Are you running a superior virtualization effort? You're ngoing to need the measurements to prove it. A recent study by IDC examines metrics that IT leaders can use to nbenchmark how well they're managing virtualization. You may be running a superior effort with regards to your virtualized data center, but as with every other IT project, you’re going to need the measurements to prove success. A recent study by IDC examines some metrics that IT leaders can use to benchmark how well they’re managing virtualization. (Source: “Key IT and Business Benchmarks for Managing Virtual Infrastructure;” IDC report by Stephen Elliot and Richard L. Villars.)RELATED LINKS Future Threats to VM Security: Fact vs. Fiction Citrix Seals XenSource Deal, Pressures VMWare Taking Virtual Servers Beyond Data Center Consolidation How Server Virtualization Tools Can Balance Data Center Loads How To Do Virtualization Right Hypervisor for Laptops Could Rock Your Mobile World Make no mistake: Now’s the time to make managing your virtual infrastructure a priority, as you allocate budget and staff, IDC’s Elliott says. Otherwise, you won’t be able to optimize virtualization results or savings, or plan strategically for the future.The study also gives a quick look at where your peers stand with managing virtualization:Management team: 15 percent of IT groups are creating a dedicated team, often called the virtual computing team, that brings together experts from various IT disciplines to manage the overall virtualization effort, IDC finds. 85 percent of enterprises are creating a virtualization management group inside of server and/or storage teams. (This second statistic should serve as a warning bell: Security experts say you need an integrated IT team that includes network, storage and security expertise, as you manage virtualization.)Staffing: How lean is your staff running the virtualized data center? According to IDC, the average VM-to-administrator ratio, or average number of virtual images per administrator, is 200. Process-related cost savings: IDC finds that the average cost-savings for IT groups deploying formal management processes and solutions for their virtual infrastructure is $100,000 to $200,000. The savings result from choices such as applying ITIL-based processes to the virtualization effort.Making use of ITIL: Some 30 percent of IT groups who are implementing ITIL-based processes are making their virtual infrastructure part of the workflow.Getting Strategic: While many enterprises are still grappling with the tactical side of virtualization, business demands for use of virtualization for business continuity and for new applications will mean virtualization management becomes a strategic project within two years of initial deployment. Related content News Nvidia accelerates enterprise adoption of generative AI Nvidia’s AI Foundations as-a-service offering aims to help enterprises build and run AI models that generate text, graphics, and even proteins. By Peter Sayer Mar 21, 2023 5 mins Cloud Management Infrastructure Management Artificial Intelligence BrandPost The Era of Multi-Cloud Services Has Arrived How to unlock the benefits of multi-cloud environments By Adelino Simao Mar 21, 2023 4 mins VMware BrandPost Why CISOs Are Looking to Lateral Security to Mitigate Ransomware How to fight ransomeware attacks with lateral security By Adelino Simao Mar 21, 2023 4 mins VMware BrandPost 4 Factors That Influence Modern App Success in a Multi-Cloud Environment Enable your developers to do what they do best: code By Adelino Simao Mar 21, 2023 5 mins VMware Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe