Many organizations have incorporated virtualization into their IT infrastructure. Virtualization is the ability to run multiple virtual machines (VMs) simultaneously on a single physical computer. A VM is a software implementation of a physical computer. Virtualization allows organizations to do more with less physical hardware. There are many benefits to using virtualization in an IT infrastructure, including advantages in managing backups.

Windows Server includes Microsoft’s Hyper-V technology. Hyper-V is a product that supports creating and running virtual machines in newer Windows Server OSs. Hyper-V requires CPU support for virtualization and is optimized for server-based operations. While Hyper-V has many features and benefits, it supports the ability to create snapshots of a running VM. This ability makes creating a virtual backup image nearly trivial. All you have to do is create VM snapshots anytime you want to create a rollback point. Hyper-V lets you restore a VM back to any snapshot.

Virtualization offers many advantages to single-purpose physical hardware use. Many organizations enjoy increased performance as well as decreased cost of physical hardware. The backup and recovery features alone may make it worthwhile to explore virtualization in your environment.

In fact, virtualization has many more benefits than just convenient ways to roll back. The entire movement toward cloud computing is based on virtualization. Cloud computing is based on running several virtual machines on physical servers that are easily accessible to any Internet-connected device. Cloud service providers make it easy to create, resize, and dispose of VMs. This flexibility makes it possible to provision just the right number of virtual servers to meet current application demands. Cloud service providers can maintain the physical servers and allow customers to manage virtual machines for a fee.

Cloud computing continues to grow in popularity and has changed the way organizations conduct business. It is possible to create VMs, then add and remove capability based on current needs. Clouds can also make backing up and restoring easier than with traditional methods. The concepts are the same, however. Every organization, whether based in the cloud or in a traditional datacenter, must evaluate its needs for backup and recovery. Regardless of the techniques used, resilience in the face of disruptions or disasters is crucial to any organization’s survival.