The use of cloud technology has become mainstream. More and more organizations are switching to the cloud to reduce IT costs and manage workflow effectively. But companies have to choose between public, private, or a hybrid cloud model. But before you make the final decision, it is essential to understand the difference between public and private cloud networks.
Public Cloud
A public cloud system stores your data on a shared off-site server that’s managed and maintained by your provider. Generally, in this model, all services are subscription-based, and the provider is responsible for providing support and handling updates.
This type of model is ideal for reducing costs, as you don’t need large amounts of capital investment. Moreover, the need for clearing in-house IT resources is eliminated.
Consequently, you can access applications and data quickly, allowing you to benefit from flexible business operations. However, the downside to having a public cloud system is that you can’t control system updates.
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Private Cloud
In a private cloud model, all your information is hosted on a dedicated server. The access and management of the server are limited to your business alone. Since a single user uses the entire system, it offers superior performance. Moreover, a secure firewall is used to ensure network security.
The user can customize the maintenance and control of the service to match their requirements better. As a result, all your business, security, and infrastructure needs are met with tailored solutions.
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The Difference Between Public and Private Cloud
Now that you understand what public and private cloud technologies are, let’s look at the key differences between them:
1. Infrastructure
In the public cloud, multi-tenant architecture is used where multiple users share a single network. All infrastructure hosting and management tasks are conducted off-site by the service provider.
On the other hand, in the private cloud, only a single tenant architecture is used with dedicated hardware. Instead of using third-party vendors, the organization’s in-house team manages the network. The sole tenant does all procurement of hardware, network facilities, storage, and other infrastructure elements. In this case, the network may be set up and operated either on-site or off-site.
2. Security
A security compliance model is used in all public cloud networks, which is offered by third-party providers. In order to handle any security loopholes, vendors of the public cloud also offer add-on security features that add an extra layer of security.
In the case of a private cloud, an isolated environment is offered that provides varying levels of security using private servers. Moreover, to ensure the compliance requirements of data protection laws are met, advanced security features are provided.
3. Scalability and Reliability
The scalability of public clouds is limitless. It allows organizations to access the necessary resources to conduct cloud operations. Moreover, the public cloud is designed to operate large networks with security modules built into the infrastructure. This makes public clouds extremely reliable.
On the contrary, private cloud networks have limited scalability. An organization can still scale its model, but only up to a limit. After the limit has been reached, additional hardware may be needed to accommodate the additional workload. But when it comes to reliability, private clouds offer optimal performance. They can cater to any unforeseen circumstances without hassle. For instance, if the system fails, all computing resources can be transferred to different on-site or off-site hardware.
4. Affordability
The great thing about private clouds is that they do not require capital costs with zero initial investment. Even if you have to invest, the cost is minimal. Generally, private cloud models are free or have a pay-as-you-use policy where you only pay for the features you use.
But the same is not the case for private clouds. They require a high initial investment to procure hardware. Moreover, the cost of setting up and maintaining the hardware throughout the use of the cloud service is also included.
5. Maintenance and Deployment
There is no need for long-term contracts in public clouds, allowing fast and easy deployment of the network over the internet. As for the maintenance, all maintenance tasks are handled by third parties, so there is little or no need for in-house investment in IT.
However, in the case of private clouds, IT professionals need to put in extra time and effort to deploy the network. It means more investment in software and hardware configuration and the management of staffing requirements. Moreover, the tenant is responsible for setting up and maintaining the cloud infrastructure. In some cases, supervision by highly qualified IT professionals may be necessary.
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6. Customization and Control
Public clouds do not offer extensive customization options and are limited in terms of adaptability. There is also lesser control over privacy policies and data governance. It means you will have little or no control over the traffic in a public cloud network.
In private clouds, there aren’t any shared devices, which allows more control over privacy policies and data governance. Moreover, because of the single-tenant architecture, you can completely customize the environment that can be tailored to match all your business requirements.
Wrapping Up
The difference between public and private cloud networks is significant. Both offer a set of advantages and disadvantages. But it is up to you to choose the best model for your business. After looking at the detailed comparison of both, you can make an informed decision. Moreover, if you want to combine the advantages of both systems, you can always opt for a hybrid solution.