Virtualization and Cloud Computing: Foundations of Digital Transformation

Virtualization and Cloud computing play an important role in reshaping the

digital transformation in modern information technology. These technologies,
which usually cover various programs, provide users with a competitive
advantage, enabling them to use them more efficiently, develop innovative
applications and gain flexibility for users. Virtualization involves the creation of
systems such as hardware, operating systems. Cloud Computing, on the other
hand, takes virtualization a little further by providing services over the Internet.
Although virtualization and Cloud Computing are often used interchangeably,
they have fundamental differences in focus, scope, and access. Of course, there
are also common features such as cost reduction and resource sharing.
Virtualisation:
Virtualisation is a platform that enables the creation of multiple virtual
environments on a physical hardware platform and makes these environments
separately operable. It facilitates a single physical server to run multiple machines
with its own operating system and applications, improves resource utilisation,
simplifies maintenance and management, increases security and reduces costs.
Virtualisation focuses on creating virtualised components such as virtual
machines, virtual storage and virtual networks. first developed by VMware,
VMware has made many people aware of virtualisation solutions. There are
different types of Virtualisations such as Hardware Virtualisation, Memory
Virtualisation, Storage Virtualisation, Network Virtualisation, Application
Virtualisation, Desktop Virtualisation and Database Virtualisation. Some of the
programmes used in virtualisation are VMware vSphere / ESXi, Microsoft Hyper-
V, KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine), Citrix Hypervisor (XenServer), Oracle
VM VirtualBox, Proxmox Virtual Environment, Red Hat Virtualization-
Virtuozzo, VMware Workstation, Parallels Desktop.

Virtualization Models:
- Hardware Virtualization: Allows multiple virtual computers to run inside a
computer, each virtual computer can run its own operating system and its own
applications. It is generally used for presentation consolidation, testing and
development environments. Hardware virtualization technology is seen in the use
of programs such as Microsoft Hyper-V, Oracle VM VirtualBox , Proxmox
Virtual Environment (Proxmox VE) and VMware vSphere.

- Memory Virtualization: Memory virtualization is a technology that helps make a

computer's memory resources available more efficiently and more flexibly.
Memory virtualization is a virtual memory that acts as if there is more memory in
a computer's memory, allowing computers to run more applications, better
allocate resources and improve performance. It is seen in the use of programs
such as Microsoft Hyper-V Dynamic Memory , Xen Memory Sharing (Xen) ,
Kernel Same-page Merging (KSM - Linux) , Transparent Page Sharing (TPS -
VMware) and VMware Tools Balloon Driver.

- Storage Virtualisation: Storage Virtualisation is a technology that helps to

control different storage resources from a single location. It is used to make
storage resources more transparent and available for applications and users. It is
used in database management and backup operations. Microsoft Storage Areas ,
IBM Spectrum Virtualise , Dell EMC ViPR , NetApp ONTAP, Hitachi Virtual
Storage Platform (VSP), HPE StoreVirtual, DataCore SANsymphony, Red Hat
Gluster Storage, StarWind Virtual SAN and The VMware vSAN programme is an
example of the use of Storage Virtualisation.
- Network Virtualization: Network virtualization is used to divide physical
network hardware and network virtualization technology into virtual networks, so
that each virtual network has an isolated environment. Network virtualization
implements the resources of the network on a virtual plane and makes this
network more flexible and manageable. Many programs are used in hardware.
Examples of Network Virtualization programs include programs such as VMware
NSX, Cisco ACI (Application-Centric Infrastructure), Juniper Contrail Network,
Microsoft Hyper-V Network Virtualization, OpenStack Neutron, Nuage Networks
Virtualized Services Platform (VSP), PLUMgrid ONS (Open Network Package),
Arista Networks, Big Switch Networks.
- Application Virtualisation: A technology that combines and configures all the
components and resources needed to run an application in a working
environment. Application Virtualisation helps applications run without
dependence on physical hardware. It is often used for Application migrations and
application updates. ... Docker, Kubernetes, Apache Mesos, OpenShift, Microsoft
App-V, Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops, VMware ThinApp,Parallels Remote
Application Server, XenApp (Citrix) and Turbo.net are given as examples of
Application Virtualisation.

