Is cloud computing the same as a virtualized data center?

Virtualized data centers and cloud computing are often confused as similar terms but are adopted in different ways. A cloud runs on virtualization and is considered as a source of on demand network availability to a shared collection of resources which can be set up instantly and used. Cloud computing thus can be said to be running on few features like – on demand service, pooling of resources, wider access to network, highly elastic and flexible and pay-for-what-you-use model.

Virtual data center is a pool of virtualized resources that is available to one single customer. Virtual data center can be either a public cloud or a private cloud. All resources are virtualized and new servers can be created and set up from the pool of resources. The user has the flexibility to scale their requirements up or down within that pool. Virtualization is a tool to deploy hardware while cloud computing is the result of that deployment.

Cloud includes virtualized products. Virtualization offer benefits like lesser usage of physical systems and takes the maximum use of the hardware. It also allows you to run several types of applications and operating systems for the applications on a single physical hardware.