VARs agree virtualisation is defying the downturn

Almost half of those questioned predict a further rise in demand over the next six months

One in four resellers have experienced surging sales in virtualisation technologies in the first four months of this year, according to application delivery infrastructure vendor Citrix.

After surveying resellers at its recent channel partner event, the virtualisation vendor revealed that almost half of those questioned predict a further rise in demand over the next six months.

The report also identified the type of demand that resellers are seeing from their customers. One of the main drivers for virtualisation is the need to improve operational aspects of IT (86 per cent).

Seventy-three per cent said clients were interested in making IT more efficient, while 40 per cent said organisations were adopting virtualisation technologies to enable remote working.

James Stevenson, area vice president at Citrix UK, Ireland and South Africa, said: “It is extremely encouraging to hear such positive feedback from resellers in what is undoubtedly a very tough climate.

“Everyone is trying to do more with less right now, so any technology that allows businesses to operate more efficiently cut costs, or improve output, is worth investing in.”

Almost half of the respondents said their customers were choosing end-to-end virtualisation strategies, rather than virtualising individual elements of the business.

Seventy-six per cent of those questioned said the public sector is likely to be the strongest market in 2009, while one in three said they would be focusing on the finance industry.