Virtualization may feel like a modern innovation, but its roots actually stretch back to the 1960s. IBM pioneered the concept by allowing multiple users to share a single mainframe without interfering with one another. Early systems like the CP-40 and later CP/CMS laid the groundwork for the first hypervisor. By the 1970s, IBM’s VM/370 operating system brought multi-tasking and better utilization of costly mainframe resources — revolutionizing how businesses approached computing.
Virtualization Comes to the PC
It wasn’t until the 1980s and 1990s that virtualization started making its way into personal computing. With the introduction of virtual memory and early x86 virtualization software like Simultask and SoftPC, PCs gained the ability to run multiple operating systems and legacy applications. This shift opened the door for broader adoption and set the stage for enterprise use.
The Enterprise Revolution
The 2000s marked a turning point. Commercial x86 virtualization products, led by VMware, changed the face of enterprise IT. Companies could consolidate servers, reduce costs, and simplify operations. But as adoption grew, so did a reliance on on-premises virtualization. Many organizations became locked in, hesitant to move workloads to the cloud due to the complexity, risks, and costs of migration. What began as an enabler of IT innovation eventually became a source of inertia against cloud adoption.
A New Cloud-Driven Era
The acquisition of VMware in November 2023 signaled another shift. Pricing and licensing changes created uncertainty for enterprise customers, raising concerns around costs, support, and product continuity. This prompted many organizations to rethink their virtualization strategies — some accelerating cloud migrations, others adopting alternative solutions such as containerization.
What’s Next for Virtualization?
Today, virtualization sits at the crossroads of control, cost, and technological progress. Cloud adoption has transformed not just how virtualization is used, but how it’s perceived. Where once enterprises resisted leaving familiar environments, many are now embracing public cloud platforms for their scalability and cost efficiency. Cloud providers, in turn, are continually adapting to meet enterprise demands — making cloud adoption more attractive, and in some cases, unavoidable.
The story of virtualization is one of constant evolution. From mainframes to cloud-native platforms, it continues to reshape the way businesses innovate, scale, and grow.
Cloudamize can support your virtualization efforts by providing deep visibility into your organization’s IT infrastructure and delivering precise analytics to guide decision-making. By automatically discovering workloads, mapping dependencies, and analyzing performance data, Cloudamize helps IT teams identify which applications and servers are best suited for virtualization. With its ability to model different virtualization scenarios, Cloudamize enables organizations to plan confidently, streamline operations, and maximize the benefits of a virtualized environment.
For more information about Cloudamize, visit www.cloudamize.com or contact sales@cloudamize.com.
About Cloudamize
Cloudamize is a leading cloud computing analytics platform that helps enterprises and partners simplify and accelerate their cloud journey. Through automated data collection and powerful analytics, Cloudamize enables informed cloud migration planning, cost optimization, and performance forecasting across all major cloud providers.
Media Contact:
Ben Horine
CEO
Email: sales@cloudamize.com
Phone: +1 484.502.9393
Website: www.cloudamize.com
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