Security and regulatory concerns have some users warily eyeing the move to server virtualization.

Server Virtualization: Top Five Security Concerns

For example, during the past year, the Stanford Hospital & Clinics, part of Stanford University in Palo Alto, Calif., has shifted about half of its applications from traditional server platforms to VMware-based virtual machines (VM) — and found it strongly impacted decision-making on security.

“You change the character of the IT infrastructure,” says Mike Mucha, information security officer at the hospital, about what he’s seen in virtualization’s impact. “There’s uncertainty.”

“Virtualization tends to be an extension of the server component and it’s led by the server team,” Mucha says. But virtualization’s switching aspect means the traditional network itself is altered, which Mucha notes has generated some “pushback” from the network and storage teams that also have to be at the table when it comes to making decisions.”The server people are taking on non-traditional roles, making decisions about network architecture,” he says about virtualization’s impact in his organization.

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