Hyper-converged infrastructure (HCI) Tech: Pros From a Business Perspective Hyper-converged infrastructure (HCI) is all the rage these days, and it’s easy to see why. HCI combines the best server virtualization and storage into one neat solution that requires fewer, more compact devices than standard storage systems. Plus, it allows businesses to quickly scale up their computing capacity without worrying about expensive data center renovations or compatibility issues with different hardware models. This hyper-converged infrastructure technology offers many pros from a business perspective, which this guide will explore in detail.
1. Stronger Security Posture
As more businesses move away from traditional IT infrastructure, they are turning to hyper-converged infrastructure (HCI) for its many benefits. One of the most significant advantages of HCI is that it strengthens security posture. With HCI, businesses can utilize built-in security features, such as data encryption and intrusion detection/prevention.
In addition, HCI can help businesses simplify their IT infrastructure, making it easier to manage and secure. Reputable HCI vendors will provide an integrated software suite with pre-configured configurations for your environment. You’ll be able to securely monitor your systems in real-time, no matter where you are – even when you’re on vacation!
2. Cost
As data centers grow in size and complexity, the need for efficient, reliable, and cost-effective solutions becomes more critical. Hyperconverged vendors can help improve data center inefficiencies in several ways. First, HCI integrates compute, storage, and virtualization on one piece of hardware or software.
There is no need for costly spine architectures that serve as an additional tier to distribute resources between different levels within the data center. Furthermore, by combining these components into one system with a modular architecture, IT staff has a much easier time troubleshooting issues because they are not wading through an expansive labyrinth of systems trying to find where there is an issue.
3. Improved IT Management
One of the main advantages of HCI to businesses is that it helps to improve IT management. That is because HCI consolidates all your IT infrastructures into a single system. Thus, managing and keeping track of your IT infrastructure becomes more effortless and reduces the need for specialized staff. In addition, HCI can help to improve your company’s disaster recovery plan by making it easier to back up and restore data.
For example, Sangfor Technologies, an enterprise software company, is offering a new hyperconverged infrastructure system with capabilities for fast deployment and rapid scalability in the business space. The new appliances are now available with pre-configured hypervisors, storage, virtual switches, and other components. These optimized converged systems provide customers turnkey solutions for their most demanding needs, including high availability environments or cloud deployments such as Microsoft Azure Stack or OpenStack.
4. Storage Consolidation
One of the critical benefits of HCI is storage consolidation. With reputable hyperconverged vendors, businesses can reduce the number of physical devices they need to manage and store data. That reduces costs associated with data management and storage and the space your business requires to house data center equipment. Additionally, it allows organizations to place workloads on the most appropriate platform.
For example, certain apps may better suit a server or a network-attached storage device. When you consolidate your workloads onto one hardware device (such as an all-flash array), you can use all of its resources for just that one application rather than splitting them up between applications that may not be compatible. Sangfor Technologies is helping businesses leverage hyper-converged infrastructure in their IT strategy, including storage consolidation.
5. Convenience, Reliability, and Efficiency
As your business grows, so does the demand for your IT infrastructure. More users and more data can quickly lead to increases in operational costs. But what if there was a way to cut those costs without sacrificing performance or reliability? Hyper-converged infrastructure (HCI) tech can do just that. By consolidating storage, computing, and networking into a single platform, HCI can help reduce operational costs for businesses of all sizes.
For example, many hyperconverged vendors offer simplified management systems that automate routine tasks such as backup and recovery. These efficiencies allow you to allocate resources elsewhere in your organization. Also, with less maintenance required for physical servers and related equipment, HCI is an excellent option for companies looking to free up space in their data centers.
6. Greater Availability of Services
When businesses utilize hyper-converged infrastructure technology, they can experience greater availability of services. HCI integrates and virtualizes all IT resources and components within a single platform. As a result, should a part fail, the others can continue to function correctly and keep the business up and running.
That translates into fewer outages in a company’s operations, which leads to less customer frustration or disappointment. Fewer Outages Mean Fewer Downtime Expenses: Those fewer downtime expenses are not just for periods of the actual outage—they also apply when the system has to go offline for maintenance purposes. For example, Sangfor Technologies, by using hyper-converged infrastructure, have been able to deliver 100% uptime during some of its most significant migration projects with minimal impact on the organization.
7. Cloud-based Virtualized Solutions
One of the main benefits of HCI is that it offers virtualized solutions. That can help reduce the number of physical servers you need, saving your business money. Additionally, it can make it easier to manage your IT infrastructure since everything is in one place. Enterprise cloud storage is also available with this system, making storing company data more convenient. Plus, HCI allows you to have better disaster recovery and high availability without any additional hardware investment because it’s all included as part of the solution.
In addition, many companies are using HCI for server consolidation projects and private cloud deployments. Sangfor Technologies has been working with customers who want to take advantage of HCI technology by upgrading their existing environments or moving from legacy systems to the new modern architecture.
Conclusion
HCI technology can save businesses money while increasing operational efficiency. HCI systems are easier to manage than traditional IT infrastructure and allow companies to quickly scale up or down as needed. HCI systems are also more reliable and offer better performance than conventional systems. HCI technology is an excellent option for businesses that want to improve their IT infrastructure. Sangfor Technologies specialize in designing and implementing solutions for customers who need high availability and scalable systems to help your business grow without experiencing downtime or performance issues.