SAN virtualization can lower storage costs, simplify SAN management and allow users to replicate and migrate data between different tiers of storage. But if you plan to continue living in the past, here are some reasons you can cite to help you stay there:

First, once virtualization is implemented, it becomes difficult to migrate off that technology. Of course, administrators are so busy deploying other proprietary host-based software from EMC, Hitachi Data Systems and IBM that primarily works with their storage, why take the risk of implementing a technology that really locks them in?

Second, no standards exist. I use the same rationale to avoid purchasing a firewall for my home network because firewall providers can't agree on a firewall standard. Though there are three basic types of firewalls -- packet filtering, application level and hybrid -- I'm holding out until there is only one.

Finally, there's the performance hit associated with virtualization. Never mind the fact that most of your servers probably don't drive enough performance to move the needle on your network monitors. Besides, routing the traffic from those really high-performance applications to the storage array and avoiding the virtualization appliance altogether is an exercise reserved for only the most brilliant of minds.

So there you have it. Three easy ways to avoid rolling out virtualization.