Virtualization

We, as a leading provider of cutting-edge virtualization solutions, empower businesses to transcend physical limitations and unlock the true potential of their computing environments. We understand the dynamic landscape of modern businesses, where Security, Scalability, and Costeectiveness are paramount. Broadly we can classify the virtualization platforms on the basis of Hypervisors & Mode of usage as below

Microsoft Hyper-V Server.

VMWare ESX Server

Hyper-V Cluster/S2D

VMWare V-Sphere.

Azure Stack HCI.

VMWare V-SAN.

Our comprehensive suite of virtualization services are designed to revolutionize the way organizations manage their IT resources, enabling them to create an Infrastructure that can drive unparalleled productivity, or upgrading existing setup for streamlining operations to optimize performance to support business growth.

New Implementation

If it is a new Implementation, it would be in the following mode:

a) Requirement Analysis.

b) Existing Infrastructure-HWAnalysis.

c) Network Info gathering.

d) Assess best possible architecture.

e) HW/SWSuitabilityassessment.

f) Actual build and deployment.

g) Documentation & Handover.

Example:

1. It could be a Standalone Virtualization or Cluster Server Virtualization or a HCI Virtualization.

2. It could be a Cluster with a SAN or S2D or even External storage

3. It could be a ‘Private cloud’ or ‘Hybrid Cloud’ or a Geo-Stretched (Geographically dispersed) cluster

Upgradation

If it is an upgrade to an existing setup, it would possibly involve one or more of the below.

a) One platform to anotherplatform V2V (VMWare to Hyper-VorVice-e-versa).

b) Physical to Virtual.

c) OS Upgrade.

d) HWupgrade.

e) NWUpgrade.

f) One model to anothermodel (Standalone to cluster to HCI to Hybrid orVice-e-versa)

Migration

Lateral movements to suit business needs, can benefit from our expert advice, supervision, or implementation.

a) Cloud to local.

b) Local to Cloud.

c) Cross platform migration (Ex: Type 2 to Type 1 Hypervisoretc.,)

d) Colocation service to DC.

e) P2V.

Finetuning

Once virtualisation is Implemented, the setup must be fine-tuned for optimal performance on the following categories.

a) Performance fine tuning.

b) Securityfine tuning with zero compromise on performance.

c) Cluster/HCI fine tuning.

d) NW/RDMAfine tuning.

e) Storage fine tuning.

f) VM fine tuning.

Audit & Evaluation of existing Virtualisation

When auditing an existing virtualization setup, there are several key steps and considerations to ensure that the system is operating optimally and meeting the organization’s needs.

a) Assessment of topology.

b) Security– Vulnerability/Baseline/ Hardening/ Log management.

c) Performance – Baseline metrics/ Error logs.

d) Hardware Assessment ofServer (HOST).

e) Hardware NWdevice/s assessment.

f) If external storage/SAN – IOPS.

Monitoring

Monitoring a virtualized environment on a continual basis is crucial for ensuring performance, identifying issues, and maintaining the overall health and security of the infrastructure.

Here are the key aspects and best practices for monitoring virtualization effectively.

a) Host monitoring.

b) Network monitoring.

c) Storage monitoring.

d) Backup Monitoring.

e) Log Monitoring.

f) VM health monitoring.

g) Smart Page file monitoring.

h) VM Performance monitoring.

i) Cluster monitoring.

j) Patch status monitoring.

k) Usage monitoring.

Licensing & Compliance

Given the nature of license application on virtualisation, it is better left to experts, to be on the safer side of compliance as well as cost optimisation from business perspective.

Security & Hardening

Securing and hardening a virtualized environment is crucial to protect against various threats and vulnerabilities.

The following would be the indicative lines on which security needs to be enhanced & hardened.

a) End point management.

b) Baseline security.

c) Patch management.

d) Industry standard hardening.

e) Physical network security.

f) Virtual network security.

g) Encryption.

h) Internet security policy.

I) LAN security policy.

j) Micro-segmentation.

k) Secure template management.

l) HW/Firmware Management.

Backup

Backup in virtualization sphere with the advent of technology growth, has the following modalities:

a) Virtual machine full backup.

b) Virtual machine snapshot backup.

c) Host machine state backup.

d) Storage backup.

e) Application aware backup.

HA/DR/BCP

Any standalone virtualisation solution would mandate HA, and this is one of the most common finding in our practice. DR & BCP can be taken up as a combined solution. The following would be the generic adoptions, which could be combined or modified to suit requirement.

a) Storage replica.

b) Stretched cluster.

c) VM replica.

d) Backup server

Cloud Integration

Hybrid cloud that requires integration with public cloud such as Azure and AWS could be implemented, and in some cases, VPN might as well be employed as an integration measure.

Branch office/Edge

Office location that does not have much of infrastructural capabilities can benefit from virtualisation by consolidating and optimising resources. Thin resources can be deployed, which can still operate with complete functionality using this strategy.