The difference between public, private, and hybrid cloud
Moving to the cloud? Excellent – but what sort of cloud set-up is going to be right for your business? If you’re just beginning your journey to the cloud and you want to understand more about the difference between public and private cloud computing as well as the third alternative – the hybrid cloud - then this article is for you.
Cloud hosting provides an off-premise infrastructure to suit the needs of your business. More companies are moving away from on-premise servers because of the numerous benefits and the inherent flexibility that comes with a cloud solution. But first you need to decide what type of cloud solution is the best fit.
The three main types of cloud deployment are public, private and hybrid (which is a combination of public and private cloud). Here we explore the difference between them.
Public cloud
Public clouds (also known as multi-tenant environments) are the most common type of cloud computing deployment. The cloud resources (the hardware such as the servers and storage for example) are owned and operated by a third-party cloud provider who delivers their services via the internet.
Public clouds are run as a shared environment with secure partitions between the many different users. Your business shares hardware, storage and network devices with other companies and you would access services and manage your account using a web browser. Public cloud deployments are commonly used to provide web-based email, online office applications, storage, and testing and development environments.
It’s worth noting here that using a public cloud doesn’t mean that your data is not secure, and it doesn't mean it can be accessed by other organisations using the same public cloud. It simply means that you are using a portion of shared hardware that is allocated to your business, and is securely protected from unwanted access. It can only be accessed by people within your organisation (or by anyone authorised to do so).
Benefits of a public cloud
- Cost-effective – no need to buy hardware or software and you pay only for what you use.
- Maintenance free (for you) – your cloud service provider does this for you.
- Scalable – you can flex cloud resources on-demand as your business needs change.
- Reliable and secure – a vast network of servers ensures against failure.
Access Cloud Hosting offers secure public cloud hosting – Flex Cloud – as a cost-effective, reliable hosting solution.
However, you should also consider whether your business has specific security requirements, industry standards, or applicable legislation which prohibits the use of the public cloud. And check too for any restrictions imposed on service usage or particular business requirements which can’t be met.
Private cloud
Private clouds (also known as a single tenant environment) are run on dedicated hardware used only by your organisation. This is a more expensive option as you are using the hardware exclusively, but it does ensure you are able to meet any legislative or regulatory compliance obligations. Private clouds are preferable when you are storing personal sensitive information (such as payment details, HR information or medical data) or other critical data such as intellectual property data.
Benefits of a private cloud
- Can be used for data that is prohibited from being on the public cloud
- Strict security, compliance or legal restrictions can be met
- Able to support legacy applications
Bear in mind that a private cloud set up will require initial capital expenditure as well as more sophisticated skills to fully utilise and leverage its capabilities. Access provides private cloud hosting - Dedicated Cloud - for customers requiring a single-tenant solution.
Hybrid cloud
Hybrid clouds are a combination of both public and private cloud which is designed to leverage the benefits of both. For example, a business may use a private cloud for most of their applications but have a public cloud on standby for peak times to maintain operational effectiveness without a slowing down of services. A hybrid cloud solution is also useful if some of your data cannot be held on a public cloud due to legal restrictions, as outlined above.
Benefits of a hybrid cloud
- Offers optimum flexibility compared to an on-premise system
- Can also be used to keep out-of-date hardware or operating systems running
- Allows for own equipment and legacy scenarios to be accommodated
Access offers a range of hosting platforms and our consultants will help you determine which solution – public, private or hybrid – will best suit your needs.
We want to support you in your migration to the cloud which is why we have a team of cloud transition specialist waiting to guide you and your business through the process. Why wait? Book a call with one of our specialists today. You’ll be amazed at how easy it is to take your business into the future.
