Virtualized Server Security Virtualized servers are faced with similar security concerns as their physical counterparts. The only difference is that virtualized servers have other threats that are specific to virtualized machines. Virtualization is a new technology, and with any new technology, there are new threats and security concerns that will accompany it. When compared to its physical counterparts, virtualized servers are more prone to threats because they are clustered. If one virtual server is attacked, the other virtual servers are most likely to be faced with the same attack. Some of the risks faced by the virtual server can be mitigated through effective and efficient planning.

Lack of information security team

The failure to involve the information security team in the initial planning and architecture stages would result in security threats to the virtualized servers. The organization could have a secure physical server and would be extending the capabilities of its physical server, but the failure to conduct, and effectively planning would make the virtualized server prone to attacks (Luo, Lin, Chen, Yang, & Chen, 2011). With a virtual server, there is a new layer of software that is added and this new layer should be closely analyzed to determine it would not leave the server vulnerable. A vulnerable virtual machine could lead to the attack of the other virtual machines on the same host. Attackers can gain access to the host machine by exploiting the memory space...

In case of an attack to the hypervisor, then all the virtual machines running on the host would be compromised. An organization should ensure that it does not just migrate its physical server to a virtual server before due diligence is conducted. There is need to consult and involve information security experts to ensure that the implementation is well planned and executed.
The virtualization layer is faced with other vulnerabilities that are yet to be discovered. Hackers have been targeting this layer in order to compromise the security of the virtual machine. An attack on this layer would compromise all the virtual servers, which makes it critical to the success of the implementation. The information security team would conduct an analysis and offer advice on the best way to implement and secure the virtual server. The analysis would include a plan to mitigate the potential risks that the virtual server would be faced with. Knowing the potential risks faced by the virtual machine would allow the organization to plan on how to mitigate the risks. It is virtually impossible to manage a risk that cannot be acknowledged and communicated. The security processes of the organization should be extended instead of buying more security.

Traditional threats

Virtual servers are still vulnerable to legacy viruses, malware infection, rootkits, key loggers, and Trojans (Jing, Hao, & Songlin, 2012). Like physical servers, the virtual machines should be guarded…