Virtual private server news: More firms 'to embrace virtualisation'

Server virtualisation is set to increase in popularity around the world over the next few years, a new report suggests.

Intelligence organisation Gartner predicts that the number of firms using virtual private servers and related systems will increase from 16 per cent to 50 per cent by the end of 2012.

This will amount to around 58 million virtual machines, the report indicates, with many of them used by small and medium-sized businesses.

Tom Bittman, vice-president and distinguished analyst at Gartner, said that while large enterprises were quick to leverage virtual machines to reduce server sprawl and power costs, small business started late on virtualisation.

"However, by year-end 2010, enterprises with 100-999 employees will have a higher penetration of virtual machines deployed than the Global 500," he added.

"For years the entry point was simply too high for small enterprises, but increased competition by server vendors has enabled smaller firms to embrace virtualisation."

Peter Sondergaard, senior vice-president and global head of research at Gartner, recently claimed that virtualisation, business intelligence and social media deployments are at the top of many firm's agendas at present.

Written by Chris Ball