Cloud Comparison: Public vs Private vs Hybrid Cloud

The big picture

As we mentioned above, public cloud services are available to anyone over the internet. Provided by third-party vendors such as Microsoft (Azure), Amazon (Amazon Web Services), and Google (Google Cloud Platform), these offerings enable users to consume resources without substantial upfront investments. For businesses seeking rapid and efficient scaling, as well as pay-as-you-go models based on consumption, public clouds are a great option.

The pros

The big wins with public cloud can be cost savings, particularly for temporary workloads with variable needs, and the speed of deployment. You pay only for the resources you use and do away with the expense of on-site hardware and infrastructure. Public cloud services also support rapid deployment and scale with ease. This flexibility is especially valuable for startups and small businesses operating on a tight timeline and requiring instant deployment.

More on scaling: With public cloud, organizations can quickly access additional resources as needed, ensuring they can manage increased workloads without issue. Public clouds are supported by a vast network of data centers, and maintenance and infrastructure management of these centers is handled by the provider or cloud data center. This means businesses can concentrate on core operations with minimal IT concerns.

Additionally, public clouds are actually very configurable—you just have to operate within the choices they provide. For instance, you have limits to the types of VMs you can choose, but in many scenarios these limitations will align well with your use case. That said, while public cloud providers are introducing more flexible and customizable VM configurations, you may still encounter limitations in tailoring your VM to meet exact specifications or in how you scale resources. For example, with some platforms, increasing the amount of RAM or CPU allocated to a VM may require stopping and resizing the instance, rather than adding more resources on the fly without downtime.

Finally, the extensive network of servers in public clouds minimizes downtime, ensuring high reliability and uptime for applications and services.

The cons

Of course, public clouds have their downsides too. While public cloud providers implement robust security measures and strict isolation in multi-tenant environments, organizations must still be vigilant in managing their security practices.

More specifically, if you have sensitive data in public cloud environments, that data may be compromised if not properly managed or secured. Misconfigurations or improper security controls can introduce vulnerabilities. Proper controls around access, encryption of data, and governance for where the data resides need to be considered to ensure data confidentiality and compliance.

Also, public cloud and multi-tenant environments can sometimes present performance issues due to "noisy neighbor" effects, where the high resource usage of other tenants may impact your performance. To mitigate this, public clouds require proactive monitoring to detect performance degradation, so you can scale resources or adjust configurations without issue.

Finally, compliance with industry regulations can be more complex with public cloud due to varied data residency laws and requirements. Ensuring that your data is stored and processed in compliance with relevant regulations requires careful planning and management.

The big picture

Private clouds are exactly what they sound like: a cloud dedicated to a single tenant. In other words, it’s your house. All resources and services in a private cloud environment are exclusive to one entity, which provides greater security and control. Private clouds offer more flexibility in placing them adjacent to your customer base utilizing both on-prem and hosting options.

The pros

With a private cloud, you gain more control over compliance. Meaning, you’re free to tailor your hardware and software to meet your specific IT needs and any relevant legal or regulatory requirements.  Additionally, for stable workloads private cloud is often less costly than public cloud. For instance, customers with many continuously operating VMs in the public cloud pay more for that constant usage while a private cloud costs less.

Furthermore, multi-tenancy risks are removed in private cloud environments compared to public clouds. You also gain control over governance, compliance tools, and processes for your environment without the complexities of public cloud. Scalability of a private cloud can be on par with public cloud, depending on how it is deployed, the technology used, and levels of scale needed.

Ultimately, private cloud is optimal for customers who need the scalability of public cloud with the power of a single-tenant solution. In other words: less variability in their monthly costs than public cloud and greater control over security and governance implemented.

The cons

Naturally, private clouds have certain drawbacks. They can be more expensive than public clouds, especially for workloads that are variable and not constant, as you'll pay for dedicated resources regardless of usage. Additionally, scaling resources can take longer compared to public clouds; increasing capacity might require manual provisioning and could involve delays.

Deployment times will also be extended. Setting up or expanding a private cloud environment often requires more customization and configuration, leading to longer lead times than the near-instant deployment offered by public clouds.

