Cloud computing, virtualization will remain compatible, expert says

With talk of cloud computing dominating the tech market, many experts anticipate virtualization vendors will be quick to abandon some of their old products in favor of the hot new technology. However, Michael Otey, technical director for Windows IT Pro and SQL Server Magazine and president of TECA, says that while some vendors are abandoning virtualization, it will not die off in the near future.

Writing for SQLMag.com, Otey says that different virtualization vendors have different approaches to cloud computing. He cites one vendor that specializes in ITaS, or IT-as-a-service. The hybrid cloud service, he says, still relies on virtualization as a “core tenant” for its strategy.

Other vendors are abandoning virtualization altogether. Customers using cloud services never have to deal with virtualization or infrastructure, as those are handled by the hosting provider itself, he says.

While virtualization would die out if all companies embraced such a model, Otey does not believe that will be the case for a while. He thinks cloud computing is still in its infancy and virtualization will be here to stay until cloud providers find their footing.

Several companies still find success with both virtualization and cloud computing. One cloud company recently reported significant expansion for both its cloud and virtualization products in the third quarter of 2010.