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Cloud computing has become the norm when it comes to computing resources to store and utilize all your IT infrastructure. Without public, private, and hybrid cloud computing, you would not be able to work remotely, engage in e-commerce, or embrace emerging technologies with ease. While cloud infrastructure has opened a new and expanded world of computing resources, there are some in-depth challenges with a cloud computing environment. Therefore, selecting the best cloud computing model for your organization is crucial.
There are three cloud computing services to choose from: hybrid, public, and private cloud.
Understanding the Benefits of Public, Private, and Hybrid Cloud Computing
When selecting the best cloud computing model, it’s essential to assess your IT infrastructure now, and consider how you expect your computing resources to change in the future.
An expert in cloud services like DartPoints can help guide the way. Our expert team can also ensure your organization is connected to the best cloud model that aligns with your security concerns and IT infrastructure.
However, knowledge of the differences between private cloud solutions, public cloud solutions, and hybrid cloud solutions will go a long way toward your future decisions and ensuring that your cloud model is the right fit for your organization and IT infrastructure.
Table of Contents
Types of Cloud Computing
The Benefits of a Public Cloud Solution
Private Cloud
Hybrid Cloud
Explore Your Public, Private, and Hybrid Cloud Options
What is cloud computing?
In its simplest terms, cloud computing allows organizations and businesses to use and access IT infrastructure and applications over the internet without installing and maintaining a deep network of computing resources in house.
The notion of cloud computing has been around since the 1960s. However, it wasn’t until 2022 that Amazon Web Services (AWS) launched its first public cloud to the world, with Google often credited for propelling the term to the global lexicon in 2006.
Multiple public cloud deployments began to flood the market. Simultaneously, organizations across all industries realized that maintaining on-premises infrastructure was no longer a cost-effective way of managing computing resources. In addition, on-premises infrastructure couldn’t keep up with the computing power required.
This trend towards cloud computing continues to grow today. In recent years, as remote work environments have become more common, (with 32.6 million Americans expected to be working remotely by 2025), having an effective cloud solution in place has become a common practice for organizations around the world.
Types of cloud computing
There are three basic types of cloud environments: public, private, and hybrid. Today, we will examine each of these cloud computing models in more detail.
The public cloud
A public cloud is a computing model in which a third-party service provider makes all computing resources (like software development platforms and applications, VMs, and more) available to its individual public cloud users.
Thanks to globally recognized public cloud providers like IBM Cloud, Microsoft Azure, and the Google Cloud Platform, everyone has heard of public cloud environments. (In fact, almost 56% of organizations worldwide use Microsoft Azure in some capacity.)
Therefore, a public cloud is multi-tenant, which means that all users share a pool of virtual resources through a self-service interface. Furthermore, the IT infrastructure – like apps, software, sensitive data, and anything that is not housed on a physical server – remains individualized for each tenant.
Public cloud services providers supply the “space” to store these computing resources while the tenant or user adds their data to the public cloud platform. Public clouds are common and are often initially free. However, users may need to pay for some public cloud resources through subscription or pay-per-use pricing models (particularly if they need additional public cloud resources that are not a standard feature of the basic public cloud model.)
The benefits of a public cloud solution
Saves money
One significant benefit of a public cloud vs. a private cloud or even a hybrid cloud is the cost. Public clouds are typically much less expensive than on-premises and private cloud options. That is because multiple organizations and users are tied to the public cloud provider. Public clouds may initially be free to use and access, but for deeper cloud services, tenants may need to pay for additional public cloud resources.
Regardless, both public and private clouds offer the primary cloud environments required for storing vast amounts of data and cloud computing resources, with public cloud environments available at a much lower cost.
Increased scalability
Compared particularly to on-premises solutions (as opposed to private and hybrid cloud solutions), public clouds allow organizations increased scalability when adjusting the computing resources required.
With public clouds, organizations can add or remove computing resources as needed without purchasing additional hardware, servers, or other in-house infrastructure. This means that the public cloud environment is flexible and can adapt to changes in business. Regardless of storage needs, a public cloud service provider will never run out of space, as the public cloud infrastructure can often accommodate millions of tenants at once.
Better agility
Another benefit of a public cloud is the ability to deploy new applications and services with minimal expense and effort, especially when compared to in-house IT infrastructure. (It should be noted that private and hybrid cloud environments also offer this feature.)
Reduced maintenance
Finally, a public cloud environment, (like private and public clouds), requires no in-house maintenance for servers, equipment, or hardware. Instead, the public cloud services provider takes care of all the behind-the-scenes work to keep the public cloud environment up and running. All a business must do is upload and maintain the IT infrastructure housed within the public cloud environment.
The drawbacks of a public cloud solution
Security
One of the biggest concerns with a public cloud environment is security. As soon as sensitive data is stored in the public cloud, it can be vulnerable to cyberattacks and data breaches, as this sensitive data can technically be accessed from anywhere in the world.
Often, users will need to sign an agreement with the public cloud provider stating that they will assume a portion of the risk regarding cybersecurity concerns, so there may be limited financial recourse available if a cyberattack occurs. Security is one of the most important distinctions when it comes to the main difference between public, private, and hybrid clouds.
