Fully embracing new technology is not something every business can accomplish overnight.

Even savvy business owners that prioritize constant education and invest in the most up-to-date systems can get overwhelmed by all the complicated options and terminology.

A prime example of this virtualization, and how the cloud comes into play when taking your business online.

There is one important distinction to make when it comes to this growing tech trend: virtualization and the cloud are not interchangeable.

You may think that highlighting such a distinction might be splitting hairs, but it is important to take a closer look.

Virtualization and the cloud are two separate entities that work together to deliver different things.

Overall, embracing virtualization as a business means using it as the foundation for valuable cloud computing.

It means getting to the root of how these two are different, and understanding how they work together.

Step 1: How Does Virtualization Differ From The Cloud?

It’s all in the details.

The more you can differentiate, the better you can apply new technology and adapt your business model.

Think of it as an equation. When you’re using this technology to improve your business functions, software is manipulating hardware to result in a service.

In this equation, virtualization is the software and cloud computing is the service.

Virtualization is the software that allows servers, workstations and other systems to work independently of the physical hardware that might be tying your business to the past.

Then comes cloud computing.

That is the service that allows your business to take the next step and achieve long-term business goals, and reap the benefits of doing business online.

Step 2: Define Virtualization For Your Business

Now that we’ve walked you through that equation to differentiate, let’s focus on virtualization.

PC Magazine defines virtualization as “a variety of technologies for managing computer resources by providing a software interface… between the software and the hardware.”

Turning “physical” resources like RAM and storage into “logical” ones, virtualization can be sorted into three major types:

• Hardware

• Network and Storage

• Application

However, a truly savvy business defines virtualization on an even deeper level.

How exactly can it play a part in bringing your business to the next level?

Businesses can use virtualization in a number of ways, including:

• To make the full desktop experience accessible from anywhere

• To reduce or eliminate the costs of replacing multiple desktops

• To make the IT infrastructure more efficient

Determine which of these benefits aligns with your immediate priorities, and shape your virtualization plan from there.

Step 3: How Can Virtualization And The Cloud Work In Your Business Environment?

Now that you know what sets virtualization and the cloud apart, you can better understand how they can work together to drive your business forward.

As we said before, these two things are not interchangeable, nor do you need to choose one over the other.

When you think of them working together, consider virtualization the process that allows the cloud to work in your business environment.

It creates an environment in which the cloud can function at a high level and allow you and your team to do things that increase efficiency and productivity, like accessing your desktops and files from anywhere.

Other major ways virtualization and the cloud can work together for your business include:

• Making better use of existing storage hardware by increasing utilization up to 80%

• Allowing that storage to be available to everyone on the network

• Providing more efficient options for CRM and an array of business applications

Leveraging these technologies is a must for decision makers that are serious about seeing their long-term goals come to fruition in today’s business environment.

Even if you have a grasp of how virtualization and the cloud work together and independently, it can still be hard to find the right telecom services to fully embrace this technology.

At TelecomMedic, we are committed to helping you find telecom services that fit, including cloud, voice and data.

To learn more about telecom services for your business, visit https://telecommedic.com/.

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Resources:

http://www.businessnewsdaily.com/5791-virtualization-vs-cloud-computing.html

http://www.itmanagerdaily.com/virtualization/

http://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia/term/53961/virtualization

http://blogs.cisco.com/smallbusiness/cloud-computing-vs-virtualization-the-differences-and-benefits