Public Cloud vs Private Cloud (Examples) – What’s the Difference?
Public Cloud vs Private Cloud (Examples) – What’s the Difference? Cloud computing platforms provide the ultimate way to revolutionize your IT. Unlike on premise servers, cloud platforms are highly scalable, available and far more secure. By migrating your IT to the cloud, you benefit from seamless data access, high performance, reliability and cost optimization.
Choosing between public and private cloud platforms can be challenging. Why? Because both have unique characteristics. Besides, they have striking differences, which can impact your IT. This article discusses the public cloud vs private cloud, examples, features, and pros and cons.
Let’s proceed with Public Cloud vs Private Cloud (Examples) – What’s the Difference? Read on!
What is Public Cloud?
Public cloud platforms are cloud providers that make all resources public over the internet. These platforms deliver resources such as storage, applications, virtual machines to users over the internet. The cloud service provider owns, operates and delivers the service over the public network. The service can be free or paid, depending on the user’s needs.
How Public Cloud Works
First of all the public cloud provides a virtual infrastructure for organizations to build and deploy resources. You can choose to migrate resources from an on-premise environment to the cloud or build your resources from scratch. You can build apps, migrate storage, build networks and more.
When building workloads in the cloud, you only pay for what you use. There are various pricing models depending on your needs and choice of public cloud platform. Each cloud platform has numerous services for computing, storage, security, monitoring, and more. So you choose the preferred services depending on your individual business needs.
Security in public cloud platforms is a shared responsibility. Basically, this means that the cloud platform provides a secure infrastructure for users. As a user, you are responsible for securing your workloads, you data and information, as well as resource and platform configurations. Responsibility belongs to you with confirming identity and access and application code.
In order to manage your public cloud platform, you can use native applications in the respective cloud platform. Alternatively, you can rely on third party tools that deliver best cloud management. Generally, there are numerous tools designed for cost management, performance optimization, security and compliance management.
Examples of Public Cloud
The public cloud is a multi tenant type of cloud computing. A brief division group is SaaS, PaaS and IaaS models. Afterwards, the examples of public cloud include:
- Amazon AWS.
- Microsoft Azure.
- Google Cloud Platform.
All these public cloud platforms are available to the public over the internet. In addition using the public cloud gives you remote access to the cloud from any device.
Amazon AWS
First example is AWS. Basically a public cloud platform, that provides scalable cloud computing solutions. Offered by Amazon and this platform provides world class compute power, content delivery, and data storage. Moreover, AWS is designed to help companies optimize business value by improving agility and cost optimization. Furthermore, also enables developers to build, test and deploy cloud applications with more reliability and faster provisioning.
Microsoft Azure
Second example is Azure. Another public cloud platform developed by Microsoft Corporation. This cloud platform provides tools for networking, storage, computing and analytics. Altogether Azure has four forms of cloud computing:
- Software as a service-SaaS.
- Platform as a service- PaaS.
- Infrastructure as a service- IaaS.
- Serverless.
With Azure, you can choose the preferred tools and technologies to run your IT environment smoothly.
Google Cloud Platform
Next example is Google Cloud Platform (GCP). A suite of computing services offered by Google. This public cloud platform is ideal for developing, deploying, and operating applications on the cloud. It includes hosted services for application development, storage, computing, networking and data analytics. Equally all built on Google hardware.
Features of Public Cloud
Here are the top features that define the public cloud:
Shared Security Responsibility
Well the security in the cloud is a shared responsibility between the provider and the user. This approach means the cloud provider is responsible for providing a secure infrastructure. Basically, the provider secures the facilities used to run the cloud services. On the other hand, the user is responsible for secure configurations, identity and access management as well as data and information security.
Resource Pooling
With the public cloud platforms uses cloud resources by applying the multi tenant model. In nutshell, the cloud provider serves multiple customers with provisional and scalable services. In return, these services can be customized to suit individual needs. Resource pooling applies to bandwidth and data storage.
Pay Per Use
Another benefit of using public cloud platforms is to enable users to pay for the services they use. For instance, you are charged for storage depending on how much data you store and transfer. Besides, public cloud services do not have upfront costs. The pay per use model is vital for cost reduction.
On Demand Computing
Next big advantage with public cloud platforms is that they provide computing resources to users as needed. So called, on demand computing enables companies to scale resources whenever needed with a click. Choose to increase your resources to meet demand without fluctuating costs. Also cut some resources upon reduction in demand to keep costs down.
Pros of Public Cloud
- Eliminates the need to purchase, upgrade, or maintain hardware devices.
- Access from any device connected to the internet.
- Enables cost cutting as you don’t have to pay upfront costs.
- Provides scalable data storage.
- Data stored in cloud platforms is more secure and resilient than on premise data.
- Highly available and not prone to downtime.
- Have marketplaces for sharing tools and innovations.
- Cloud providers perform continuous improvements to ensure users have cutting edge infrastructure at their disposal.
Cons of Public Cloud
- Managing public cloud storage requires a high skill set.
- Misconfigurations can lead to data compromise and cost hikes.
Up next with Public Cloud vs Private Cloud (Examples) – What’s the Difference? is to introduce Private Cloud.
What is Private Cloud?
The other solution is Private cloud. Another type of cloud computing offered through a proprietary architecture. Unlike public cloud, private cloud dedicates resources to a single organization. Single tenant environment, where the company does not share resources with others. In private clouds, all hardware and software resources are dedicated and accessible by a single customer.
