Virtualization — creating logical pools of IT resources not linked to physical devices — can reduce spending on new server and storage hardware, increase application uptime and simplify IT management. But organizations will only get those benefits if they follow some key steps, according to IT managers, analysts and other industry observers.

1) Understand virtualization

Some users purchase storage virtualization for only one purpose without realizing the other benefits it can provide them, says Mike Karp, a senior analyst at Enterprise Management Associates, a research group in Boulder, Colo. For example, “It does not necessarily pay to buy file-based… Continue Reading»