Time for manufacturers’ IT leaders to reconsider virtualisation

The computer giant reports that recent global research, conducted on its behalf, revealed that, while 86% of IT decision makers have implemented virtualisation projects, the vast majority expect to have virtualised just 25% of their environments by 2010. Also, although many anticipate eventually reaching 75%, only one-third recognise virtualisation as a valuable business tool. Two-thirds still relegate virtualisation to the role of technology enabler. “Virtualisation is a powerful step in transforming IT,” insists Ann Livermore, executive vice president, Technology Solutions Group at HP. “[But] to do it right means successfully managing and automating mixed physical and virtual environments. “HP delivers the industry’s broadest portfolio for virtualised environments, covering applications and operations management, infrastructure and client architectures.” She describes HP’s approach as focusing on “removing the technology inhibitors that reduce virtualization’s impact on the business”. The result, she says, is applications and business services performing well, regardless of where and how they are hosted, networked or managed. And she adds that users can expect to dramatically simplify management across a combined virtual and physical infrastructure, while also addressing the issue of pooling infrastructure resources. Livermore says that HP’s new offerings support business needs all the way from the desktop to the data centre – specifically focused on lowering operational costs, mitigating the risk of a heterogeneous environment and freeing up valuable IT resources.