A virtual Paradigm

Managed service provider (MSP) Virtual.Offis officially launched www.virtualserver.com.au in early March. The MSP has set an objective to remove 1,000 servers from the SMB sector over the next three years, said CEO Craig Allen.

According to Allen, the return on virtualisation starts with obvious technology benefits and also offers a convenient approach to those inconvenient truths that will impact business in the near future.

“What is less obvious to the [SMB] sector is the emergence of new legislation changing the laws regulating the impact of technology use on the environment. This is a treated as a distant horizon issue for most SMB’s, but in reality is looming larger than many realise. Virtualisation provides a very convenient approach to tackling this inconvenient truth,” he said.

According to Allen, the reality of impending legislation is largely undisputed in SMB business circles, but additional layers of regulation, compliance and governance are likely to be unwelcome by the already beleaguered sector.

Allen believes organisations like PKBA will play an important role in helping businesses get to grips with new Green operating realities.

“Reducing excess energy consumption by moving to virtual server technologies is an easy step to take and it delivers very real and immediate business benefits at the same time. We’re working to help SMBs tackle the issue, take positive action and in doing so, access the latent opportunity represented by carbon trading,” he said.

Peter Kazacos applauds the 1,000-server initiative and believes it matters little now whether business leaders in the SMB sector believe, disagree or are undecided on the matter of global warming.

“There will be new legislation surrounding the responsible governance of our environment and the impact of IT will not be exempt from scrutiny. These SMBs can take the opportunity to get on the front foot of the issue and there are real opportunities involved in moving to virtual server technology,” said Kazacos.