VMs are software systems that operate as fully independent computers within a hardware system. They make use of a piece software called hypervisor to divide hardware resources, such as memory, CPU, and storage. A virtual machine can then use a different operating system, like Windows for business applications or Linux for software development.

Using virtual systems reduces the risk of system failure and lets you quickly restore your data to a previous point in time. You can also test and deploy either new or older applications in a sandbox environment to ensure that they function according to plan, without disrupting production.

It is possible to install multiple VMs on a single physical computer that will lower your operating and capital costs. It also eliminates duplicate or backup systems and reduces the amount of data that you need to manage. Cloud-based VMs allow you to access your data from any location with an internet connection, removing the need for offsite storage.

A VM can be operated on any device that can meet the performance requirements of your company, which includes desktops and servers. Each Hypervisor has pros and cons that are crucial for small companies. The most popular option is VMware vSphere with ESX/ESXi. It is a business-ready option that provides enhanced security hosts that can have up to 6 TB of RAM and 128 vCPUs. It also provides role-based accessibility, extensive logging, and auditing. Microsoft Hyper-V is another popular option. Microsoft Hyper-V is less expensive and is easier to manage than vSphere but it provides the virtualofficesystems.biz article same capabilities.