Storage virtualization is a virtualization technique that consolidates several physical storage devices, such as hard disk drives (HDD) and solid-state drives (SSD), into a single pool of storage.
What is the purpose of storage virtualization?
The primary purpose of storage virtualization is to streamline the management of storage resources and improve their efficiency.
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Boost efficiency
Storage virtualization enhances IT efficiency by centralizing the visibility of all storage resources for IT administrators. This makes it easier for IT teams to allocate, monitor, and secure storage from a single hub.
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Optimized storage space and performance
Storage virtualization pools resources, ensuring storage does not go underutilized across all devices in an IT infrastructure. This process also helps balance workloads across multiple storage devices, optimizing system performance and reducing bottlenecks.
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Scalability
With storage virtualization, IT administrators can easily add storage capacity in the future with minimal disruptions.
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Reduced costs
Businesses do not need to spend as much on expensive hardware and additional software for their storage needs.
How does storage virtualization work?
Storage virtualization begins with replicating physical storage as a virtual volume. The next step creates a virtual layer between physical storage devices and the servers that access them. This virtualization layer pools multiple physical disks into a single, logical storage volume. This consolidated storage pool can then be divided into smaller virtual disks, each appearing as a separate physical disk to the server. These logical storage blocks help redirect input/output (I/O) requests from operating systems or applications to the correct storage resources.
What is the most common type of storage virtualization?
The most common type of storage virtualization is network-based. Many businesses employ a storage area network (SAN), wherein a network device, like a server or smart switch, utilizes either the FC or ISCSI network protocols to connect several storage devices as a single virtual pool.
What are the risks of storage virtualization?
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Performance
If the virtualization layer isn’t properly optimized, it can introduce latency in I/O operations, slowing down applications. Resource contention through centralization might also lead to bottlenecks if infrastructure isn’t scaled appropriately.
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Centralization risks
The hypervisor behind virtualized storage can become a single point of failure, which means any issues could disrupt access to all virtualized storage resources.
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Malware and ransomware
Centralized storage environments can become targets for hackers, who can use malware and ransomware to compromise virtualized storage systems. Proper access controls, encryption, and secure protocols need to be implemented to maintain a strong security posture.
Take proactive steps to secure your virtualized storage and devices with NinjaOne’s remote monitoring and management.
Secure virtualized storage and data.
While storage virtualization optimizes a business’s data storage flexibility, IT teams need to consider potential security risks and take pro-active measures to ensure data integrity and security. This is why IT decision-makers should consider investing in the best virtual machine monitoring software to safeguard their data.
NinjaOne provides IT teams with full visibility and control over their IT infrastructure, allowing businesses to rely on scalable and secure virtualized data storage infrastructure. For enhanced data protection, NinjaOne also offers backup and endpoint security capabilities alongside their remote monitoring and management tools in a single pane of glass.
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