Managing the Security Risks of Virtualization

Virtualization is one of the best things that has ever happened in the technology field. It has become the solution to virtually every problem that you may encounter. Afraid that you may lose some important files virtualize them. Want to make your old servers and operating systems new again, virtualize them. Certainly, virtualization can play very many roles. However, have you ever thought of the security risks that come with virtualization? A compromise of your virtualization network could lead to the compromise of all the hosted workloads. Therefore, it is advisable to know the security risks involved in virtualization and how you can go about mitigating them.

Security Risks of Virtualization

Dynamic Design –

Virtualization is very flexible as compared to installation of physical components. While this is a good thing, it may become a liability to your security. Physical equipment can be seen and touched, and you will definitely know if an equipment of any sort has been installed at your home or in your office. On the other hand, virtual machines can go unnoticed sense are not visible in your workplace and can be installed in the least time possible. This may infringe your security. Moreover, if too many of them are added it may become a bit difficult to secure and manage them, which may lead to flaws in your security.

Moving Workloads –

Sometimes you may want to move your work from a virtual machine with a higher workload to one with a lower workload. This is especially when your virtualized infrastructure grows, and you would like to devolve to make management easier and faster. While this might seem an easy thing to do, you might find yourself in the most compromising position. In the process of moving several files across the virtual machines, you may accidentally transfer very important workload to a less secure machine thereby compromising on your security. A minute is enough for someone to compromise your virtual machine and obtain crucial work that may not be intended for the public.Complex infrastructure –

Virtualization can prove a bit of a challenge especially for small businesses or companies. This can make it rather difficult for the company to spot any unusual happenings in their virtual machines, thereby compromising on their security.

How to Reduce the Risks

Security risks will always be there. What matters are actions that you take to protect yourself from the security risks in virtualization. Below are a few areas that you will definitely want to put into consideration:

1. Audit – It is advisable to consistently audit the security of your virtual machine. This will not only ensure that spot any security concerns but will also give you a piece of mind that your work is safe.
2. Organization – Always decide before hand why, how, when and where you are going to set up your virtual machines. This will enable you to effectively manage and secure them. It will also ensure that virtual machines are not overloaded in one place.
3. Responsibility – You can employ the services of an IT specialist to help you manage your virtual machines. This will greatly fortify your security since you would have someone to assist you in case of an attempt to compromise your system.
4. Workload management – In case you have several virtual machines, you need a good system to monitor them. This will ensure that each machine is managed well, and there is a smooth flow of the workload in case you are making a transfer from one machine to another. Moreover, you can try to consolidate your machines or get rid of those that are not used much often.
5. Patches – Always ensure that your patches are up to date by performing regular patch maintenance 

   Your security should always be your priority. Try the above tips to mitigate your security risks.

As always, a detailed review of your security by a professional is the best proactive piece you can start with.
Feel free to contact us today if you need assistance with your virtualization needs.

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