Hyperconvergence: IT for SMBs

Posted on Tuesday October 02, 2018

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.

What is a hyperconverged infrastructure?

In a traditional IT environment, hardware for networks, servers, and storage had to be purchased separately and set up to work together as one cohesive system.

Later, manufacturers started offering converged systems - pre-built “stacks” of hardware that work together right out of the box and come with advanced management tools and tech support. Now, hyperconverged infrastructure packs the entire stack into one box and lets everything be managed via a single interface. Not only is this box more affordable and easier to use, it can also be used as building blocks - just add more boxes as your business grows.

In a word, hyperconverged infrastructure allows enterprise-level IT solutions to be scaled down for SMBs. Let's take a closer look at how it can benefit your business.

Software-centric computing streamlines upgrades

Putting everything you need into a single box and then wrapping that box with a flexible and adaptable management software makes receiving regular patches and updates more convenient. Restructuring or adding more hardware later is also easier than ever before.

Unified administration

Hyperconvergence consolidates a number of separate functions and services into one piece of technology. Whoever is managing your network can tweak storage, cloud, backup, and database settings from one place.

Simple scalability

Different hyperconvergence boxes come in different sizes and capabilities; and all it takes to scale up is to install additional units based on your forecasted needs. If all you need is a little extra, then purchase a smaller upgrade. But when you're expecting rapid growth, a bigger box will ensure that your IT infrastructure expands with your business. More than this, hyperconverged boxes make for faster deployment of IT services to remote offices as well.

Stronger data protections

Complexity is the Achilles' heel of IT networks. Staying on top of a mounting pile of account management settings, malware definitions, and data storage settings is almost impossible. But, with a hyperconverged infrastructure, your servers and virtual machines aren't built like a hodge-podge of third-party services with separate security vulnerabilities - they form an all-in-one service.

Keep in mind that while hyperconvergence is simpler than most virtualization solutions, rarely is it simple enough to be handled by in-house IT departments of SMBs. A managed services provider is better equipped to handle the growth and evolution brought about by the benefits of hyperconvergence.

The better your technology, the faster you can make changes. And the faster you can accommodate your shifting needs, the less downtime you experience. Call us today to find the hyperconverged system that best fits your business.