Top 10 virtualization companies emerging in 2014

The virtualization market is hotter than ever, with new companies popping up to fill every software-defined niche imaginable. But, with all those virtualization companies competing for your attention, it can be hard to keep up with who is really standing out and providing valuable products -- and not just nice ideas.

Here's our list of the top 10 virtualization companies to watch in 2014 that are emerging as major players in the virtualization market. Some of these companies are startups with a unique idea on the cutting edge. Others have been around for a while or already offer mature products. The one thing these companies all have in common is that they're poised for a successful year and are ready to bring innovative new technologies to market to help solve some of the virtual data center's nagging problems.