Virtualization:
In computing, virtualization is a series of technologies that allows dividing of physical computing resources into a series of virtual machines, operating systems, processes or containers.
Virtualization is a technology that allows you to create virtual, simulated environments from a single, physical machine. Through this process, IT professionals can make use out of their previous investments and optimize a physical machine’s full capacity by distributing resources that are traditionally bound to hardware across many different environments.
Used for decades, virtualization is a powerful technology within IT infrastructure that can be used to increase efficiency, retain flexibility, and improve scalability. Because multiple operating systems can share the same physical hardware, virtualization can improve resource use, reduce costs associated with physical maintenance, and boost security through isolated systems.
Virtualization is technology that you can use to create virtual representations of servers, storage, networks, and other physical machines. Virtual software mimics the functions of physical hardware to run multiple virtual machines simultaneously on a single physical machine.
Businesses use virtualization to use their hardware resources efficiently and get greater returns from their investment. It also powers cloud computing services that help organizations manage infrastructure more efficiently.
Virtualization began in the 1960s with IBM CP/CMS.