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How Virtualization Can Help You Grow Your Business

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If you hang around IT circles a lot, you must have heard the words virtualization and virtual machines thrown around in conversations. You’ve probably even heard that these things can save costs and capacity for organizations, and help them grow.

Perhaps you’re already wondering how your business can enjoy these benefits.

This article explains what virtualization is, and takes you through some of the concepts involved with it. It also shows how your company can gain on multiple fronts from adopting virtualization technology.

What is Virtualization?

Virtualization is the process of creating virtual versions of operating systems, servers, and networks.

To understand this, let’s remind ourselves what a ‘virtual’ thing is. That word refers to a non-real representation of something real. For instance, there’s Virtual Reality (VR) which is supposed to mirror reality in some way but isn’t real.

So in virtualization, we create virtual copies of operating systems, servers, networks, and other resources. Instead of these items existing within single sets of hardware, we could have multiple virtual resources existing on a single set of hardware.

For instance, you could have two operating systems— Microsoft Windows and a Linux –running on the same computer. Or you could have several applications on just one server.

But how is this possible?

How Virtualization Works

Today, we operate our computers with very fast CPUs and servers. Typically, we would host a single operating system on one computer, or one application on a server. This often leaves these resources with plenty of unused capacity.

With virtualization, you can make the most of that capacity by running several virtual systems on each of them.

Virtualization happens when a virtualization layer is created to separate the hardware component of a system from the user. This separation allows for the creation of several ‘virtual machines’, or virtual computers each with its operating system and applications. These virtual machines and OS exist on a single physical machine or computer.

Types of Virtualization

There are various types of virtualization, involving different kinds of resources.

  • OS Virtualization: The creation of one or more virtual operating systems or machines.
  • Server virtualization: This divides a single server into multiple virtual servers.
  • Application virtualization: Here you can run applications that aren’t installed on your computer as though they were. This is possible because you separate them from the hardware on which they are supposed to be running.
  • Network virtualization: In this situation, you reproduce whole network infrastructure— hardware and software –as a software entity, a virtual network.
  • Storage virtualization: Here, you group multiple network storage devices into one large storage unit. You can do this by separating the storage-management software from the supporting hardware component and uniting them virtually.

The Benefits of Virtualization for Your Business

Here’s how virtualization can help your business.

  1. Reduced Costs

With virtualization, you can handle workloads on a single system that would have taken you two or three such systems to get done. Each system can take multiple operating systems, which means you can deal with different tasks on each OS.

If you don’t have to acquire new infrastructure for every new hire or branch that you open, you’ll save a lot of costs. That’s what virtualization helps you achieve. You only use a fraction of your usual expenses, because you’re making the most of existing resources.

  1. Manageability

You will need fewer people and tools to manage your resources. That’s because there’s a lot more you can track and take care of from fewer devices.

  1. Less Energy Use

One problem with running single operating systems and applications on computers and servers is that it consumes a lot of energy. If you had several virtual machines on a single system (with each one running an OS) you would only need to power a single physical system instead of many.

This means your energy bills will be smaller. But it also contributes to environmental sustainability.

  1. Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity

Virtualization plays a big role in Disaster Recovery.

When there’s a network outage, you risk losing important files. Even if you have them backed up in hardware on site it may take days to retrieve.

With Disaster Recovery, you can have virtual versions of your operating systems, servers, and networks come on within minutes of an outage. This saves your files and allows you to carry on with work in a very short while.  Ultimately, it reduces or eliminates downtimes, allowing you to deliver uninterrupted service to your customers.

Some IT service companies like Layer3 provide Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS) to their clients. It’s an important part of the business continuity strategy for many of these organizations.

  1. Smaller Data Centers

As your resource optimization improves, you’ll find that you don’t need a lot of physical space to host your resources. If you’re able to partition hardware and use virtual servers, you’ll only need a fraction of the data center space you would require if you were going on without deliberate virtualization.

  1. Increased Productivity

Your team will get more work done when they can use multiple resources. They can turn to the ones that work best for each situation, and call on a wider range of applications whenever they need to get things done.

With increased productivity, there’s the prospect of higher revenues. And because you’re also spending less on fewer physical resources, your margins will likely be higher, and your profits could expand (other things held constant).

Where Can You Get the Best Virtualization Service?

Many firms offer virtualization services. They do so directly, or through partner companies that are closer to client businesses. If you’re in Nigeria and you would like to save costs and grow your business with virtualization, you can do this with Layer3.

Layer3 has partnered with VMWare, the world’s leading provider of virtualization services, to deliver the world-class virtual capabilities your business needs. From digital workspaces to virtual cloud networks, our range of solutions will enable you to maximize your resources, and reap more from your IT investments.

Would you like to find out how virtualization can help you improve your business processes? We can help you. Get in touch with us HERE, and we’ll take things up from there.Layer


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E-Business

FG Mulls Fibre Optic Layout to Bridge Internet Gaps

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President Bola Tinubu said that his administration has initiated a project to install fibre optic cables across the country, aimed at enhancing the socio-economic development of Nigeria.

FG Mulls Fibre Optic Layout to Bridge Internet Gaps

His plans were contained in a speech he delivered at a joint session of the National Assembly in commemoration of Democracy Day on Thursday, June 12.

He said the fibre optic layout is part of other projects being embarked on.

