Strategic Considerations for Virtualization Software Decisions

When evaluating virtualization software, organizations face complex decisions. However, working through strategic considerations can clarify priorities and help decision-makers assess each option’s pros and cons. The goal is to develop a strategy aligned with IT environments and business goals so that organizations can reap all of the benefits of virtualization: scalability, cost efficiency, cybersecurity and remote access.

A central choice is whether to adopt (or maintain) a full-stack virtualization ecosystem from a single vendor or integrate multiple solutions. A full-stack approach simplifies deployment and management and offers built-in integration — a good fit for IT teams lacking the resources for a customized infrastructure. However, this approach can lead to vendor lock-in and licensing commitments that exceed actual needs.

For some organizations, greater licensing flexibility is sufficient reason to consider a multivendor approach. They want the flexibility to build a tailored environment and invest only in what’s needed, knowing they can scale in the future. Yet, this environment requires more work up front to deploy and integrate, which presents both a resource cost and potential inefficiencies. Multivendor solutions can also create cybersecurity challenges and may require an additional investment in reskilling IT staffers.

The upshot of these concerns is that organizations with all-in-one solutions must weigh the challenges of switching — the conversion effort and potential outages — against the cost and licensing commitments of their current solution. Timing also matters, especially when critical renewals are approaching, because infrastructure procurement and staff training require planning.

The first step in any virtualization plan is to assess existing infrastructure to determine if it is modernized and future-ready. Outdated infrastructure can significantly curtail what’s possible, so determining infrastructure readiness is a crucial first step. For example, are CPUs, hosts and other components current and compatible with modern deployments, such as Kubernetes? This assessment can also reveal opportunities for simplification and consolidation. 

In addition, it’s important to gauge whether IT staffers can support a new environment, particularly if it involves multiple vendors. Skill gaps aren’t deal-breakers, but leaders should budget time and training to ensure readiness.

Alternatives to full-stack solutions require decisions on architecture and deployment models. Determining workload placement and criticality is essential: Whether workloads will run in data centers, branch offices or edge deployments could have a significant impact on infrastructure design and cost. Organizations will also need to weigh hyperconverged infrastructure (which combines computing, storage and networking in a single platform) against traditional, three-tier models. They’ll need to evaluate commercial hypervisors from vendors as VMware against open-source solutions such as kernel-based virtual machines, or KVMs.

In modernized environments, virtualization can accelerate shifts to application-focused deployments such as containers. These increase efficiency by reducing support overhead and integrating services such as security, backup and networking. However, some applications may still require traditional virtual machines.

The total cost of ownership plays a crucial role in all of these decisions. The aim is to achieve the most efficiency with the least infrastructure needed to support business functions and applications. A multisolution approach may raise complexity and cost, so evaluating TCO thoroughly is vital.

These considerations are just the beginning. When CDW helps customers navigate this process, we start with an assessment that provides foundational information about the current environment, licensing and infrastructure readiness. From there, our advisory services help organizations work through these decisions and develop a strategy tailored to their needs and desired outcomes. With a solid plan in place, organizations can increase efficiency in the short term and achieve long-term savings.