 emulating efficiencies such as virtualization and centralization to hold down costs. They are also examining and implementing software packages with which they can automate and simplify tasks cost-effectively. By concentrating usage on fewer software packages, costs can be decreased with simplified application support. The rising energy costs needed to operate the servers, switches, and cooling sys- tems located in data centers create additional pressure on IT directors. This is also stimulating interest in moving applications to the cloud. Although small and midsize organizations have moved many of their applications to the cloud, larger organizations are more cautious, and are either taking a wait-and-see approach or moving noncritical applications such as benefit systems. Ironically, storage and server virtualization, which reduce space and energy requirements, increase the criticality of server and network reliability. Each physical server and group of storage devices now holds many more files and applications than they had previously. Physical servers also have the added task of running multiple oper- ating systems and many more applications, whereas they had previously run a single operating system with a few applications. In addition, departments that formerly ran their own applications now share centralized applications. These applications might be accessed over either Local Area Networks (LANs) or Wide Area Networks (WANs). The increased use of virtualization can lead to issues with potential downtime: If one server crashes, many more employees lose service; if applications are not available, many more employees are affected. This creates added pressure for reliable, high- speed internal networks and WANs. These same high-speed LANs and WANs also transmit Voice over Internet Proto- col (VoIP) telephone and messaging system traffic. An increasing number of small and mid-sized organizations are moving to cloud-based, hosted telephone systems. The VoIP provider leases telephones to users, but maintains the