A public cloud computing model is one in which multiple organizations or individuals share resources like software applications, storage, networks, and servers. There are several different kinds of public clouds, but all have some common characteristics.
Here are some examples of these characteristics:
- No single company owns the physical infrastructure used to provide access to the cloud
- Anyone can use the service provided
- Any organization can benefit from additional capacity
- Data centers can be located anywhere — even in another country
Cloud computing is proliferating. According to Gartner Inc., global spending on cloud services will grow from $44 billion in 2011 to nearly $200 billion by 2016.
Why Use Public Clouds?
Use public clouds to expand your IT capabilities without investing in hardware and maintaining it yourself. They also reduce IT costs and allow you to scale quickly based on demand. With public clouds, you only pay for the services you consume, so you can focus on running your business rather than managing technology.
How Do I Choose Which Service to Use?
Before choosing between private and public clouds, decide what type of workload you need to support. Are you focused on email and document sharing? Or do you need to run complex databases or websites?
Once you have identified your needs, consider these criteria when comparing private vs. public clouds:
- Cost
- Performance
- Scalability
- Reliability
- Security
- Availability
Cost
Cost is the most critical factor determining whether you should use a private or public cloud. Private clouds tend to be more expensive because they require specialized equipment and management expertise compared to the essential services offered by top public cloud providers. However, you may save money over time if you find a good deal on hosting services through a public cloud provider.
Performance
To determine which cloud platform is right for you, consider how much processing power you need for each application. In general, public clouds perform better at lower levels of computing complexity, whereas private clouds are typically best suited for higher-end systems. For example, a private cloud with high availability would be ideal for an e-commerce site where users frequently update their personal information. A public cloud might not meet this requirement because it isn’t designed to handle heavy loads.
Scalability
How many computers does your current system support? You’ll need to purchase more hardware if you want to add new software. This usually means buying servers, networking devices, and other components. The more computer resources you buy, the larger your data center becomes.
If you don’t need to add any more computers, then you probably don’t need a private cloud. Instead, choose public cloud providers such as Amazon Web Services (AWS) or Rackspace Hosting, which offer flexible scalability options. On AWS, for instance, you can create virtual machines (VMs) or micro instances, depending on your requirements. You can start with one VM and upgrade to 10 or 100 VMs later if necessary. If you prefer hosting applications within your own data center, you can add more physical servers.
Reliability
How reliable is your existing infrastructure? How often do things go wrong? For example, if your network connection goes down regularly, you may want to look into a private cloud solution. If downtime is rare, however, then public clouds make sense. Many public cloud providers provide redundancy options to ensure that your data stays up and available even during peak periods.
Security
Another consideration is security. Some companies worry about keeping sensitive information secure while using remote networks. Public clouds generally offer stronger encryption standards than those used in home networks. Additionally, they typically incorporate multiple layers of security to protect against hackers.
Availability
Is there any chance that your service will fail? Will the server crash? If so, what happens to all your customers’ orders when that occurs? These types of questions are especially relevant if you run a business online. With a private cloud, you have fewer chances of losing your entire operation due to a single error.
Management
Do you have enough people to manage your cloud environment? Do you know how to maintain your network? What about updates and upgrades? Cloud management tools make these tasks easier. They also reduce the amount of time you spend managing your services.
Cost
The final thing to think about is cost. Private clouds are relatively expensive; they require significant investments in technology and staff members who understand how to use them. Public clouds may be the way to go if you’re looking for something less costly.
Cloud Computing: Benefits
Cloud computing has become increasingly popular over the past few years. It allows businesses to take advantage of the benefits of hosting their applications remotely without having to invest in additional IT equipment. And since most cloud platforms allow businesses to share resources among several different clients, costs decrease significantly.
However, before adopting cloud computing as part of your business strategy. Here we discuss some of the advantages of the computing model.
Scalable Infrastructure
One of the most significant advantages of cloud computing is its ability to scale automatically. When you set up a cloud-based application, you only pay for what you actually use. This means that you never have to worry about running out of storage space or bandwidth. Since cloud systems are shared across many users, you can easily expand capacity as needed by adding new hardware.
Flexibility
Another benefit of cloud computing is its flexibility. As long as you stay connected to the Internet, you can access your applications from anywhere at any time. In addition, you can customize your cloud platform to meet specific demands. For example, you can configure it to host specific applications on certain days of the week. You can also choose which clients receive priority service.
Cost Savings
The third significant advantage of cloud computing is cost savings. You avoid paying for software, hardware, and labor by outsourcing infrastructure maintenance and other operations. Instead, your monthly public cloud pricing covers everything related to operating the system. The result is lower overhead expenses and increased profits.
Security
Security is another significant benefit of cloud computing. Since data security is handled by an independent company, you don’t need to worry about securing your own servers. All sensitive information is stored securely in off-site facilities. In addition, you won’t have to pay for extra firewalls and other protective measures because cloud providers already provide those services.
Reliability
Another advantage of cloud computing is reliability. Because cloud providers back up all data regularly, there’s no chance of losing important files. Also, if your network fails, the provider will handle repairs immediately. With traditional solutions, however, you could lose everything when a server goes down.
Easy Access
Finally, cloud computing offers easy access. Unlike physical servers, cloud systems are accessed through web browsers. There’s no need to install specialized software or learn complicated commands. Simply log onto the internet, and you’re ready to go.
By now, you know that using cloud computing for your business can take your business to a new height. So, what are you waiting for?
Investing in cloud computing services and leveraging the benefits provided by the technology is all that your business needs for a growth boost. In addition, you save a lot on upfront expenditure and pay only for the resources utilised. Hence, a win-win situation.