- Desktop Virtualization: Desktop virtualization is a process that helps move a

computer's operating system, applications and the center of control over data to a
server. It is used to provide secure and centralized access to users from any
device, anywhere. Uses generally include Security and data protection, Hardware
independence, Centralized Management and Updating. Examples of Desktop
Virtualization are Citrix Virtual Applications and Desktops, Microsoft Remote
Desktop Services (RDS), VMware Horizon applications.

Database Virtualization: Database virtualization is a program that combines one

or more databases, resources and processes into a virtual environment. This
database method enables more efficient use of resources and improves overall
database performance. It is commonly used for Performance optimization,
Database Consolidation, Backup and Recovery. It is seen that Database
Virtualization is used in programs such as Oracle VM VirtulaBox, Microsoft SQL
Server in Hyper-V.
Cloud Computing :
Cloud computing is a service model used to enable businesses to access
computing resources such as servers, storage and applications over the Internet.
Cloud computing offers on-demand access to shared computing resources over
the Internet. These access services are divided into Infrastructure as a Service
(IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS) and Software as a Service (SaaS). The term
cloud computing became widespread in 2006 with the launch of Amazon Web
Services, a service that mainly provides infrastructure services. Programmes such
as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform
(GCP), IBM Cloud, Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI), Alibaba Cloud, VMware
Cloud, Cisco CloudCenter, Red Hat OpenShift, Docker (Docker Hub) are
examples of the use of cloud computing.
Cloud Computing Service Models :
laaS - Infrastructure as a Service: Provides basic computing infrastructure such as
storage and network resources. Infrastructure elements such as servers, storage,
network components are managed by cloud providers. Users can rent, expand or
contract these resources according to their needs. Programmes such as Amazon
EC2, Microsoft Azure Virtual Machines, Google Compute Engine, IBM Cloud
Virtual Servers, Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Compute, DigitalOcean Droplets,
Linode Instances, Vultr Compute Instances and Alibaba Cloud Elastic Compute
Service (ECS) are examples of LaaS (Infrastructure as a Service) usage.
PaaS - Platform as a Service: Aims to facilitate application development and
deployment. Developers can focus on building software and do not have to deal
with infrastructure or configuration details. Platforms such as Heroku, Google
App Engine, Microsoft Azure App Service, IBM Cloud Foundry, Red Hat
OpenShift, Oracle Cloud Application Container Service, Salesforce App Cloud,
Mendix, Engine Yard and SAP Cloud Platform are examples of platforms using
PaaS (Platform as a Service).
SaaS - Software as a Service: A software application is presented to users and this
application is uploaded to the cloud. Users usually access and use this software
via a web browser. Programs such as Microsoft 365, Salesforce, Google
Workspace, Dropbox, Slack, Adobe Creative Cloud, Zoom, Spotify, Netflix,
Salesforce Marketing Cloud are examples of Saas (Software as a Service).

The main differences Decoupling between Virtualization and Cloud Computing :

Technology and Service Model: Virtualization creates virtual versions of
components such as server storage, while Cloud computing is a service model
that provides computing resources over the Internet.
Physical and Internet Deployment: Virtualization is usually implemented on
physical hardware in an organization's private network, while Cloud Computing
is provided over the Internet.
Objective: Virtualization focuses on communicating virtual instances of those
who have Decoupled to improve resource utilization. Cloud Computing, on the
other hand, aims to create a comprehensive computing environment.
Cost Model: Virtualization usually aims to reduce the cost of hardware, but cloud
computing offers a flexible cost when allocating for the resources they use.
Scope of Application: While virtualization is usually used for more specific tasks,
Cloud computing works in a wide range of user and application areas.

The Main Similarities Decoupling Between Virtualization and Cloud Computing:

Resource Sharing: Both virtualization and cloud computing facilitate the sharing
of information processing resources.
Cost Reduction Potential: Both virtualization and cloud computing are moving
forward with a focus on cost reduction only virtualization does this by combining
its hardware, while cloud computing is implemented with the ode model when we
use it.
Flexibility in Resource Management: In both applications, it provides users with
the flexibility to expand resources according to their needs.
In summary, although virtualization and cloud computing are similar in terms of
resource sharing, cost reduction potential and flexibility in resource management,
they are quite different systems in terms of physical and Internet deployment,
purpose, cost model, technology and service models and scope of application.