A cloud virtual machine (VM) is an instance of an operating system running in a virtualized environment on a remote server. Instead of having their own physical machine, users can use a cloud-hosted VM to run their applications and services.
The cloud is a collection of computing resources (such as servers, storage, and networks) that are delivered over the Internet. Cloud service providers offer virtual machines as part of their infrastructure as a service (IaaS) offering.
Cloud VMs are scalable and flexible, allowing users to adjust capacity based on changing needs. They are also easier to manage than traditional physical servers, since users can access and manage them from anywhere with an Internet connection.
Additionally, cloud VMs can be more secure than physical machines, as cloud service providers often offer enhanced security measures such as firewalls, encryption, and protection against DDoS attacks.
In short, virtual machines in the cloud are a way to access computing resources in a scalable, flexible, and secure way, without having to own and manage a physical infrastructure.
There are several benefits associated with the use of virtual machines (VMs). Some of them include:
Using VMs can reduce infrastructure and operational costs, since multiple VMs can run on a single physical machine. This means that multiple operating systems can be run on a single physical machine, saving hardware and energy costs.
VMs offer greater flexibility in terms of computing resources, as you can easily allocate resources to each VM based on your needs. Additionally, VMs can be easily cloned and copied, allowing users to create new virtual machines and test different configurations without having to worry about the underlying infrastructure.
VMs are isolated from the underlying physical machine and from other VMs, providing an additional layer of security. Additionally, VMs can be configured to use encryption and other advanced security methods to protect data.
VMs can be easily migrated from one physical machine to another, providing better disaster recovery capabilities. If a physical machine fails, VMs hosted on that machine can be quickly moved to another physical machine to minimize downtime.
VMs can be easily scaled according to the needs of the business. This means that resources can be added or removed from VMs to accommodate changing business demands.