Cloud and VM Integration and Management

Server Virtualization and Private Clouds
Two successive IT technology revolutions have changed the face of computing: virtualization and cloud computing. Virtualization makes it possible to harness the explosive growth of servers, and cloud computing makes it safe and inexpensive to outsource network infrastructure and server management.

Progent offers advanced expertise providing virtualization solutions based on Microsoft Hyper-V, VMware vSphere and NSX, and Citrix platforms. In addition, Progent's cloud integration consultants can help you move Windows and Linux virtual machines (VMs) and applications to popular cloud services like Microsoft Azure, Amazon AWS, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP) to cut the cost of IT infrastructure and management. Progent can help you design and deploy a network model that's right for you, including an on-premises, cloud-centric, or hybrid solution that integrates local resources with one or more public cloud services. In addition, Progent can help you deploy and manage a cloud backup solution by providing Altaro VM Backup for protecting virtual machines, Altaro Office 365 backup/recovery support, or MSP360 Backup services. Progent also offers Private Cloud Hosting services designed to allow small and midsize organizations to take advantage of cloud computing while retaining more control over their environment than is possible with public clouds.

The Server Population Explosion
Increased server count is a reality for organizations of all sizes and the trend is accelerating. The proliferation of servers is driven by a number of factors, including:

• Mission-critical IT applications: As more IT applications become mission critical to a business, more servers are needed for redundancy and for test-bed and pilot systems used to ensure that upgrades can be safely and seamlessly put into production. Organizations that demand 100% uptime for vital applications have no realistic alternative but to utilize fault-tolerant solutions that require multiple servers and utilize server clustering and server load balancing.
• More applications, more servers: Companies are seeing quick return on investment from leveraging existing IT network infrastructure by deploying new classes of server applications that increase collaboration, information sharing, and productivity through automated work flow. Strategic applications such as Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft Exchange, and Microsoft Dynamics GP Business Accounting, should be run on dedicated servers.
• Segmentation and isolation of applications: Many organizations, including relatively small businesses, have learned through experience that hosting multiple applications on a single server is prone to problems, including reduced application stability, unforeseen software incompatibilities, and security patches or bug fixes for one application adversely affecting other applications. IT administration and management is made more difficult when normal maintenance functions on one application can't be performed during regular business hours because of the potential impact on other applications running on the same server.
• Mixed platform environments: More organizations are embracing a mixed platform strategy with open source applications that often run only under Linux, and thus can't be hosted on existing Windows server infrastructure.

• Capital costs for more physical servers: There are significant capital costs for acquiring new servers, along with the building out of the physical infrastructure to house, power, and cool extra equipment. The addition of a single server can trigger the need for a major upgrade to a data center or computer room to accommodate increased capacity. This can cost thousands, if not tens of thousands, of dollars.
• Setup costs for servers: Costs for installing and provisioning each server must be factored in on top of the capital outlay for equipment.
• Linear increase in IT management costs: Unless innovative approaches are utilized in setting up and managing more servers, each new server comes with significant ongoing IT management overhead leading to a linear increase in monthly IT support costs. Even mundane IT tasks such as installing updates and patches can become a major problem if the work can't be accomplished during available maintenance windows.
• Inability to standardize server platforms: The rapid evolution of server hardware makes it practically impossible to standardize on any particular brand and model of server platform. Equipment may be bought over a 2-3 year timeframe, but individual models quickly become obsolete and unavailable for purchase. The usual result is a hodgepodge of equipment that precludes the use of any efficient server replication techniques such as template operating system installations. Consequently, most servers end up being configured from scratch using time-consuming manual methods. Many facets of IT management also become more complex when working with advanced configurations such as clustering or redundant servers when servers tied to specific applications are not interchangeable components.
• Server upgrades become daunting: As existing server hardware reaches its end of useful life, the task of upgrading servers becomes a labor-intensive and technically risky endeavor. In most cases the existing operating system configurations can't be moved directly to new hardware, and the environments must be re-created from scratch. Long forgotten configuration details can easily be lost over time, creating instability and user problems for systems that were once stable. The threat of such problems often prompt organizations simply to put off timely upgrades until systems reach a crisis.
• Asset management headaches: IT asset management becomes more time consuming for tasks such as documenting and maintaining service agreements in environments where servers are deployed at different times with different contract expiration dates.

