With a management consulting background, I have seen so many fads sweep through business communities both here in the US and abroad that I can be as skeptical as the next person when it comes to the latest and greatest thing grabbing so much attention. I approached virtualization with a squinted eye, did a lot of homework, and came to the conclusion that, although virtualization is not right for everyone, it has substantial merit and is far beyond being the latest gimmick. This particular technological breakthrough has received global endorsements from the true movers and shakers in the IT world who certainly do not agree on everything – HP, Microsoft, IBM, Dell, EMC, not to mention major analyst firms. What are the factors that are driving virtualization to the forefront?
