Different types of cloud services provide varying productivity and security benefits. Some organizations opt for private or public cloud network models while others go for hybrid models to get the best of both worlds. Today, it is common practice for businesses to switch from one cloud infrastructure solution to another. Deciding whether to stay on the private cloud or move to a hybrid cloud is a far-reaching decision that should be made judiciously.
Understanding the pros and cons of private vs hybrid clouds
Private clouds
A private cloud is used by a single organization and is stored either within the business premises or offsite. In other words, the services and infrastructure are maintained privately.
Since a private cloud is dedicated to only one organization, it is more efficient and reliable in delivering different cloud services. Private clouds are also associated with higher security and control over the network’s resources. A business that uses this type of cloud computing also enjoys greater customization opportunities compared to those that use public and hybrid clouds.
Private clouds have some drawbacks. The main disadvantage is the high initial cost of building the hardware equipment, plus the subsequent cloud infrastructure upgrading and maintenance costs. These costs can significantly reduce the return on investment of the cloud migration endeavor. Besides, accessing the private cloud remotely can result in security issues. This concern is especially significant to businesses with many mobile users (that is, users access to cloud resources using mobile gadgets).
When to use private cloud:
- If control and security are your top priorities. This is usually the case with businesses that heavily rely on data and applications.
- If you operate in an industry with data privacy and security issues or stringent regulations on the same.
- The business is big enough to run a cloud efficiently and productively.
Hybrid clouds
As the name suggests, a hybrid cloud combines a variety of aspects of private and public clouds. This means multiple providers offer various elements of a hybrid cloud.
The main aim of using this type of cloud is to ensure that the business operates in the most efficient cloud environment attainable. The hybrid cloud infrastructure provides independence while also allowing for coordination across different cloud platforms. Since you have the freedom to choose where you want to put your data and IT applications, using a hybrid cloud gives you flexibility so that you can meet your business needs. Unlike private clouds which have issues with remote access, both remote and mobile users can easily access hybrid clouds.
The downside of using this cloud solution is that you have to keep track of multiple security platforms across private and public clouds. You also have to make sure that all business aspects are well integrated and are communicating properly with each other. Managing private and public data centers require you to acquire additional capabilities to federate these environments.
Risks and vulnerabilities of a hybrid cloud are similar to those of a public cloud since data and many users can share other resources.
When moving to a hybrid cloud is an excellent idea:
- If your company offers a diverse set of services to different vertical markets. In this case, it would be prudent to use a public cloud for interaction with clients and a private cloud to keep data secure.
- You want to use a SaaS application but must remain vigilant about security. The SaaS provider can create for you a private cloud inside their firewall and give you a virtual private network (VPN) for more security.
Enfrasys can help you to choose the right cloud computing solution and provide all the support you need to meet the security, privacy and IT management requirements of your business. The seasoned cloud service experts will work with you to find the best solutions to make sure your clients are always satisfied and your business achieves more growth and success using computing competencies.