What is the Difference Between Private Cloud vs Public Cloud vs Hybrid Cloud?

Cloud computing can be described as a variety of types and architectures. The cloud has revolutionized the way we work. You’re probably already using it. The cloud is not one thing. Cloud computing can be divided into three types private cloud vs public cloud vs hybrid cloud.

• Public Cloud: Cloud computing is delivered over the internet and shared among organizations.
• Private Cloud: Private cloud refers to cloud computing that is exclusively for your company.
• Hybrid Cloud: A hybrid cloud refers to an environment that uses both private and public clouds.

This article examines cloud computing at its highest level by:

• Definition of cloud computing
• Explore public, private, or hybrid cloud environments
• Sharing examples and use cases

What is cloud computing?

Cloud computing allows you to access programs, apps, or data over the internet, rather than on your hard drive. The most well-known examples of cloud computing include Software as a Service, Platform as a Service, and Infrastructure as a Service. Most of these services can be set up either in a private or public setting. As-a-service services are becoming more popular with cloud computing, including:

• AIaaS – AI as a Service
• DaaS – Desktop as a Service
• ITaaS – IT as a Service
• RaaS – Ransomware as a service (On a less savory side to technology)

A cloud service is made up of client-side devices or systems (e.g., PCs, tablets, etc.). These devices are connected to the backend components of the data center. Cloud Infrastructure comprises:

There are many options for the underlying infrastructure architecture, such as:

• Virtualized
• Software-defined
• Hyper-converged

Both individuals and businesses value the cloud computing benefits, which include:

• Reduce complexity
• Optimizing DevOps
• Trading CapEx to OpEx
• Plan for the future

Cloud computing examples and uses

Cloud computing has many obvious benefits, some of which you may already be using in your professional or personal life.

• Dropbox, Google Docs and Microsoft 365 are all options for document sharing. with new platforms like https://www.greenfly.com/other-resources/dropbox-alternative-for-media becoming available all the time.
• Telecom services and social networking, such as Skype, Twitter, and Facebook
• CRMs and productivity management tools like Salesforce and Atlassian
• ITSM and ITOM software
• Online streaming services like Netflix, Sling, or Hulu are available.
• Machine Learning and Big Data Analysis
• The IoT

Also read: Cloud Migration: Cloud Migration Definition, Process, Benefits and Trends

What is the public cloud?

The cloud computing model that delivers IT services via the internet is called the public cloud. The public cloud is the most widely used model for cloud computing services. It offers many options in terms of computing resources and solutions to meet the growing demands of organizations of all sizes.

A public cloud solution has the following key features:

• High elasticity and scalability
• Subscription-based pricing at a low price
• The public cloud services may be available for free, freemium, or subscription. In this case, you are charged according to the computing resources that you use.

Computing functionality can range from the common services (email, apps, and storage) to the enterprise-grade OS platform and infrastructure environments used for software testing and development.

The cloud vendor is responsible for managing and developing computing resources shared between multiple tenants in the network.

When should you use the public cloud?

These types of environments are best suited for the public cloud:

• Predictable computing requirements, such as communication services to a certain number of users
• Services and apps required to run IT and business operations
• Additional resources are required to meet peak needs.
• Software development and testing environments

Advantages of public cloud

These public cloud benefits are appreciated by people:

• No Capital Expensive. There are no investments needed to maintain and deploy the IT infrastructure.
• Technical agility. You can rely on our flexibility and scalability for unpredictable workloads.
• Business focus. Cloud vendors are responsible for infrastructure management.
• Accessibility. Flexible pricing options, based on various SLA offerings
• Cost agility. This allows organizations to adopt lean growth strategies and invest in innovation projects.

Disadvantages of public cloud

There are limitations to the public cloud:

• Inadequate cost control. Large-scale usage can cause exponential increases in the total cost of ownership (TCO), especially for medium-sized to large businesses.
• Low security. The public cloud is not the best choice for mission-critical IT workloads.
• Very little technical control. Limited visibility and control over the infrastructure might not be sufficient to meet your compliance requirements.

What is the private cloud?

A private cloud is a cloud solution that is exclusively for a single company. The private cloud is not shared with other organizations.

Datacenter resources can be either on-site or managed by a third-party vendor. Computing resources are delivered over a private network that is secure and not shared with anyone else.

