Cloud and VM Integration and Management
Server Virtualization and Cloud Computing
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.
Cloud Security and Ransomware Defense and Recovery Services
The use of multiple public clouds has become common among organizations looking for benefits like improved availability, easy scalability, or regulatory compliance. Multi-cloud environments are often combined with on-premises infrastructure, at-home workers, and mobile endpoints. These hybrid networks are a challenge to defend against potentially catastrophic cyberattacks such as ransomware. Progent has extensive experience designing ransomware defense solutions for networks that include cloud resources. Progent maintains teams of ransomware recovery experts who can respond promptly and in force to restore compromised systems. Find out about Progent's 24x7 Ransomware Hot Line and Progent's ransomware protection and recovery services.
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.
The proliferation of servers has driven the widespread adoption of virtual machines (VMs), servers that are logically isolated from other servers but that share hardware resources with other virtual servers. Although some performance-critical applications may call for their own dedicated physical resources, the vast majority of applications are well suited to be hosted on VMs. Attempting to deal with server proliferation simply by adding dedicated physical machines presents a slew of significant problems affecting IT budgets, network administration and support, system availability, and management distraction. Problems associated with multiple servers include:
- 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.
The only practical way currently available to help manage the growth of servers is virtual server technology, which allows multiple virtual servers to run on a single physical server. For all intents and purposes, virtual servers are functionally identical to having separate dedicated physical servers. Virtualization has the obvious advantage of saving hardware costs, since a single physical machine can take the place of multiple systems without the costs associated with purchasing and provisioning additional server equipment. But hardware consolidation is only one of the benefits of deploying virtual servers. Using virtual server technology, businesses can easily achieve server segmentation and isolation, and can enhance the manageability, fault-tolerance, and recoverability of line-of-business servers.
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
An index of content::
Progent Security Experts in the News Consultants
Progent in the News Consultant Services
Progent in the News is managed by cybersecurity expert Darrin Johnson.
Microsoft Consulting Best Practices Integration Consultant
Integration Specialist Best Practices
Progent's team of Microsoft and Cisco Certified experts average longer than ten years of real-world professional background, in the trenches of IT support, executing a wide variety of technical tasks for an extensive mix of customers. Every Progent support professional shares a proven set of personal best practices which are combined into company-wide leading practices standards that Progent instills in its support staff. This ensures that you get not only world-class IT capability, but also a consultant with proven approaches for applying computer knowledge to solve real-world IT problems quickly.
SharePoint Server 2013 Support Outsourcing
SharePoint Computer Consultants
Progent's Microsoft-certified experts can provide businesses of all sizes consulting, troubleshooting, and development services for SharePoint and SharePoint Online. Microsoft SharePoint is an enterprise collaboration platform that uses web-based technology for efficiently coordinating people, groups and information. Microsoft SharePoint Server provides a central location for your workers or customers to access, organize, distribute and interact with relevant data, files, and software and to communicate with one another. Microsoft SharePoint allows quicker and better decisions, more effective access across teams and more economical business practices. Windows SharePoint Services connect employees, clients, teams and projects with the data they've created in a manner that makes data easy to find, retrieve and apply. Progent's certified SharePoint experts can assist you to manage your existing SharePoint environment or upgrade to the current release of SharePoint.
Windows 2012R2 Outsourcing
Support Windows Server 2012 R2
Progent's certified consultants can assist you to assess the business value of Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2 for your organization, develop pilot environments and rollout strategies, optimize your infrastructure for local, multi-site, cloud-based, and partial-cloud environments, train your IT management staff, create an enterprise-wide security plan, automate network administration, help with application development, and generate and test a DR/BC plan.
Specialists Aironet 802.11ax Wireless
Aironet 2800 Access Point Technical Consultant
Progent's certified wireless networking experts can help businesses of all sizes to plan, deploy, manage and troubleshoot Cisco Aironet Wi-Fi access point environments to provide the performance, coverage, density, scale, security and ease of management needed for seamless connectivity between Wi-Fi and wired network infrastructure. Progent can provide affordable online and onsite support for both end-of-life and current 802.11ac Aironet wireless access points and Progent can assist your business plan and manage deployments of indoor and outdoor/industrial Aironet access points.
PEN Testing Cybersecurity Companies
Forensics Services Security Penetration Testing
Stealth penetration checking is a key part of any comprehensive IT system security strategy. Progent's security professionals can perform thorough intrusion checks without the knowledge of your company's in-house IT resources. Stealth penetration testing shows whether current security monitoring systems such as intrusion incident alerts and event log monitoring are correctly configured and consistently observed. Progent can provide ongoing automatic penetration testing to map your internal and external attack surface and to identify ways that exploitable vulnerabilities, unsafe configurations, harvested credentials, skipped patches, and dangerous IT product defaults can be combined by threat actors into the multi-vector attacks common to the latest variants of ransomware.
Emergency Shared Helpdesk Support and Setup
Virtual Help Desk Integration Services
Progent's Computer Contact Center Outsourcing Services for PC desktop technical support are intended specifically for small businesses who require fast access to a Help Desk Call Center with expert phone support and effective escalation options but who have to work within a limited network support budget. Important components of Progent's Help Desk Outsourcing Services include: Helpdesk Support, Optional Remote Access Support, System Assessment, Problem Escalation, Virtual Help Desk Call Center Support, By-the-Minute Billing, and Help Desk Call Center Software Selection and Integration.
Catalyst 4900 Switch Integration
Catalyst Switch LISP Support and Help
Progent's Cisco-certified CCIE experts can help organization to configure, manage, update, optimize and debug Catalyst switches. Progent can also help you to enhance the security and compliance of Catalyst switches and move efficiently from legacy appliances to modern models.
Cisco VoIP Phones and Unified CM Network Consultant
Top Cisco VoIP Phones and Contact Center Troubleshooting
Progent's Cisco CCIE-certified network infrastructure consultants offer advanced support services for Cisco Unified Communications Manager (formerly CallManager). Progent can assist you to integrate VoIP phones, create dial plans, set up SIP trunking and PSTN connections, deploy ISR G2 routers with CUBE support, and design UCS server high availability systems.
Top Rated Windows Server 2000 Migration Consultants
Microsoft Windows 2000 Online Technical Support
Progent's certified Windows 2000 consulting staff can help you optimize the functionality of your current Windows 2K Servers and can streamline system management, offer tech support and repair, and strengthen security. Progent can also show you how to create, justify, and implement a plan to upgrade from Windows Server 2000 to Windows 2003 Server. Progent is expert in setting up test programs to reduce the technical risk associated with moving to Windows Server 2003 by uncovering potential hardware and software compatibility issues.
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