How Private Cloud Works
Mostly with private cloud platforms, they use virtualization technology. Virtualization is the process of creating virtual versions of servers, storage devices, network resources, and operating systems. Through virtualization it’s possible to combine resources from physical servers into shared pools.
A private cloud server is isolated. Also made of resources pooled from multiple servers through virtualization. This model is only available to the organization rather than the general public. As a result, organizations remain completely isolated from each other. The private cloud can be hosted via the cloud provider, the company’s own data center, or via a third party.
Examples of Private Cloud
While public cloud are mainstream, private cloud platforms have gained significant usability over the years. Some examples of private cloud include:
VMware
VMware is a private cloud computing provider and virtualization software. This provider enables companies to accelerate digital transformation by using enterprise grade virtualization tools. With VMware, you can virtualize physical instances of your resources and create a private cloud server, which is easier to operate.
Citrix
Citrix is a private cloud provider that enables users to virtualize data, desktop, and applications for easier management. Generally speaking a unified solution, that helps isolate your resources from underlying physical systems into a private cloud server.
Other private cloud platforms include:
- Red Hat Cloud.
- Microsoft KVM.
- HPE.
- Oracle.
- IBM.
- Dell Cloud.
All these platforms provide a scalable and secure way to run and manage your IT environment in the cloud.
Features of Private Cloud
All in all the private clouds have numerous features that make it an excellent choice for some organizations. These include:
Single Tenanted
Main difference is that private clouds are single tenanted. The hardware, network, and storage are all dedicated to a single organization. Different companies cannot share the same infrastructure. However, multiple teams within the organization can share infrastructure.
Control
Complete control over hardware and software choices is a vital part of private cloud. As a result, you can choose the hardware or software you prefer for your individual business needs. Besides, you have complete control over server customization.
Virtualization
Above all Virtualization is the foundation of private cloud computing. Through virtualization, you can pool data, operating systems, networks, and storage from physical servers into virtual machines.
Scalability
Not only the private cloud enables users to scale up or down seamlessly. But also it is possible to increase resource utilization. Should there be a need to increase or reduce resource utilization, depending on demand.
Pros of Private Cloud
- High visibility into cloud environment and access control.
- Higher data and system security.
- Dedicated environment for each company.
- High SLA performance.
Cons of Private Cloud
- Huge management, upgrade, and subscription costs.
- Does not offer high scalability for unpredictable demand changes.
Next with our article blog Public Cloud vs Private Cloud (Examples) – What’s the Difference? is to differentiate the two cloud infrastructure systems.
Public Cloud vs Private Cloud Key Differences
Both approaches to cloud computing are ideal. If you want to transition from on premise to the cloud. Here are some differences to help you choose the best approach for your company:
Infrastructure Tenancy
First of all public clouds are multi tenanted. Multiple organizations all over the world share computing resources hosted and managed by a service provider. Besides, these platforms have marketplaces, where different users can share innovations. For example, you can share applications with other users through AWS or Azure Marketplace.
On the other hand, private clouds are single tenanted. Ideally, there is dedicated hardware and network for each company. Moreover different companies cannot share innovations. Besides, the network and hardware resources are shared by in house technical teams.
Cost
On one side the Public cloud platforms are relatively inexpensive compared to private cloud platforms. They offer an affordable payment option in the pay as you go model. Besides, some platforms have custom cost saving plans that enable users to spend as little as possible. For instance, AWS has Savings Plans that enable users to pay for Reserved Instances on a 1-year or 3-year basis.
Unlike public cloud, private cloud comes with huge upfront costs. You must pay for hardware and software resources, often thousands of dollars.
Scalability
Scalability with public cloud is highly scalable. While its depends on Service Level Agreement, you can easily manage your resource utilization effectively. Also, everything is billed according to usage. Still you don’t have to pay upfront costs.
Oppositely with private clouds, scalability is managed in house. In essence, system admins have to scale compute and storage resources to meet demand. As a result, it’s quite limited and time consuming.
Compliance
Compliance with public cloud platforms are designed for all sorts of companies. From small, medium sized companies to large multinationals. Thanks to that, these platforms were built to comply with the various regulatory standards.
Because private clouds operate in isolated environments, they do offer more security. Evidently, they aren’t necessarily built for compliance. Users still have to implement measures to ensure they are compliant with all regulatory requirements.
Accessibility
Easy access to your private cloud platform via the internet is great advantage . Whether it’s AWS, Azure, or GCP, all you need is to log into your account and get started.
Contrary to private clouds, you have to access it via a completely managed and monitored console. Ideally, it must be within an organization’s network. While this heightens security, it limits user access, especially when working remotely.
Deployment
Quickly deploy your resources in the public cloud over the internet. All you need is to log in and start deploying your workloads. On the other hand, deployments in the public cloud requires time and effort from qualified IT personnel. Configurations are time consuming and require a high level of involvement.
Thank you for reading Public Cloud vs Private Cloud (Examples) – What’s the Difference? We shall conclude.
Public Cloud vs Private Cloud (Examples) - What's the Difference? Conclusion
To summarize, both public and private clouds are essential for digital transformation. One side are public clouds that bring high performance, reliability and scalability. In addition they enable users to build and deploy workloads easily. On the other hand, private clouds deliver more control and security. If you are looking for seamless cloud migration, you can choose the technology that suits your business model.
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