Cloud Computing and Virtualization: Transforming the Digital Landscape
1. Introduction The rapid evolution of information technology has profoundly transformed how individuals, organizations, and governments store, process, and manage data. Among the most significant innovations driving this transformation are cloud computing and virtualization. Together, these technologies have revolutionized modern computing by enabling flexible, scalable, and cost-effective IT infrastructures that transcend the limitations of traditional physical systems. Cloud computing, in its essence, allows users to access computing resources—such as servers, storage, databases, and applications—over the internet on a pay-as-you-go basis. Virtualization, on the other hand, serves as the foundational technology that enables multiple virtual machines to run on a single physical server, maximizing hardware utilization and enhancing operational efficiency. This paper explores the principles, architecture, advantages, and challenges of cloud computing and virtualization. It also analyze...