What is a common purpose of virtualization in cloud computing?

Virtualization in cloud computing serves the primary purpose of allowing multiple operating systems to run on a single physical machine. This capability is crucial because it maximizes the utilization of hardware resources, enabling organizations to deploy various applications and services without needing separate physical servers for each operating system.

By facilitating the installation of multiple operating systems on one host, virtualization enhances flexibility and scalability. This means that businesses can quickly adapt to changing needs, deploy new applications faster, and improve overall resource management. Furthermore, virtualization simplifies management and reduces costs associated with hardware acquisition, maintenance, and energy consumption, as fewer physical machines are required.

In the context of cloud environments, virtualization also plays a vital role in enabling cloud service models such as Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), where virtual machines can be provisioned on-demand, allowing rapid scaling and improved resource allocation. This optimization is key to delivering efficient and effective cloud solutions.