Differences between cloud computing and virtualization

Virtualization? Cloud computing? Experts seem to know the difference, but when we are a company and we are going to hire one of these services, there comes a time when everything seems the same. The word cloud or cloud begins to become a term of widespread use that encompasses many specialties and sometimes falls into the mistake of confusing it with virtualization, because it is true that in certain aspects the services they offer are similar.

Be careful, although similar services are not interchangeable, the difference is important enough to affect the decision making of a project.

What does virtualization mean?

In short, it consists in the creation, through software, of a virtual version of some technological resource. It is about the technology that supports cloud computing.

Virtualization software allows multiple operating systems and multiple applications to run on the same server while allowing companies to reduce IT costs while increasing the efficiency, utilization and flexibility of their existing hardware.

The technology behind virtualization is known as a virtual machine monitor. This system "separates" the computer from the physical infrastructure. Virtualization creates servers, workstations, storage and other systems independent of the physical hardware layer.

What is the difference between virtualization and cloud computing?

The essential difference between virtualization and cloud computing is that with virtualization the software manipulates the hardware, while cloud computing consists of the service resulting from such manipulation.

"Virtualization is a fundamental element of cloud computing and helps give value to cloud computing," says Mike Adams, director of product marketing at VMware. "Cloud computing consists of the delivery of shared computing resources through software or data and that are delivered as a demand service through the Internet."

Most of the confusion occurs because virtualization and cloud computing go hand in hand on many occasions, but provide different services, such as private clouds. In many cases, a cloud service provides virtualization products that offer cloud computing services. Rick Philps, vice president solutions at Weidenhammer, explains that "the difference is that the true cloud provides self-service capability, elasticity, automated management, scalability and pay-as-you-go service that is not inherent in virtualization."