With businesses constantly opting for more flexible and efficient tech, it’s no wonder virtualization has become indispensable. Virtual machines (VMs) have helped consolidate workloads, lower operational costs, and reduce energy consumption — all while remaining scalable to one’s IT needs. When maintained and optimized properly, VMs can grant your workforce the competitive edge it needs while helping ensure business continuity. We explore the most effective ways of leveraging this technology below.
Configure your virtual machine accordingly
Before anything else, consider tweaking the hardware configurations that support your VMs. Start with the processor, which acts as the “brain” of your VM. Opt for one with multiple cores and high clock speeds to handle various tasks efficiently. Next, be sure to choose a network adapter that supports your desired network speed and type. This would ensure smooth communication between your virtual machine and network, enhancing overall performance.
Another crucial aspect is storage. Using a solid-state drive (SSD) instead of a traditional hard disk drive (HDD) can drastically improve the read and write speeds of your VMs, reducing boot times and bolstering overall responsiveness. It would also help to invest in adequate RAM to support as many VMs and handle multiple applications simultaneously without slowing down.
Allocate sufficient resources
Insufficient resources can often lead to slow performance and system crashes. When setting up your VM, be sure to allocate enough CPU, RAM, and storage to meet the demands of each user’s workload. Assigning too little processing power can lead to processing bottlenecks, while inadequate RAM allocation can cause sluggish performance and frequent crashes. It’s also important to ensure your VM has enough disk space to accommodate the operating system, applications, and data files.
Try to strike a balance between allocating just enough resources to meet your needs without overcommitting them. It could help to regularly monitor your resource usage and adjust them as your workload evolves and your VM needs change. Fortunately, many hypervisors (or virtual machine monitors) make it easy to allocate the right amount of resources for each VM.
Implement robust cybersecurity
Proper security practices could protect your virtual environment from potential cyberthreats, minimizing the risk of system downtime. This would include regularly updating software and operating systems to patch known vulnerabilities, using strong and unique passwords for all accounts, and implementing firewall and intrusion prevention systems to monitor and control network traffic. Additionally, consider investing in the latest antivirus software to identify and mitigate potential malware in your systems before they can cause harm.
It also pays to have a comprehensive backup solution to further protect your VMs against data loss or corruption. Regularly back up the servers housing your VMs on off-site locations or cloud storage so that your business can stay operational in case of a natural disaster or ransomware incident.
Clear any unwanted apps
Just like a physical computer, VMs can accumulate unnecessary applications over time and consume valuable CPU, memory, and storage resources. Removing these apps, also known as bloatware, frees up VM resources that can then be allocated to other essential tasks, improving system performance and responsiveness. This also enhances security by minimizing the attack surface and reducing the risk of vulnerabilities associated with unused or outdated software.
Furthermore, removing unnecessary apps can help with simplifying management and maintenance tasks, making it easier to troubleshoot issues and perform software updates on your VMs. Since administrators would have fewer applications to manage, they can then focus their efforts on optimizing the operation of your virtual environment.
Ready to reap all the benefits of virtualization? Our virtual services at Kortek Solutions can help boost your business agility, flexibility, and resilience, all while keeping costs at a minimum. Get in touch with our team today to find out more.