Regulatory compliance
With these cloud security concerns in mind, another difference between public and private clouds is the ability to adhere to regulatory compliance guidelines that require enhanced cloud security measures. (Examples include government agencies or any single organization that deals with confidential or sensitive data, like financial institutions or healthcare organizations.)
As such, before opting to store all your IT infrastructure in public cloud environments, ensure enhanced security measures are in place by following existing security blueprints, like GDPR guidelines. Failing to protect your data and relying solely on the public cloud environment for security, can result in hefty fines or even legal issues.
Lack of flexibility
When it comes to choosing between a public, private, and hybrid cloud model, the public cloud has the least amount of flexibility for many reasons.
Vendor lock-in
In public cloud services, if you rely on a single cloud provider, a vendor lock- in situation may occur where moving to a different cloud computing provider is difficult. Additionally, your business may experience issues like technical incompatibilities, high costs to switch, or even legal constraints. To avoid vendor lock- in, check the fine print with your third- party provider or store your IT infrastructure among multiple cloud service providers.
Lack of control
Organizations have no control over the overall servers, hardware, and equipment that power cloud computing. This means they are totally reliant on the public cloud services provider to maintain these backbone elements.
Downtime
If there is a glitch or error with the public cloud services provider results in downtime, only the public cloud services provider can bring all systems and cloud infrastructure back online.
Private Clouds
Private clouds are unmatched when it comes to enhanced security, control, and scalability. Additionally, private clouds can be hosted on-site or off-site at a cloud data center with advanced data center technologies. Every private cloud is designed and maintained for a single organization.
Organizations can customize a private cloud to meet specific security requirements. These security measures include firewalls, virtual and secure private networks, data encryption, API keys, and other customized security measures, and private clouds can be scaled or adjusted as the organization requires.
Benefits of a private cloud solution
- Optimal for security – Because only one organization can access the secure private network, the private cloud environment is protected from outside users.
- Provides the option for customization – a private cloud can be customized to fit the single organization’s needs, as they are the only user of the lone public cloud.
- Your business has control – Organizations can adjust their IT infrastructure in a private cloud, as they own all of all the private cloud services and private cloud infrastructure.
The main drawback to a private cloud is the cost.
When it comes to private clouds, the main disadvantage is the cost of owning and having access to a private cloud, to begin with, and these costs can mount over time. The cost to just set up a private cloud can be hundreds of thousands of dollars. For this reason, private cloud infrastructure is generally used by large organizations with big budgets and internal IT resources, and not smaller businesses.
That said, there are affordable options for a private cloud solution, provided that you partner with a client-focused and advanced private cloud provider that can build a private cloud environment tailored to your precise needs.
Hybrid Cloud
A hybrid cloud has both public and private components and is the best of both worlds when it comes to the hybrid vs. private cloud or public cloud debate. Hybrid cloud environments combine a public cloud, private cloud and on-premises infrastructure to create a single hybrid cloud solution that fits an organization’s distinctive needs.
Modern companies tend to favor a hybrid cloud model for its agility in moving workloads and applications easily across different cloud environments, a process known as cloud bursting. For example, in hybrid cloud computing, organizations can scale up in response to spikes in traffic, without affecting private cloud data and workloads.
Hybrid cloud technology is continually evolving. In recent years, organizations have primarily used hybrid clouds to access and shift workloads from public to private clou infrastructure. Today, hybrid clouds support the portability of workloads across all cloud environments and then automate cloud deployment to the best public vs. private cloud environment option, depending on the given purpose or function.
Benefits of a hybrid cloud solution
- Security – When it comes to a private cloud vs hybrid cloud, a hybrid cloud can be equally successful in protecting sensitive data and adhering to any industry security regulations.
- Affordable – A hybrid cloud is more affordable than a private cloud, and virtually any organization can access and use a hybrid cloud model if it’s custom-created for an organization’s distinctive needs by a top-rated hybrid cloud services provider.
- Flexibility – Hybrid cloud infrastructure can be adjusted easily to adapt to an organization as its needs evolve.
- Versatility – A hybrid cloud allows organizations to store sensitive data in a private cloud environment while using the scalability of a public cloud for other tasks.
When it comes to hybrid cloud solutions and management, a top-rated hybrid cloud provider can mitigate any drawbacks.
Hybrid clouds can be complex to set up and manage, which is their main disadvantage. However, organizations can mitigate these costs and challenges by partnering with a hybrid cloud expert like DartPoints, who has the knowledge, expertise, and advanced technological framework to make the integration seamless.
Explore your public, private, and hybrid cloud computing options with DartPoints
Determining the best cloud solution between public, private and hybrid options can be challenging. However, DartPoints can help make this organization-defining decision much easier by providing guidance every step of the way.
Regardless of what type of cloud environment you rely on now, our expert and client-focused team at DartPoints can help you explore your options. We can customize the best public, private, or hybrid cloud solution for your unique needs and pain points.
Reach out to us today to start the conversation (and to have your questions answered). Together, we can find and implement a cloud computing solution that will ensure your organization has all the resources, computing power, and protection it will need for many years to come.