Cloud Deployment Models – Public Cloud V/s Private Cloud V/s Hybrid Cloud
Cloud Deployment Models

Introduction

Cloud Computing has tremendously grown in scope and organizations are increasingly bringing their business over cloud with deployment of cloud servers and infrastructures. However, with the range of classifications, types, and models encompassing the cloud, choosing the perfect cloud environment for deployment into your organizations becomes a difficult decision to make.

The cloud deployment models are classified in three broad categories 

  1. Public Cloud
  2. Private Cloud
  3. Hybrid Cloud

This article takes you through a journey of these three cloud models to give you an insight into the key differences between them, so that your choice becomes easier.

Cloud Deployment Models

Public Cloud

In this cloud deployment model, a third-party vendor manages and maintains a pool of resources over the web which are shared amongst multiple tenants across a network. The services are available on a free or premium basis in accordance with subscription-based or pay per use pricing.

The model is most popular among the organizations because of its high scalability and elasticity for delivery of services, resources, applications, and infrastructure on demand at affordable and optimized cost. This feature of a public cloud makes it suitable for all industry verticals.

Advantages

  1. Meet resource requirements without making capital expenditure.
  2. No need to maintain and update software, applications, and infrastructure, as vendors are responsible for maintenance of resources.
  3. Easily manage workflows with elasticity and scalability in procuring resources.
  4. Reduced load on IT staff as vendor manages the solution.
  5. Cost Optimization due to pay as you go and subscription-based pricing.

Limitations

  1. As the resource needs scale up, the cost of ownership increases.
  2. There are security concerns associated with public cloud which make it a less viable solution for organizations with sensitive and critical databases and information.

Use Cases

  1. Meeting computing needs for multiple users at the same time.
  2. Catering to scalable resource needs and requirements.
  3. Creating test environment for software development.

Private Cloud

A private cloud is dedicated to one single organization and has a pool of cloud computing resources located on premise or managed by the third-party vendor off site. Unlike the public cloud where the pool of resources is shared over a public network, the resources and services on a private cloud are delivered over a secure private network with zero involvement of any other tenants or customers.

Since the resources are delivered over private network, a private cloud is highly customizable for the specific requirements of an organization. Also, such cloud environments are more secure and provide a greater control over the resources to the organization. With such security and control, organizations can easily shift their sensitive and critical workflows as well to cloud and achieve higher efficiency and performance in them.

Advantages

  1. Dedicated resources provided in a secure environment which cannot be accessed by outsiders.
  2. Customizable to specific business needs, thus help in meeting requirements for unique workflows.
  3. High scalability and flexibility to meet higher and expanding resource needs and requirements.
  4. Cost efficient solution making secure resources available at optimized and affordable pricing.
  5. Reduced load on IT staff as vendor manages the solutions and resources.

Limitations

  1. High security measures limit the accessibility to cloud resources.
  2. If the resources are on premises, you cannot leverage the scalability of cloud solutions.

Use Cases

  1. Highly regulated industries, organizations, and government agencies.
  2. Companies with sensitive data and information requiring high security.

Hybrid Cloud

A hybrid cloud combines the characteristics of a public and private cloud and the resources are delivered over integrated cloud environments. The workflows are shared between a private and public cloud as per the needs for security, scalability, and costs. For instance, the organizations can deploy the sensitive and critical data and information over a private cloud and manage the other resource needs and workloads over a public cloud. Or they can have their workflows over an on-premise private cloud while meeting the needs for scalability via public cloud resources. This helps organizations achieve higher performance and scalability in operations while keeping in line with the changing business environment and organizational requirements.

Advantages

  1. Flexible deployment of resources distributed across public and private cloud environment based on security needs and other performance requirements.
  2. Easy to achieve scalability of a public cloud without compromising the security of private cloud.
  3. Higher reliability and improved security as the sensitive workflows are deployed over a private and secure network and the regular workflows to meet the higher resource needs are deployed over public cloud.

Limitations

  1. It could lead to additional costs and complexities as the organizations are required to manage between public and private cloud environments.
  2. Lack of control over public cloud can come as a limitation as strong compatibility is required between the cloud infrastructures.

Use Cases

  1. Organizations with different security and performance requirements spread across several industry verticals.
  2. Organizations where there is need for highly scalable cloud computing solutions over a secure network.

Conclusion

There are significant differences between the three cloud deployment models and the choice largely depends on the specific organizational needs and requirements as regards the security, performance, scalability, and cost of the cloud solutions. Generally, when the practical approaches are taken in view, organizations focus on leveraging all three deployment models as per convenience in consideration of the value proposition and tradeoffs these solutions offer.

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