Microsoft's premier platform for managing virtualized datacenters and private clouds is System Center Virtual Machine Manager (SCVMM). SCVMM provides unified management of virtual machine (VM) hosts, network fabric, and virtualized storage for private clouds. SCVMM lets you create, deploy and manage VMs and services across a mix of Windows Server Hyper-V, VMware vSphere, and Citrix XenServer hosts. SCVMM also works in conjunction with System Center Operations Manager (SCOM) to track the health and performance of VMs and VM hosts and to generate comprehensive reports. To find out about Progent's consulting and troubleshooting services for SCVMM, see System Center Virtual Machine Manager consulting.

Progent can provide the services of a VMware VCDX-certified expert to help you deploy, manage and troubleshoot any product in VMware's extensive portfolio of virtualization technologies including vSphere for cloud computing virtualization, ESXi for server virtualization, NSX for network virtualization, vSAN for software defined storage, vRealize Suite for managing hybrid clouds, Site Recovery Manager for automated disaster recovery, and VMware Workstation for desktop virtualization.

Other important server management technologies for which Progent can provide consulting expertise include network monitoring software, and Windows Server Update Services.

Virtualization technology can also be utilized for centralizing the delivery of Windows desktops and applications to local, remote, and mobile clients. This can significantly cut management costs for common time-consuming tasks such as desktop deployment, provisioning, and updating. Virtualized desktops and applications can also improve productivity by avoiding application and operating system conflicts and by allowing fast recovery or replacement of damaged or lost client hardware. Security is also improved with desktop virtualization because policies are easier to enforce and sensitive data can be confined to the data center. Progent can provide cost-effective online access to certified desktop virtualization experts to help you select, install, and maintain desktop virtualization technologies from Microsoft and Citrix.

Follow these links to find out more about virtual server and server management technology and products, the advantages virtual servers can bring to your business, and how Progent's consultants can help you create solutions for all aspects of server management and desktop virtualization.

• How Virtual Servers Simplify Server Management
• VMware vSphere and ESXi Consulting and Support
• VMware Site Recovery Manager Disaster Preparedness Consulting
• VMware NSX Virtual Network Design and Deployment
• Windows Server 2022 Hybrid Cloud Solutions
• Windows Server 2019 Hyper-V Hybrid Cloud Integration
• Windows Server 2016 Hyper-V Hybrid Cloud Solutions
• Windows Server 2012 Hyper-V Support Services
• Windows Server 2008 R2 Hyper-V Support Services
• System Center Virtual Machine Manager Consulting
• Citrix XenServer and Xen Hypervisor Expertise
• Citrix Essentials for Hyper-V Consulting
• Citrix XenApp Integration and Support
• Citrix XenDesktop Consulting Services
• Using Microsoft Operations Manager to Manage Virtual Servers
• Windows Server Update Services

Public Cloud Integration
Progent offers fast and affordable remote support for enabling businesses to build, manage and repair integrated hybrid network architectures that include physical data centers, remote workers, branches, and cloud resources. Progent offers expertise for all modes of cloud service such as Infrastructure as a Service, Platform as a Service, and Software as a Service (SaaS). Progent can help teleworkers fix issues with cloud access, authentication, and security.

Azure is a leading family of cloud software and services that allows you to utilize infrastructure, virtual servers, and key apps hosted on Microsoft's extensive cloud. Azure offers more than one hundred cloud-based services such as the ability to host Windows and Linux-based virtual machines, scalable cloud storage, messaging, application development with Visual Studio, and data protection. Progent can assist your organization to set up VMs on Azure Virtual Machines, configure storage on Azure Storage services, unify identity control with Azure AD, and plan backup and restore solutions with Azure Backup. Progent's cloud experts can also show you how to establish protected connections to Azure services for at-home workers by configuring and debugging firewall appliances and VPN tunnels. For details about Progent's consulting expertise for Azure, go to Azure expertise.

