The biggest challenge of building a virtual server infrastructure is fine-tuning the storage that supports the virtual machines. Multiple server OSes running on a physical server can easily overload a storage network and supporting storage array.

Backup is usually the concern for IT organizations. For smaller firms and remote/branch locations of enterprise-scale outfits, there’s often a shortage of IT expertise to ensure company data is adequately protected. Backup appliances, are addressing this issue with preconfigured backup hardware-software combinations.