Which of the following is a benefit of a virtualized environment?

A virtualized environment allows multiple virtual machines (VMs) to run on a single physical server, which leads to reduced hardware costs. This is because organizations can maximize the utilization of their existing hardware by deploying multiple operating systems and applications on fewer physical machines. Instead of requiring separate physical servers for each application or workload, virtualization enables businesses to consolidate their resources, leading to significant savings on hardware purchases, maintenance, and energy consumption.

Additionally, by optimizing the use of resources, companies can delay the need for additional physical servers, further contributing to cost savings in infrastructure and energy overhead. This makes virtualization a highly effective strategy for managing IT resources efficiently while also facilitating scalability when needed.