Understanding the Key Differences Between Hybrid, Public and Private Clouds

Cloud adoption has reached 96 percent of businesses. If you haven’t switched to the cloud yet, you risk being left behind.

Adopting a cloud solution doesn’t always mean you’re working with the right option for your business. You may have chosen a public cloud because you didn’t know you had other options.

As you test how well your cloud solutions have been working for you, you’re exploring other options. What are the differences between hybrid, public and private cloud solutions?

This guide has your answers.

Public and Private Cloud Options

Public and private clouds are the two most common options. How do they compare to each other?

A public cloud is like shared hosting. You’ll buy cloud services through a provider. You’ll then share their cloud server resources with their other clients.

Examples of public cloud solutions include Microsoft Azure, and Amazon Web Services.

A private cloud is just what it sounds like. It’s a cloud service you set up and operate on your own. You can still buy services from AWS, Google, or Microsoft, but you’ll have a dedicated server.

The difference between public and private cloud services is dedicated servers or shared resources.

Which is Better?

Most people go with public cloud services because that’s what they’re familiar with. That doesn’t necessarily make them better or worse.

Public clouds are often attractive because the pricing is lower. Sharing resources means the cloud provider can also spread the costs around. A small business with a limited budget may find public cloud solutions are the best fit for their budget.

A public cloud is also more scalable. If you need more space, you buy more from your provider. You also don’t need to be concerned with maintenance, as your provider will take care of that.

Large businesses that need more resources may find a private cloud more attractive. The costs may be higher, but the dedicated resources mean more computing power.

The private cloud also increases security. Businesses that deal with lots of sensitive data do well when they invest in private clouds.

Private clouds are also much more customizable. Since you own the platform, you decide what technology it uses, what software it runs, and so on.

What’s a Hybrid Cloud?

A hybrid cloud is just what it sounds like. It’s a mixed solution that uses both public and private clouds.

Many businesses are already operating in a multi-cloud environment. A hybrid situation gives them the best of both worlds.

They can leverage the private cloud’s increased security and computing power to serve their customers better. The private cloud can be used to store sensitive data.

The public cloud can be used for less-sensitive operations. This enables cost-savings for the business.

Get Your Own Cloud Nine

Deciding among a hybrid, public and private cloud solution can be tough. With the right advice, you can design a solution that truly fits your business’s needs. Get in touch, and discover cloud nine for your IT operations.