Understanding Hyperconvergence Infrastructure, and When You Might Need It
Though the idea that 20% of small businesses fail within their first year of operations may sound horrifying to you, there are simple ways that you can avoid becoming part of this statistic.
Technology management is one of the biggest challenges for these businesses. You likely have had trouble logging, categorizing, storing, managing, and analyzing the data stored on your servers. When stored in too many different locations, it becomes difficult to find and conceptualize the data that you have.
There is, however, a way to combat this issue: hyperconvergence infrastructure. But what is hyperconvergence infrastructure, exactly? Read on to learn!
What Is Hyperconvergence Infrastructure?
Hyperconvergence infrastructure is a Cloud computing technology that centralizes all of your data on the Cloud. This data includes not only storage and data/documents stored within it but also network resources such as applications and browser data.
The reason for this is that every server that your business uses will be stored in a software-defined storage system. You can access it from anywhere at any time because computing and networking are completely virtualized.
You will be able to access items in the infrastructure from anywhere within the workplace, but some users may also access them on home devices or even mobile ones. As long as the device has been pre-authorized and set up to use the x86 servers that have replaced your old hardware, users can get into the infrastructure.
Basically, you will not need to rely on different computer and storage systems because everything is software-defined. Hyperconvergence infrastructure solutions allow for everything to be implemented in software (via the hypervisor) rather than in physical hardware.
Is It Secure?
Assuming that you secure them properly, hyperconvergence infrastructure is 100% secure. However, it requires a more application-based approach to security due to the high volume of applications that they contain and manage.
You will need to make sure that each Cloud-contained app is secure on its own so that unauthorized users cannot access it on the Cloud. Assuming that you have done this, items stored on a hyperconvergence infrastructure are just as secure as anything else on the Cloud, which is quite secure since new technologies are always developing.
However, you also will need to take appropriate security measures when it comes to the infrastructure itself. Do the research on your specific infrastructure and Cloud provider to learn what encryption is necessary to keep your data safe. You will likely need a password in addition to other encryption keys that you can share only with authorized users.
What Are Its Benefits?
As you might imagine, completely eliminating hardware has a multitude of benefits. Not only will your data be accessible from anywhere, but it can integrate with any other software that is compatible with your Cloud storage technology. There's no need to worry about whether your hardware can sustain data or the applications that you want to use to run and manage it.
The managed IT providers who offer you hyperconverged infrastructure will take care of all updates and downloads required to keep the software running. You will not need to hire another specialized team to do so.
In addition to their intrinsic benefits, both hardware elimination and integrated IT management can save you a lot of money. You no longer will need to hire trained professionals in-house to maintain and upgrade either hardware or online systems, so you can invest in hiring more people to develop, design, and market your core product.
You also will no longer need to pay for hardware or software maintenance because your Cloud provider will perform all tasks that you need to be completed regarding your data. Automatic upgrades and organization are made possible with hyperconvergence infrastructures where they previously were not.
In addition, consolidating all functional elements eliminates data center inefficiencies that otherwise would arise. The total cost of ownership will reduce, especially when you consider that federated management will be part of your Cloud provider's job.
When Might You Need It?
There are many scenarios in which you may need to switch to hyperconvergence infrastructure. As a small business, you likely do not have a lot of office space to spare for computer hardware and replacement parts. If you find that technology is taking up more room than you would like it to, hyperconvergence solutions can eliminate this clutter altogether.
You also may need to use hyperconvergence infrastructure for financial reasons. If you are struggling to find the funds you need to hire marketing professionals, salespeople, developers, and more, you do not want to worry about drudging up the money to hire additional IT professionals as well. You can find someone in your office to manage your data if you choose a converged infrastructure.
Another reason to get hyperconvergence infrastructure is the freedom of choice that it offers. You can use either built-in virtualization or bring your preferred/preexisting hypervisor into the mix. This lets you integrate the technologies in the specific ways that work best for your business.
It's Time To Get Started
So, what is hyperconvergence infrastructure?
In short, it's one of the top IT solutions to fit your small business needs. However, there's much more to it than that—it's a solution that combines your resources to a single space so that you can manage and interpret them more easily.
Contact us with any remaining questions that you may have about this technology. Our experts are happy to help with both selection and implementation so that you can have an easier time managing your data.
