GIAC Foundational Cybersecurity Technologies Practice Test

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Prepare for the GIAC Foundational Cybersecurity Technologies Test with interactive quizzes. Use flashcards and multiple choice questions with hints and detailed explanations. Ace your exam with confidence!

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What is the software or firmware platform that hosts a virtual machine called?

Guest System
Hypervisor
Container
Operating System

The correct answer is: Hypervisor

The software or firmware platform that hosts a virtual machine is known as the hypervisor. It acts as a layer between the physical hardware and the virtual machines, allowing for the creation, management, and operation of multiple virtual machines on a single physical host. The hypervisor allocates resources like CPU, memory, and storage to each virtual machine, enabling them to run independently of one another. In contrast, a guest system refers to an individual virtual machine that runs on the hypervisor. It is the operating system and applications operating within the virtual environment. A container is a lightweight alternative to virtual machines, focusing on application-level virtualization and sharing the host operating system's kernel, rather than running a separate OS for each instance. The operating system itself is the software that manages the computer hardware and software resources and provides common services for computer programs, but it does not specifically define the virtualization layer. Therefore, the hypervisor is the correct term that identifies the platform enabling virtualization.