Like the clouds in the sky where we have the low stratus clouds, the high cirrus clouds and cumulus clouds with vertical development, in the world of technology there are also different types of clouds that could use some explanation. Today, we will break the cloud computing deployment models down into three categories: Private, Public and Hybrid. The Public Cloud is what you would expect. It is a collection of computing services (applications, storage, etc.) that are delivered over the Internet through a “pay as you go” model.
This is a cost-effective option as you only pay for the resources you actually use. Because it is based on a public infrastructure, it is quick to deploy and offers the ability to scale as your organization’s needs growth. Additionally, unlike with in-house IT environments, the services are delivered with more consistency from security and IT management to availability. A Public Cloud can be delivered in a “shared” environment where the infrastructure is shared with other organizations; or through a “dedicated” environment that is designed and managed specifically to fit an organization’s needs.
As you may assume, a Private Cloud is a collection of computing services delivered in a more closed environment where the computing resources are architected and controlled for one organization. This delivery model is often used by organizations that have stringent industry or government controls, such as banking or government organizations that must uphold the highest levels of security to protect their data and systems.
A Private Cloud can be delivered in three different ways: Self-hosted Private Cloud, Hosted Private Cloud, or Private Cloud Appliance.
Then you have the Hybrid Cloud, which as you might think, is a combination of the other two cloud deployment models (private and public). This option enables organizations to leverage the benefits of both the models discussed above based on their specific goals and objectives and business requirements.
All of these options have their advantages and disadvantages; however, every organization is different and has varying IT requirements. It is important that you evaluate all three options and determine which one is right for your organization. The following excerpt from “Cloud Computing For Dummies” may help you further understand these options:
“Comparing Public, Private, and Hybrid Cloud Computing Options” by Judith Hurwitz, Robin Bloor, Marcia Kaufman, and Fern Halper.