Virtualisation (a tool that enables better use of existing storage system) will pave the way for a new era in Indian information technology. The IT revolution started with mainframe, personal computer, web and now it is the era of cloud computing. (Cloud computing enables businesses to tap into IT capabilities presiding in the internet thereby avoiding high investment in IT infra- structure).
For any company to enter into cloud computing, adaptation of virtualisation is essential, says Seema Ambastha, Director-Technology, VMware Software India.
In any IT services, virtual machines will take over physical machines, she feels. This will be the norm of business in future. In India, over 1,000 customers use VMware solutions for the virtualisation of their IT services. Of this, nearly 20 per cent are evaluating to enter into cloud computing. It is evident that virtualisation and cloud computing go hand-in-hand, she adds.
During the past 40 years, IT has undergone many revolutions vis-à-vis how applications and data have been delivered to users. Mainframes provided a centralised computation facility where end-users consumed resources on a shared basis.
The client-server architecture offered flexibility and lowered computing costs while bringing more power to the desktop. This was followed by mobile computing, which was available anywhere and at anytime.
Cloud computing, the latest buzz word, offers a new approach that will enable a company to deliver IT services on demand. It will transform the delivery and consumption of IT services of a company in future. This is, however, possible only when a company goes through the complete cycle of virtualisation. There are millions of people around the world today who use virtualisation to save time, money and energy while achieving more with the computer hardware they already own.
Virtualisation enables organisations consolidate and get more from existing or new servers, help save more on power, ensure high availability and business continuity at much lower costs besides helping organisations save more on operational expenses.
Cloud computing will be the next logical stage in adopting of virtualisation and transforming IT, she feels. VMware recently announced VMware vSphere 4, the industry's first cloud operating system, transforming data centres into dramatically simplified cloud infrastructure. It enables the next generation of flexible, reliable IT services to be delivered from both within internal clouds as well as from external clouds.
Though there is much talk in the industry about cloud computing, large players are still sceptical to enter into cloud computing. The small and medium business (SMBs) houses are, however, comfortable.
For SMBs, it is the capital and operational expenditure that matters.
For large players, security is an issue. It is clear that if large players are to enter cloud, providers such as VMware should address security issues.
