Today, data centers have become the prime targets of environmental agencies because of their supposed incessant use of energy. Hence the need of the hour is to focus more on consolidating data centers and increasing energy efficiency. After controversies surrounding some of the bigwigs of the Internet arena for not being responsible and considerate towards the environment, data centers’ attention mainly revolves around optimizing operations and efficiency. Several parameters define an efficient data center.

Some of the highly efficient data centers include infrastructure such as advanced cooling techniques, high density server racks, rooftop cabling systems, biodegradable energy utilization techniques along with minimum utilization of space. Data center operators strive to implement radical measures to further enhance the efficiency of a data center. The efficiency can be further enhanced by deploying rack optimization techniques, monitoring tools, and virtualization strategies.

Analysis has revealed that there is often an overlooked factor that can apparently take the efficiency of data centers to another level. The factor is “looking at data centers from the end users point of view.”

Relation between a data center and the end user

It is a known fact that any new product or service is delivered keeping in mind the end user and end user satisfaction. Then why leave the end user in darkness when considering the efficiency of data centers? Data center efficiency when built amidst end user’s computing experience creates a more conscientious environment. This is where the idea of ‘user virtualization’ is used. User virtualization is the process of isolating/disconnecting the user from the hardware. With this users can carry all the settings, applications, and profiles regardless of the devices, hardware or even the operating system.

Hence with this new strategy users can have all the applications with them at all times, on any device, and on almost any platform. But what needs to be answered here is that if user virtualization can really create data center and IT administrative efficiency?

BYOD and IT consolidation: BYOD stands for ‘Bring Your Own Device’, and as the name suggests it can reduce the number of resources required within the data center and the IT environment. IT consolidation can further reduce management issues, end to end physical points along with a simplified computing process. User virtualization allows users to carry data from one device to another seamlessly without having to depend on the hardware. All that matters is the end client receiving the data. All of this further translates to fewer moving parts within the IT environment.

Data Center Server Reduction: As most of the servers catering to BYOD are Virtual Machines, there is considerable reduction in the number of physical servers provisioned at the data center level. High density computing can further reduce stand alone rack servers, and create a more efficient environment.

Cloud Computing: With the help of user virtualization it is easy to transfer data to the cloud platform. User settings can easily centralize and controlled at the data center level or within the cloud environment. All settings can be controlled from one management console. User management functions can also be outsourced to the cloud. Hence, resulting in the reduction of hardware platform and software management tools.

By creating a more robust end-user experience in deploying user virtualization, data center administrators can find themselves working with a new layer of environment efficiencies.

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