While there’s no shortage of buzz surrounding cloud computing and virtualization, because the two terms are so often interchanged, there are a few misconceptions about these technology game changers. It’s important to note that while virtualization is thought of as an integral piece of the cloud computing puzzle, the technologies are not synonymous. Here, we’ll break down the differences.
Virtualization is a system management tool that has many technical uses separate from the cloud. The technology allows enterprises to use a single piece of physical hardware to run multiple operating systems or processes—essentially creating a “virtual” version of a server, storage device, network or application.
Virtualization is celebrated for its costs savings and flexibility, as its ability to run multiple devices on one hardware device eliminates the cost of hardware and places heavy workloads onto virtual infrastructure.
On the other hand, cloud computing delivers computer and storage resources as a service to end users over a network; virtualization doesn’t, as it does not include a self-service layer. In simple terms, cloud computing is best described as self-service helping to reduce the amount of training and support needed to all operation levels, while virtualization is part of a physical infrastructure. Moreover, cloud computing streamlines management processes and increases efficiencies.
While there’s some confusion surrounding the differences between cloud computing and virtualization, there’s no disputing the fact that these two technologies work better together to help enterprises make the most out of their IT investment. Learn more about Mitel cloud communications and virtualization solutions.