Virtualization has quickly turned into a must-have technology strategy for businesses all over the world. No matter the size of the company, organizations have seen major benefits as virtualization makes companies more efficient and productive while also reducing costs. Think of a business that uses virtualization like a well-run machine, managing servers with greater efficiency, conserving physical space with fewer servers, getting a better performance out of their equipment, and even saving money with decreased energy costs.
With these benefits, its no wonder virtualization is so popular, but implementing it is a major step. The process can be complicated and initially require a significant investment in resources and money. That’s why putting together the best virtualization technology team is almost a necessity before a business can take advantage of virtualization’s many benefits. Here’s a look at the different roles for each team member and the skills they need to get the job done.
Team Lead
The team lead is the person at the head of your virtualization team. The team lead acts as a manager, someone who knows all about the technical aspects of virtualization while also demonstrating an understanding of the business side of things. As a manager, the team lead helps direct the team to meet business goals while also providing guidance for the tech team during the virtualization process and determining which vendors offer the best services. On the infrastructure side of things, team leads work with team members to map out strategies and designs for virtualized systems and help maintain servers and storage systems.
In terms of skills, a team lead needs a thorough knowledge of the technology used by the business. The team lead also needs to be able to work in a variety of virtualized environments while guiding others through them. Team leads should also be able to troubleshoot problems arising from servers. Good communication skills are a must.
Putting together the best virtualization technology team is almost a necessity before a business can take advantage of virtualization.
Architect
The architect’s focus is on the design and engineering aspects of a virtualization project. The architect’s role deals directly with the client while also having back-end responsibilities like developing solutions and techniques that target potential clients for sales teams. Architects are also instrumental in developing virtualization services while working in tandem with team members to come up with solutions that can put a business at the top of the market.
An architect’s skills include several years of IT experience along with a seasoned knowledge of virtualization software and environments. Architects also need skills in communication, consulting, documentation, and contracting. An architect will also keep updated on all of the latest technologies.
System Administrator
The role of the system administrator has evolved over the last few years. System administrators still deal in many of the day-to-day activities of virtualization, like creating virtual servers, assisting in technical support, and installing and troubleshooting virtualization systems. But system administrators are also getting more involved in strategic planning, like developing policies that focus on security, maintaining technical documentation, and sending bills each month to the appropriate departments.
The modern system administrator also needs a modern set of skills, like possessing a thorough understanding of the setup and configuration of servers. A system administrator has to know how to manage user accounts and apply operating system updates when they are developed. System administrators also need to have experience in protocol based file sharing and networking. Three to four years of IT experience is preferable.
Engineer
The engineer’s role is mainly to turn the architect’s designs into reality, but there’s much more to the job than that. During the pre-implementation of a virtualized system, engineers contribute to planning, building, and testing the projects. They manage and maintain vendor certifications, while researching the most cost-effective virtualization solutions, then deploying them to clients. After virtualization is implemented, an engineer is in charge of managing the storage and servers in the virtualization infrastructure. Engineers also need to troubleshoot any of the problems that clients find and communicate those problems back to the virtualization team.
An engineer needs to have up-to-date knowledge on new systems and infrastructures. They also need to effectively understand storage and networking. Having experience with large server environments, particularly with big enterprises, is also a must. Engineers should also acquire proper certifications, like VMWare Certified Professional and Cisco Certified Network Associate.
The right team can make all the difference when it comes to implementing virtualization for your business successfully. Finding the right people with the right skills, knowledge, and experience might be difficult at first, but it will all be worth it in the end. That’s when businesses will see the incredible efficiency, streamlined management, and reduced environmental costs that come with virtualization. After putting together the best team that works well together, the result will be a business ready to meet technological demands for years to come.
Andrew McLean is the Studio Director at Disruptive Live, a Compare the Cloud brand. He is an experienced leader in the technology industry, with a background in delivering innovative & engaging live events. Andrew has a wealth of experience in producing engaging content, from live shows and webinars to roundtables and panel discussions. He has a passion for helping businesses understand the latest trends and technologies, and how they can be applied to drive growth and innovation.