Microsoft 365, previously called Office 365, is Microsoft's growing family of client productivity software and cloud-based services offered on a subscription basis. Office apps and cloud services are marketed in a variety of bundles designed for users ranging from students and small offices to large corporations. Progent offers quick and affordable online access to experts familiar with Microsoft 365-compatible endpoints based on Windows, Mac, iOS, and Google Android technology. Progent's experts can assist your business to evaluate the numerous subscription plans available for Microsoft 365 and deploy 365 apps for your at-home workers in a way that delivers top business value. To find out about Progent's support services for Microsoft 365, see Microsoft 365 consulting support.

Exchange Online is among the most widely used applications in Azure-hosted Microsoft 365 product line. Microsoft 365 Exchange Online offers the advantages of lower spending for data center infrastructure, easier management, on-demand scaling, high reliability, and additional advantages associated with public clouds. Microsoft has designed Exchange Online to run transparently with on-premises Exchange environments, allowing customers to build hybrid networks. Progent's certified Exchange experts can provide as-needed help to guide you through challenging IT bottlenecks and can also provide comprehensive project management outsourcing to make sure your telecommuters have easy and safe access to your Microsoft 365 Exchange Online deployment. For information Progent's expertise for Exchange Online, refer to Exchange Online configuration and support consulting.

Amazon Web Services (AWS) is a trailblazer in the public cloud computing arena and is the industry's top provider of cloud services. Progent can provide fast and economical online access to cloud integration experts who can help your business to design, implement, maintain, and troubleshoot hybrid IT networks that incorporate Amazon AWS cloud-based services with on-premises data centers and with other popular cloud platforms like Azure. Progent also can provide access to Cisco-certified CCIE networking consultants to assist your company to build a high-availability network architecture to make sure your employees have a consistent computing experience regardless of whether they are working from your headquarters, a remote branch, at home, or on the move. To learn about Progent's consulting expertise for Amazon AWS, visit Amazon AWS integration support.

Google Cloud is a leading collection of cloud services that offers Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) and Platform-as-a-Service products. Progent's certified Microsoft, Linux, and Cisco experts can assist you to extend your current IT assets with the Google Cloud, and Progent's database experts can show you how to make your key applications cloud friendly so your at-home workers can benefit fully from Google Cloud services. Progent's consultants can help your organization to deploy VMs on GCP Compute Engine, plan an efficient storage solution with Google Cloud Storage, and streamline access management for teleworkers with Google Cloud Identity services. Progent's consultants can also help your organization to use GCP's management technology to control and track your GCP environment. For information, visit Google Cloud Platform integration support.

Progent's Private Cloud Hosting Services
Cloud computing allows an organization to utilize IT infrastructure including CPU, disk storage that reside on remote data centers accessible via the Internet, or cloud. This alternative to building and maintaining on-premises infrastructure can save substantial capital equipment costs and management expense. Public clouds like Microsoft Azure allow many organizations to share resources in a secure multi-tenant environment, but require a high level of standardization and offer relatively little control over server configuration and security strategies. Private clouds are restricted to a one organization and allow full control over system configuration, resource allocation and security systems.

Progent's Private Cloud Hosting service combines world-class data center facilitiesn with the expertise of Progent's Microsoft Certified consultants to offer small and midsize organizations a full-featured IT outsourcing solution that delivers high availability, security and compliance, fast performance, and streamlined management, all at an affordable and predictable price. Progent offers private cloud hosting at the QTS Sacramento cloud hosting data center and at the Flexential Tampa private cloud data center.

Contact Progent for Virtualization Expertise and Cloud Solutions
To get expert help with virtualization, server management, or cloud solutions, call Progent at 800-993-9400 or visit Contact Progent.