Security concerns cloud virtualisation deployments

Server virtualisation makes it possible to run multiple applications and operating systems on fewer hardware resources, and it lets customers quickly provision new resources based on demand. But the features that enable such flexible computing cause network and security managers to wonder whether a security threat in a virtualised environment could spread to the entire network.

"I am holding off on server virtualisation because I have already been hearing about security issues with the hypervisor," says Craig Bush, network administrator at Exactech in Florida. "One server being breached doesn't take down our entire network, but if it is possible for a hypervisor to do that, I'll just wait until the security angle is more played out before I jump into virtualisation."

Here we address four of the top concerns about securing virtual environments and attempt to discern the hype from reality.