What is Virtualisation in Cloud Computing?- Know Its Functions, Benefits & More!
Virtualisation is a technology that allows you to create virtual versions of physical resources, such as servers, storage, or networks. It uses software to simulate hardware and enables multiple virtual systems to run on a single physical machine, increasing efficiency and reducing costs.
In cloud computing, virtualisation allows multiple virtual machines (VMs) to run on cloud servers. It virtualises physical hardware to deliver flexible and affordable resources. Cloud providers use virtualisation to manage resources dynamically, ensuring efficient infrastructure usage. It also enables easy provisioning and management of cloud services.
Read the article to learn about what is virtualisation in cloud computing, the different components of virtualisation, the benefits of virtualisation and more.
What is Virtualisation in Cloud Computing?
Virtualisation in cloud computing allows businesses to create virtual versions of physical resources like servers, storage, and networks. It enables multiple virtual machines to run on a single physical machine. This increases hardware utilisation and efficiency. Virtualisation helps businesses maximise hardware use and manage resources properly. It is a crucial technology for delivering Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) in the cloud.
Virtualisation allows sharing among multiple users by assigning logical names to physical resources. This reduces hardware costs, improves flexibility, and improves cloud infrastructure efficiency. Virtualisation enables faster provisioning of resources. It allows businesses to deploy applications and services more quickly in the cloud.
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How Does Virtualisation Work?
After knowing what is virtualisation in cloud computing, you need to understand how it works. Virtualisation works by creating virtual versions of physical resources. It uses software to divide one physical machine into multiple virtual machines. Each virtual machine operates like a separate system with its own OS and applications. Let us know how virtualisation works below:
- Hypervisor: Virtualisation uses software called a hypervisor to create virtual machines (VMs) on a physical computer.
- Virtual Machines: Once the hypervisor is installed, you can create one or more VMs. Each VM runs its own operating system.
- Host and Guest: The physical computer is the host, while each VM is the guest. Multiple guests can run on one host.
- Resource Allocation: The hypervisor manages access to physical resources like CPU, RAM, and storage for each VM, ensuring they run as separate systems.
- Types of Hypervisors:
- Type 1 Hypervisor: Runs directly on hardware and is highly efficient.
- Type 2 Hypervisor: Runs as an application on an existing operating system.
- Guest OS: Each VM can be configured and updated without affecting the host system.
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Importance of Virtualisation in Cloud Computing
Once you understand what is virtualisation in cloud computing, you need to know how important it is for resource management. Virtualisation is crucial in cloud computing. By creating virtual machines, cloud providers can offer flexible, on-demand services to users. Let us know about the importance of virtualisation in cloud computing through the pointers below.
- Increased Flexibility: Virtualisation abstracts physical hardware into software. This allows greater flexibility to use and access resources.
- Cost Efficiency: Virtualisation reduces the need for multiple physical servers. This cuts down on hardware, energy, and maintenance costs.
- Better Resource Utilisation: Multiple virtual machines can run on a single physical server. This optimises hardware use and improves capacity utilisation.
- Simplified Management: Virtualisation simplifies managing IT infrastructure. It treats hardware like an application, simplifying maintenance and control.
- Scalability: Virtual machines can be quickly created or modified. This offers businesses the flexibility to scale resources as needed.
- Cloud Integration: Virtualisation powers cloud computing platforms like AWS. Businesses can request virtual server resources on-demand without managing physical hardware.
- Eliminates Physical Limitations: Virtualisation removes constraints of physical space and power consumption. It also improves access to resources, regardless of network design.
- Improves IT Operations: IT teams can manage virtualised servers more easily. This reduces the complexity of managing infrastructure and improves operational efficiency.
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Different types of Virtualisation in Cloud Computing
There are several types of virtualisation in cloud computing. Each type focuses on different aspects of resource management. Let us look at the types below
- Server Virtualisation: Divides a physical server into multiple virtual servers to maximise resource use and improve efficiency.
- Storage Virtualisation: Combines multiple physical storage devices (NAS, SAN) into one large virtual storage unit for easier management and optimisation.
- Network Virtualisation: Centralises and simplifies network management by combining hardware elements (routers, switches, firewalls) into a virtual network. There are two types of network virtualisation, which are:
- Software-defined Networking (SDN): Manages traffic routing and prioritises traffic types.
- Network Function Virtualisation (NFV): Combines functions of network appliances to enhance performance.
- Data Virtualisation: Creates a software layer between data storage and applications, enabling flexible data integration and cross-functional analysis.
- Application Virtualisation: Allows applications to run on operating systems other than the ones they were designed for. There are three types of application virtualisation, which are:
- Application Streaming: Streams applications from a remote server.
- Server-based Application Virtualisation: Access remote applications via a browser without installation.
- Local Application Virtualisation: Runs applications on any operating system by packaging the app with its own environment.
- Desktop Virtualisation: Allows users to access desktop environments remotely, saving on hardware and improving management and security. There are two types of application virtualisation, which are:
- Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI): Runs virtual desktops on a remote server for access via client devices.
- Local Desktop Virtualisation: Runs a hypervisor on a local machine to create virtual desktops with different operating systems.
Benefits of Virtualisation
Virtualisation offers many advantages for businesses and IT operations. It helps optimise resource usage and improve efficiency. With virtualisation, companies can reduce costs and increase flexibility. Know more about the benefits of virtualisation below:
- Efficient Resource Use: Virtualisation maximises hardware use by creating virtual servers on a single physical system. This reduces the need for multiple physical servers, saving space, energy, and operational costs.
- Automated IT Management: Virtualisation allows for easier IT management through software tools. Administrators can create and deploy virtual machine templates to reduce manual errors and make infrastructure management more consistent and efficient.
- Faster Disaster Recovery: Virtual environments can be restored much faster than physical servers in case of a disaster. This improves business continuity and reduces downtime, allowing operations to resume quickly.
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Characteristics of Virtualisation
Virtualisation has several important characteristics that make it effective. It allows for better resource management and security. These features help organisations optimise operations and improve flexibility.
- Increased Security: Virtualisation improves security by allowing control over guest programmes in a transparent manner. All operations of the guest programmes are performed within the virtual machine, which then converts them to interact with the host system. This creates a secure and controlled execution environment.
- Managed Operations: Virtualisation supports managed operations through features like sharing, aggregation, emulation, and isolation. These features help manage resources and processes effectively within the virtualised environment.
- Sharing: Virtualisation allows multiple virtual environments to run within the same host. This enables different virtual machines to operate independently on the same physical hardware, optimising resource usage.
- Aggregation: Virtualisation enables the aggregation of physical resources. This allows them to be shared across multiple virtual machines, improving efficiency and flexibility in resource management.
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Conclusion
In conclusion, understanding what is virtualisation in cloud computing helps businesses to maximise hardware efficiency, reduce costs, and increase flexibility in the cloud. Virtualisation optimises resource use and simplifies infrastructure management by allowing multiple virtual machines to run on a single physical server. To better understand virtualisation and other cloud technologies, consider enrolling in Digital Regenesys’s cloud computing course. The course provides hands-on experience to enhance your skills in these areas.
Last Updated: 18 October 2025