In Part 1 of the Cloud Computing 101 series, we looked at the high level definition of cloud computing, current websites or applications you may already use, and some of the advantages for moving to the cloud. In this post, we will review the different deployment models of cloud computing.
Currently, there are three main deployment models to consider when beginning your journey into cloud computing: the private cloud, the public cloud, and the hybrid cloud.
The private cloud can be the most secure, but it will also be the most expensive. Private clouds are owned and operated solely for one organization and can be hosted either at an organization-owned facility or a shared datacenter. Private clouds are least common among small businesses due to the fact that organizations must maintain IT staff, hardware and software costs, and environmental costs (power, air conditioning, and backups for both). Instead, private cloud computing is typically used by larger companies that have the resources to accompany it.
The public cloud offers the most cost-effective and scalable implementation. Public clouds are owned and operated by a third-party, such as Amazon AWS or Microsoft Azure, within multiple regions of the USA and overseas. Public cloud offerings include such services as Gmail, Outlook.com, and Apple’s iCloud, to mention a few. When reviewing public cloud models, organizations need to be mindful of security concerns and make sure to implement additional controls to mitigate such concerns.
The hybrid cloud offers a mix of both the private and public cloud models, offering the advanced security of private clouds and the scalability and cost savings of public clouds. An example of a hybrid cloud might be using the private cloud to host secure infrastructure and data with customized security requirements for the organization’s financial data and using the public cloud for project management and document collaboration and sharing.
While these are three popular cloud models that exist today, they are sure to change as the adoption of the “cloud” only continues to grow. Be sure to come back for Part 3 to delve deeper into the cloud computing industry and review the different service models that are currently available.
Are you using cloud services in your organization? If so, which type of cloud works best for your business—private, public, or hybrid?
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