What Server Virtualization Means For IT Security Managers

As server virtualization increases in popularity, server administrators see virtualization as a huge help in solving patching testing and distribution problems. But many security managers are wary of the technology because they don't know what server virtualization means for security. The good news: You can apply most of your current security policies to a virtualized server environment. However, server virtualization brings both risks and rewards, as it makes it much easier for developers and system administrators to move, copy, and instantiate virtual machines, networks, and associated data. In the end, the net benefits of server virtualization outweigh its security drawbacks, so embrace it, especially for testing security patches.