For many small- to medium-sized businesses (SMBs), resources can be scarce and, very often, IT takes a back seat. Hyperconverged IT infrastructures are a great way to keep your IT updated without the heavy expenses normally associated with it.
What are hyperconverged infrastructures?
In a traditional IT environment, networking, server, and storage hardware need to be purchased separately and configured to work together as a cohesive system.

Routers, switches, modems, gateways, firewalls, servers, and storage devices — these are just some of the many machines you need to build a network infrastructure that enables effective internal and external communications. Even when pared down to serve fewer users, the costs of building a similar infrastructure were prohibitive for SMBs, at least until hyperconvergence came along.

In the world of IT, there is a continuous quest to build systems with less time, funds, and effort. This is why virtualization has become so popular. One type of virtualization, virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI), provides a consistent desktop experience from any device.

Every now and then, we need to reset the conversation about virtualization and review how it works in its most basic form. With so many advances, it can be hard to keep up if you’re not a regular reader. This article not only defines virtualization and its benefits, it also includes a real-world workstation for you to experiment with!
What is virtualization?
The simplest definition is this: It’s the act of creating a virtual (rather than physical) version of something, including hardware platforms, storage devices, and computer network resources.

Azure and XenDesktop may not be household names, but the newest partnership between Microsoft’s cloud platform and Citrix’s virtualization client are making big waves in the industry. Announced at Citrix’s annual partner Summit, the newest thing in virtualization is a win for everyone.

If you thought virtualization was confusing, wait until you hear about hyperconvergence. By consolidating a number of virtualization services into a single piece of hardware, that runs a single piece of software, small- and medium-sized businesses can enjoy the simplicity, cost effectiveness, and security of a cloud infrastructure, in one on-site “box.