Cloud Hosting Battle: Public, Private or Hybrid?

You’re ready to migrate your company data and/or services to cloud hosting. You’ll be prepared for sudden spikes in demand, backed up in case you need disaster recovery, and free from the headache of server ownership. The only thing left to decide is which type of cloud will win the battle for your data: public, private or hybrid?

Ladies and gentlemen, in this corner…

Public Cloud

Public cloud gives you the benefit of off-site infrastructure and hosting. Your hosting provider handles the hardware purchase, set-up, updates and maintenance. With a public cloud option, your data is hosted on the same servers or virtual servers as other companies. That doesn’t mean it isn’t protected: strict security standards keep your data safe, even in a public cloud. It just means that resources are used to their full extent.

In a public cloud, you power-up virtual servers based on your demand. Pay for only what you use and scale up as you need it.

Public clouds are ideal for companies who:

• Need to add computing power at peak times
• Test and develop software
• Run SaaS applications (Software as a Service) where many users require access
• Lack dedicated IT departments or have IT employees who are stretched thin
• Have smaller budgets for their IT infrastructure
   

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Private Cloud

In a private cloud, the client uses dedicated servers to store their data remotely or run network applications.  The private cloud can be managed by the customer, the provider or a mixture of the two. They offer a greater level of control and security, suiting the needs of companies with highly specific infrastructure requirements.

Private clouds can be hosted in-house or in the enterprise data center or with a data center services provider. Some organizations traditionally hosted their own private clouds because of strict security requirements. However, as security protocols become both more numerous and more stringent, hosting with a service provider may make more sense from both a cost and compliance standpoint.

Consider a private cloud if your company:

• Requires additional security
• Is part of an industry with strict regulations or data privacy requirements that cannot be accommodated by the public cloud
• Has the IT resources for monitoring and management (if you choose self-managed)
• Needs a more customized infrastructure

Hybrid Cloud

The industry is already abuzz with 2013 as the “year of the hybrid cloud”, as more companies leverage their own private infrastructure with the flexibility and cost-effective nature of public clouds. A hybrid cloud allows companies to maintain their sensitive data on private, controlled servers, while “bursting” onto public servers when they need the extra resources. They are an efficient way to keep peace of mind while providing public access and scalability.

A hybrid cloud could be a good fit for companies who:

• Use SaaS applications, but need more stringent security
• Need additional resources for public-facing uses while still keeping sensitive data private
• Experience traffic spikes, making bursting necessary

Depending on your business needs, one of the above options will win the battle for your business. With the flexibility of cloud computing, you can experience agility and backup resources without sacrificing control or security. Private, public or hybrid, your perfect cloud will always be in your corner.

Posted By: Joe Kozlowicz