Simplifying the Cloud: Public, Private or Hybrid for Your Business?

When I talk with people about cloud computing resources, most still refer to those offered by Amazon or Google. These popular technology giants provide infrastructure and applications shared by millions of clients worldwide through the Internet (i.e., public cloud). However, some organizations—because of culture, security, or regulatory concerns—cannot move directly to a public cloud. Their options are either a private cloud or some type of hybrid solution depending on their data needs.

But how do you decide which cloud is best for your business?

Cloud computing comes in three basic forms: public, private, and hybrid. Each option provides different levels of security and management. Below is a breakdown of the three options and some practical examples of each.

Public Cloud

A public cloud provides off-site services and infrastructure through the Internet. This model typically provides the greatest level of efficiency (as resources are shared) but can be more vulnerable than private clouds. Many business executives are concerned about the public cloud’s security and reliability. Here are some examples of public cloud usages:

• Standardized workloads for applications used by many people, such as eMail
• Vendor applications (software as a service) with a sound security program
• Additional computer capacity during peak times
• Quick implementation of test and development environments or collaboration projects
• Ad hoc software development efforts using a specific platform (platform as a service)

Private Cloud

There are fundamentally two models for deploying a private cloud—internal and third-party hosted. Since many companies are unable to afford creating and managing their own internal private cloud, this article focuses on the hosted model. With a hosted private cloud, off-site services and infrastructure are provided through a private network. Resources can be shared or dedicated, and it offers businesses the greatest level of security and control. Here are some criteria that most often lead businesses to choose a private cloud:

• Your business is your data and applications
• Your industry demands strict security and data privacy measures
• You have critical high availability and support requirements

As the cloud market evolves, we’re seeing the lines blur between public and private clouds. Some public cloud companies are now offering private versions of their public clouds via a private network. Likewise, companies are making their private cloud technologies available via the public cloud. Thus begins the evolution of the hybrid cloud.

Hybrid Cloud

As the name implies, a hybrid cloud combines a variety of public and private options with multiple providers. By spreading workloads and data over a hybrid cloud, a business can leverage the strengths of each solution. Management of a hybrid model can be challenging, though, as a business must keep track of multiple security platforms while maintaining internal communications. Here are a couple situations where a hybrid environment may be the best solution:

• You want to use a specific software product (software as a service) but are concerned about security. Your software vendor can provide a private cloud inside their security framework just for you. These firms can also provide you with a virtual private network (VPN) for additional security.
• Your company offers services that are tailored for different industry vertical markets. You can use a public cloud to interact with your clients, but keep their data secured within a private cloud.

Budget, control, and security considerations continue to drive which cloud model is best for your business. Just make sure that any short-term cost savings don’t morph into a costly long-term nightmare. Finally, be sure that you are aligned with a reputable company who operates with the same core values. Visit C Spire’s website to see our Cloud Services offerings.