Distinguishing Between Public, Hybrid, & Private Cloud Solutions

Public, hybrid, and private cloud solutions all take different approaches to cloud computing. While one is accessed online through a subscription, the second is a combination of public and private models, while the latter is dedicated to a single organization. But what are the benefits and challenges of each – and which is best for your business?

Gain an understanding of the different cloud models and their suitability for your organization—and to transition to a cloud server that better serves you, don’t hesitate to call our offices at OC Cloud 9. 

What Is a Public Cloud?

Public clouds are the most commonly used cloud computing model, and place your company infrastructure into an online server with open access. In other words, your servers, storage, supporting software, and networking components are accessed online and managed by a third-party provider like OC Cloud 9. You can think of AWS and Microsoft Azure as examples of public cloud solutions.

The most identifiable aspect of public clouds is their multi-tenant nature. Rather than having your own dedicated cloud server, resources are pooled into a shared server, while keeping your data and workflows separate from other organizations. You won’t own or operate the server yourself—instead, you pay a monthly subscription fee for only the services you use. 

Benefits

Reduced Maintenance: Since maintenance is handled by third-party providers, you won’t need to hire in-house IT professionals to operate and manage your infrastructure.

Scalability: With the range of resources at the disposal of service providers, you can scale your business up during times of high-demand, or scale down in slower months. 

Flexible Pricing: The tiered pricing offered by cloud providers allows you to pay lower rates for less critical applications, or higher rates to support a central resource, allowing you to customize your pricing according to your business needs.

Challenges

Lacking Security: For those in sensitive industries such as finance and healthcare, where strict privacy and security measures are needed, public clouds may not be appropriate.

High Expenses: Enterprise-wide deployments in mid- to large-sized companies may incur large expenses on a public cloud server.

Limited Control: Since third-party providers manage, maintain, and secure public cloud servers, it may not be the best solution for businesses with certain regulatory requirements.

What Is a Hybrid Cloud?

On the other hand, a hybrid cloud combines public and cloud resources to offer the best of both worlds. It allows for confidential actions, such as financial reporting, to be carried out on a private cloud, while high-volume and less critical actions like web-based emails are carried out on a public server. It’s preferred by many since you can choose the best cloud model for each application, while being able to move workloads across clouds according to your need. In short, a hybrid cloud is aimed at meeting business needs in a more cost-efficient manner than a public or private cloud solution can deliver on its own.

Benefits

Unbeatable Flexibility: Using different clouds for separate purposes opens a world of flexibility, such as handling high demand with a public server, or scaling back when demand falls back to normal levels.

Security & Compliance: Data-sensitive applications can be operated on a private cloud while more common tasks such as email can be worked on publicly to keep costs low.

Resource Optimization: Applications can be flexibly deployed to get the most out of your on-premise resources while saving capital with a public cloud infrastructure. 

Challenges

High Costs: Managing, maintaining, and continuously optimizing a hybrid cloud solution is an expensive process, and poses more of a financial challenge for smaller organizations. 

Complex Infrastructure: For a truly effective hybrid cloud, both its public and private components need to be strongly intertwined. This can render management and security quite complex as the number of clouds grows, especially if there’s more than one provider in the mix.

What Is a Private Cloud?

Lastly, private cloud solutions are devoted to a single organization, rather than pooling resources for many organizations like a public cloud. These are identified by IT resources being maintained on a private network for you, and only you, to use. They’re most often used by financial institutions or government agencies, alongside other highly regulated industries that can’t leave anything to chance. 

Benefits

Top-Tier Security: Since it caters to one customer or organization at a time, a private cloud is your greatest defense against external cyberthreats.

Regulatory Compliance: Tailor your private cloud to abide by specific privacy and governance rules regarding sensitive data or work processes.

Tend to Changing Needs: With a cloud environment all to yourself, it’s easier to implement evolving technology and pursue new opportunities through sheer customization.

Challenges

Weak Mobile Access: Due to the strict security measures of private cloud solutions, it can be difficult to enable access on mobile devices.

High Overhead Costs: On-premise private cloud infrastructures can pose major upfront costs and IT staffing expenses, though a third-party provider such as OC Cloud 9 can keep these costs off the table.

Limited Scale: Configuring and enabling software can be both time and resource-consuming, though a cloud service provider can also knock down any obstacles to scaling by offering their own resources. 

Do You Need a Private Cloud Solution?

For business owners in industries that conform to certain regulatory and privacy rules, such as financial advisers or government operations, a private cloud solution is the optimal route. Public and hybrid cloud infrastructures simply aren’t secure enough, and some organizations require the maximum level of protection for their operations. If you’re currently using a public or hybrid cloud and require a transition, contact OC Cloud 9 to shift over to a private cloud infrastructure. 

Meet the OC Cloud 9 Team

OC Cloud9 and Orange County Computer, Inc. have a proven track record of satisfied clients with seamless transitions into private cloud solutions. Our beginning-to-end process ensures your business needs are met through extensive research, design, deployment, and implementation of your cloud services.

Learn more about our solutions by visiting our Learning Center, or speak with a member of our Cloud Solutions Team any time at our Orange County office by calling 949-699-6619.