The private cloud can be customized to meet specific business and security requirements of each organization. Organizations can manage compliance-sensitive IT workloads with greater control and visibility into the infrastructure without having to compromise on security or performance that was previously possible only through dedicated on-premise data centers.

Also read: 15 Ways to Secure Platform as a Service (PaaS) environment

When should you use the private clouds

Private clouds are best for:

• Industries and government agencies that are highly regulated Sensitive data
• Companies who require tight control and security of their IT workloads, and the infrastructure that supports them, will be able to do so.
• Large companies that need advanced data center technology to be efficient and cost-effectively run their businesses
• Companies that are able to afford high-performance and available technologies will be more successful.

Advantages of private cloud

Private cloud is most well-known for its many benefits:

• Exclusive environments. Secure and dedicated environments that are not accessible by others.
• Custom security. Organizations can comply with stringent regulations and run protocols, configurations and security measures based on their unique workload requirements.
• Scalability without tradeoffs. Efficiency and flexibility are key to meeting unpredictable needs without compromising security or performance.
• Efficient performance. Private clouds are reliable and efficient for high SLA performance.
• Flexibility. You can transform the infrastructure to meet the changing business and IT requirements of your organization.

Disadvantages of private cloud

There are some drawbacks to the private cloud that could limit your use of it:

• Cost. Private clouds are more expensive than public alternatives and have a higher TCO, particularly for short-term uses.
• Mobile problem. Mobile users may not have access to the private clouds due to the security measures in place.
• Scalability depends. Scalability is dependent on the resources available at the cloud data center. Unpredictable demands may mean that the infrastructure might not be scalable.

What is a hybrid cloud?

Hybrid clouds provide cloud infrastructure environments that combine public and private cloud solutions.

These resources are usually orchestrated in an integrated infrastructure environment. Based on the organizational business and technical policy around things like:

• Security
• Performance
• Scalability
• Cost
• Efficiency

This is an example of a hybrid cloud. Private clouds can be used by organizations to manage their IT workloads. Public clouds can be added to the infrastructure to deal with occasional spikes in network traffic.

You could also use the public cloud to store workloads and data that isn’t sensitive. However, you opt for the private cloud to store sensitive data.

Access to additional computing power does not require a large CapEx but can be provided as a short-term IT service via the public cloud. To ensure optimal performance and adaptability to changing business requirements, the environment is integrated seamlessly.

If you decide to pursue a hybrid cloud, there is another decision you will need to make. This is how you decide whether to use cloud services from one vendor or several.

Also read: 9 Cloud Security Trends in 2022 and Beyond

When should you use hybrid clouds?

These are the people who might be best suited for hybrid clouds:

• Multi-sectoral organizations face different IT security, regulatory, and performance requirements.
• Optimizing cloud investments without compromising public and private cloud technology’s value can be done.
• Increase security for cloud solutions like SaaS offerings. These must be delivered via a secure, private network.
• Use strategic cloud investments to continuously switch between the best cloud service delivery model.

Advantages of hybrid cloud

• The option is policy-driven. Flexible policy deployment to share workloads between public and private infrastructure environments. This can be based on cost, security, and performance requirements.
• Scale without security. Scalability in public cloud environments.
• Reliability. The best reliability comes from distributing services across multiple data centers, some public and some private.
• Cost control. Improved security as sensitive IT workloads run in dedicated resources in private cloud infrastructure, while regular workloads are distributed across public cloud infrastructure. This is a trade-off for cost investment

Disadvantages of hybrid cloud

The hybrid cloud has its drawbacks:

• Price. Switching between public and private can lead to inefficient spending.
• Management. Integration and compatibility are essential between cloud infrastructures that span different
• categories and locations. This is a problem with public cloud deployments as organizations do not have direct control of the infrastructure.
• More complexity. Organizations must manage a diverse mix of public and private cloud architectures.

Which cloud should you choose?

There are many factors that influence the choice between hybrid cloud, public and private cloud solutions. This is not an either/or situation in the real world. Organizations tend to use all three cloud solutions for their inherent value propositions.

Even though you are likely already using cloud computing, it is worthwhile to create an intentional cloud strategy to maximize your cloud experience. The first step is to identify the requirements of your workloads. Next, prioritize them according to the pros and cons of each type.