“In addition, we have embarked on an ambitious project to lay fibre optic cables across the nation, a transformative step toward bridging the digital divide and fostering greater connectivity.

“This initiative promises not only to enhance the speed and reliability of internet access but also to revolutionise how businesses operate, how students learn, and how communities stay connected,” Tinubu stated.

He maintained that by extending this critical infrastructure, his government is empowering entrepreneurs, enabling digital education, and providing the tools for our youth to compete in a globalised world.

In a most recent report on Internet connectivity, The ICIR pointed out how Nigeria has faced setbacks in its deployment of fibre optic cables and needs a transformation.

The challenges revolve around vandalism, inadequate coordination between road construction and telecom infrastructure, and varying right-of-way (RoW) charges across states.

Among industry experts, these issues impact network outages, increase repair costs, and hinder broadband expansion efforts.

It has also further threatened the digital economy, leading to slower Internet speeds, dropped calls, and unreliable connectivity among others.


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African Startups Raised $345m in Funding in May

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African startups raised more than $345 million across 65 deals in May, more than double the amount raised in the same period of last year, according to a report by Briter, a research and business intelligence firm.

The report disclosed that both the number of deals and participating companies declined, confirming a growing trend of fewer companies raising funds in larger sizes.

It said fintech attracted the highest share of funding in May, accounting for 34 percent of the total, while cleantech followed closely, driven by a debt deal from Sun King. The company raised $80 million (in local currency) to expand clean energy access in Nigeria.

“Equity remains the primary instrument in terms of total value. There’s no doubt about it; in fact, equity deals with disclosed amounts captured more than half of the total funding volume in May.

“However, debt financing is increasingly proving its weight. Although it accounted for only 8 percent of all deals, it represented 32 percent of the total funding, highlighting the typically larger size of debt transactions. With the rise of specialised vehicles targeting early-stage businesses, debt is becoming an increasingly important part of Africa’s innovation funding landscape,” it said.

Briter’s report added that grants continued to play a vital role in early-stage support, especially in the education technology (EdTech) sector. The Mastercard Foundation led the pack in grant activity, funding a new cohort of EdTech innovators in Nigeria and Kenya. Each selected startup is set to receive $100,000 in grant funding, in addition to mentorship and business development support.

Multilaterals also made a strong showing in May, it said. The Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), a World Bank Group member, issued a $179.6 million guarantee to CleanTech firm KOKO Networks. The support will help scale its clean energy solutions across Kenya.

“This deal not only demonstrates growing international confidence in African climate ventures but also signals a promising pathway for other asset-intensive startups in clean cooking, agriculture, and renewable energy,” the report said.

From a geographic perspective, Egypt emerged as the continent’s fundraising powerhouse for the month, contributing 51 percent of all funding raised. The country recorded 12 deals across equity, debt, and bond instruments. Notably, FinTech platform MNT-Halan raised $50 million through a bond issuance, further illustrating the diversification of capital-raising mechanisms in the region.

Outside Egypt, funding was distributed across Africa’s three other key markets, which are Egypt, Nigeria, and Kenya, with limited activity recorded in countries such as Ghana, Tunisia, Morocco, and Uganda, each registering between one and three deals.

In terms of exits, the African tech landscape continues to mature. Three companies—Baobab+, Qardy, and Shopa—were acquired in May, bringing the total number of exits this year to 22. This already surpasses last year’s count for the same period. Qardy was acquired by Catalyst Partners Middle East (CPME) in a disclosed deal valued at $23 million, the report added.

 


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Human Hacking: When Cyber Criminals Target You

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By Nancy Werteen

When you get anti-hacking advice, you’ve probably heard “Don’t use a simple password,” or “Don’t plug in that USB you found on the ground.”

Human Hacking: When Cyber Criminals Target You

But there’s one form of hacking that doesn’t always require a computer, and it costs businesses about 4.88 million dollars a year.

Modern hackers aren’t trying to get into your computer; they’re trying to get into you.

“They’ll try to learn about you a little bit, and they’ll try to use that information against you to try to get you to complete some action, maybe to send somebody some money,” said Kevin Moran, PhD, Assistant Professor of Computer Science, Cyber Security and Privacy Cluster, University of Central Florida.

IBM calls this human hacking, because it exploits human error instead of system error.

“With people just being busy and maybe not very carefully checking some of the emails or the phone calls that they get, can be something unfortunately that people can fall victim to,” said Moran.

Also known as social engineering, this often takes the form of phishing, where the hacker tries to “fish” the information out of you by impersonating family, friends, or even your bank.

There’s also baiting, where the hacker baits you with something of value. Remember the Nigerian prince scam?

That’s a famous example of baiting. There’s also pretexting, where the hacker will claim the victim has already been hacked, and that the hacker can fix it if you just send over your passwords. So, what can you do?

“Just as a rule of thumb, instead of clicking on links and emails, just go to the website yourself. And that will prevent, a lot of these types of attacks from happening,” explained Moran.

Phishing can take many forms.

Spear phishing targets people with access to confidential information, often to get access into an entire business, and whale phishing targets CEOs or political figures.

Search engine phishing is when hackers create fake websites promising services or goods you’ll never receive.

Angler phishing is when hackers create fake social media accounts impersonating famous people or companies.

Finally, vishing and smishing is phishing done through phone calls and texts respectively.

 

 

 

 

 


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