We’ve talked about network virtualization on this blog before, but there was some recent confusion over whether or not that service is different from software-defined networking. It’s not a big difference, but no, they’re not the same. Let’s take a look at what sets them apart.

Implementing a virtualized data storage solution at your business is no small feat. It’s a complicated process that requires immense amounts of technical expertise. Unfortunately, getting it up and running is only half the battle. For the most efficient solution possible, watch out for the three most common management issues outlined in this post.

Virtualization is great, but it is awfully confusing. And although the whole point of hiring a managed services provider is to hand off these issues to the experts, we believe a cursory understanding is helpful for everything, including bragging to competitors and making executive decisions.

Before some of our clients have even had a chance to wrap their heads around what virtualization is and how it works, hackers have already started attacking the new and exciting technology. By updating a virus from several years ago for virtualized environments, hackers hope to totally wipe the data off your hard drives.

Managed IT services providers recommend virtualization not because it is an IT business trend that everyone simply must ride, but because it is, quite, a smart way of managing your IT resources. Your organization needs to be more efficient and should be willing to move to the cloud to achieve it.

When containers were first implemented, the idea was to provide users a way to deploy applications without the need to open a new virtual machine, thereby saving resources and time. Since the advent of Docker the container trend has turned into an obsession with developers, which begs the question: How long until containers replace the virtual machines (VMs) altogether? The short answer is, never, and the reason has to do with performance.

VMware is one of the flagship virtualization companies, offering business owners the virtual storage and workspace they need to grow. vSphere 6.5 is the latest update to VMware's core product, offering businesses a number of helpful features to increase efficiency and usability.

One of the newest and potentially most innovative virtual desktop platforms for businesses is vSpace 10 Pro, which has recently been released. If you are considering transitioning your business over to this new business tool, you will first want to get to know some of the potential benefits and drawbacks of vSpace 10 Pro.

The evolution of software containers has changed the way virtual computing is realized. It has diminished the risks of malware and the trouble of portability by allowing software vendors to package their products into virtual containers that can run from any desktop machine, regardless of hardware of operating system.

Thanks to Microsoft’s latest announcement, cyber-criminals will have a harder time breaking into Windows systems. By dropping the Edge browser into a separate virtual container, workstations put distance between themselves and those who would do them harm under cover of the internet.