The role of virtualization in data center management is to optimize resource utilization, improve scalability, and enhance efficiency. By allowing multiple virtual machines to run on a single physical server, virtualization reduces hardware costs and simplifies management. It enables administrators to allocate resources dynamically based on demand, ensuring high availability and performance. Furthermore, virtualization aids in disaster recovery, as virtual machines can be easily backed up and restored. Overall, it streamlines operations and provides greater flexibility in deploying IT services.