Server virtualization is now a mainstream technology, not just a potential disruptor according to the Yankee Group and The CIO Forum’s 2006 Global Server Virtualization Survey. 61% of enterprises have deployed server virtualization and an additional 25% will deploy it within the next 12 months. As one of Richmond Events’ CIO Forum delegates noted, “Amazing technology! We are huge fans of this - and would encourage all organization to at least try the technology with their test and QA environments. The benefits and stability will be outstanding.”

Respondents to the survey and several of RE’s CIO Forum delegates cited numerous benefits from server virtualization such as cost reductions and more flexible application deployment. IT departments and systems administrators adopted it quickly—and now it’s time to also adopt standard practices and operational discipline.

CIOs and IT leaders need to answer the following questions:

Ø             How do data center operations such as performance management, availability management and provisioning change in a virtualized environment?

Ø             How does application and system support adapt to a virtualized environment?

Ø             Which vendors best fit my organization’s needs?

The survey validates the perceived popularity of virtualization, the drivers for adoption and the recognized market leaders. Yet it also shows that, despite some tremendous early success, enterprises and vendors are just beginning to feel and understand its disruptive influence. CIOs and IT managers must adapt their approach to data center management to incorporate virtualization. 

The findings validated much of server virtualization’s perceived market momentum and confirmed that it’s not just hype, but a compelling and mainstream technology:

Ø             76% of survey respondents plan to deploy server virtualization technology.

Ø             62% have already deployed or are in the process of deploying server virtualization; an additional 22% will deploy it within 12 months. Only 15% of respondents have no plans to deploy it.

Ø             VMware is the clear market leader. 45% of respondents use VMware ESX and 10% use the freeware version. Microsoft Virtual Server was second, with 29% of respondents citing it as their primary server virtualization product.

Ø             35% of respondents said they realized a return on their investment in server virtualization in less than 3 months.