Yau said that "virtualization is expected to ease the burden of server management because it provides simplified, logical views of complicated storage and network systems. Server virtualization can ensure more efficient deployment of IT resources and higher productivity in storage, network and workload management. The Fujitsu chief said that according to his firm's forecasts, virtualization can improve server utilization by 80 percent, improve server availability, help with disaster recovery, testing and development, and centralize server administration.

"One of the prominent trends we saw in 2006 was virtualization," said HP's See. "All different types of virtualization, including servers and storage...local telco customers are using it as well as utility companies." See added that virtualization appeals to these clients because of crisis-incidents, including "virus attacks and stoppages." According to See, virtualization technology makes it easier for firms like telcos and utilities to adjust to changes.

Top of agenda

When talking to enterprise customers, what's on top of their agenda? "What issues would cause them to lose their job?," said See from HP, who stressed what he called the "5 Cs" as best practices to help his firm's clients stay employed: "continuity, control, consolidation, continuity and compliance: the top items on our enterprise customers' IT agendas."

"Virtualization is the top priority of our enterprise customers," countered Yau. "Virtualization enables change to the shape of workload that the infrastructure supports without redesign and implementation, reducing response time to business change, [and] the introduction of automation and virtualization insulates the workload from the effects of infrastructure failure-further improving business continuity."