Virtualization in Cloud Computing: Transforming Infrastructure and Enhancing Efficiency

Abstract

This research delves into the symbiotic relationship between virtualization and cloud computing, two cornerstones reshaping the landscape of modern computing. Virtualization, through techniques like full, partial, and hardware-assisted methods, plays a pivotal role in enabling multi-tenancy and optimizing resource utilization in cloud environments. Cloud computing, with its diverse service models (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS) and deployment models (public, private, hybrid), offers scalable, on-demand computing services. Examining the performance implications of virtualization, the study acknowledges challenges such as performance overheads and security risks. To illustrate the practical benefits, a detailed implementation is presented. It contrasts the traditional approach of storing databases on a local machine with the efficiency gained by utilizing multiple virtual machines (VMs) for parallel data processing through a cloud database. Additionally, the discussion extends to various cloud deployment models, encompassing public, private, and hybrid configurations, all made possible through virtualization. Ongoing challenges within virtualized cloud environments are carefully examined, including performance overheads, virtual sprawl, and emerging security risks.