems approach."

What You Need to Know About Virtualization and Networks

Virtualization offers significant benefits when it comes to server and desktop deployment, management and utilization.  But virtualization also requires some updates in business networks to be most effective.

What do networking professionals really need to know about data center virtualization and virtual server networks? With today’s tight budgets, IT network managers must be thoughtful when deploying the best networks in support of virtualized servers and desktops.

Network optimization is even more critical in virtual environments.  If networks are not properly architected, with the required tools for management, virtual infrastructures can result in less efficiency and more cost. 

Following is a list of things to keep in mind when planning network support for a virtual infrastructure.

• How will the change affect staffing requirements, and what will be the cost of added complexity, such as increased downtime to accomplish the migration?


• How will you manage your virtual network? While there might be fewer physical switches and routers, a virtualization strategy often means more logical, virtual devices that also have to be managed. Many traditional networking tools may not spot problems unless specifically created for a virtual environment.


• How will you simplify network management? Does your tool allowing IT professionals to interact with a virtual network in much the same way that they would interact with a physical network, such a product should make supporting server virtualization similar to what they already do.


• Can you scale to manage more and diverse devices? Moving to data center virtualization almost always decreases the number of physical servers, but the number of virtual storage servers, for example, can more than double. [International Data Corporation]


• How will you automate network tasks? Virtualization doesn't affect what network managers do, per se. But it does increase how often management tasks must be performed, while requiring more advance planning for capacity and network load balancing. Automation of these tasks is a key to improved efficiency.

Most experts agree that network planning is one of the most critical aspects of any Data Center Virtualization project.  That’s why having a partner or staff that understands business networks and virtualization is critical to success.