The role of virtualization in IT infrastructure is to create multiple virtual environments on a single physical machine. This allows organizations to run various operating systems and applications on a single server, maximizing resource utilization and reducing costs. Virtualization enhances scalability by making it easier to create, deploy, and manage virtual machines. Additionally, it improves disaster recovery strategies by allowing snapshots and backups of systems. Overall, virtualization streamlines IT operations, increases flexibility, and simplifies management for organizations.