The big picture

Hybrid clouds blend the best of both worlds: public and private. By integrating multiple computing environments, including on-premises data centers, companies gain a great deal of resource allocation flexibility. With a hybrid cloud environment, you can use whatever type of cloud is best suited to your workload needs.

Balance and freedom are the key elements here. With a hybrid cloud, you can strike the optimal blend of cost control and scalability. Your sensitive data is housed in a private cloud, and you’re still able to leverage the scalability and cost-efficiency of public clouds for other operations. You get the freedom to be flexible in your use of platforms, and avoid lock-in as well.

The pros

Hybrid solutions provide flexibility. You can move data and applications between public and private clouds, capitalizing on the advantages of both environments. With this flexibility, you can be more responsive to changing demands in your workloads. The pay-as-you-go model of hybrid cloud services helps manage expenses effectively while scaling operations. 

Cost efficiency is another big benefit of hybrid clouds because you’re dialing in your use of both public and private clouds more strategically. You avoid the large upfront investments of a fully private cloud and, instead, tailor your spending with actual resource usage.

The cons

We mentioned complexity above, and it’s one of the main challenges of hybrid clouds. With a hybrid cloud environment, it’s not as easy to gain visibility into all systems and processes. You (or an expert partner) will need specialized knowledge and ongoing management efforts to make it work.

Furthermore, there are costs in terms of upfront migration and ongoing maintenance that can make hybrid clouds prohibitive for organizations with limited budgets.

Finally, managing a hybrid cloud environment can also introduce challenges in ensuring consistent security policies and compliance across both public and private environments. For this reason, unified management tools and policies to handle security and compliance are particularly effective in a hybrid setup.

Every IT organization is different—it’s why we do what we do at Aptum, helping businesses craft the optimal IT environment for their needs.

If you’re a highly regulated financial organization, let’s say, you may benefit more from a private cloud that can keep your sensitive data safe. Furthermore, private clouds work well for businesses with unique hardware needs or high network latency concerns. In fact, in scenarios with consistent workloads, private clouds can be more cost-effective than public clouds.

On the other hand, hybrid clouds are ideal for businesses with seasonal demand fluctuations or unpredictable workloads. Let’s say you’re an e-commerce website that sees big upticks over the holidays. A hybrid cloud would allow you to take advantage of private clouds for regular operations and lean into public clouds for the occasional spikes. 

Lastly, public clouds are well-suited for companies ranging from startups and small businesses to large enterprises looking for cost-effective solutions. If you’re just getting started, or operating on more of a shoestring budget, public clouds offer you easy scalability and quick deployment without significant upfront investment. Additionally, public clouds are also good for testing new applications before committing to private cloud investments.

As you can tell, choosing the right cloud model involves a host of different considerations from cost to compliance to scalability. There is no one-size-fits-all answer for selecting a cloud model. You need to evaluate their use cases, budget, and IT capabilities to determine the best fit.

At Aptum, our specialty is helping businesses determine the best path forward is—public, private, or hybrid. Talk to our specialists about how we can help you craft the ideal IT environment for your organization.

What is the main difference between public, private, and hybrid clouds? 

The main difference between public, private, and hybrid clouds lies in their management and accessibility; public clouds offer shared resources via third-party providers, private clouds are exclusive to one organization for enhanced security, and hybrid clouds integrate both types for greater flexibility and scalability. 

What are the primary benefits of using a public cloud? 

The primary benefits of using a public cloud often include significant cost savings, rapid deployment, near-unlimited scalability, and high reliability, eliminating the need for on-site hardware. This makes them an excellent choice for businesses aiming for efficient growth and flexibility. 

Why might an organization choose a private cloud over a public cloud? 

An organization might choose a private cloud over a public cloud to ensure enhanced security, greater control over compliance, and the ability to fully customize its IT environment to meet specific industry requirements. 

What are the advantages of a hybrid cloud model? 

A hybrid cloud model offers significant advantages, including flexibility, cost-efficiency, and scalability by integrating public and private cloud resources. This approach enables businesses to optimize resource utilization and ensure high availability. 

What factors should be considered when choosing a cloud model? 

When choosing a cloud model, it is essential to consider data sensitivity, compliance requirements, scalability needs, budget constraints, and specific business use cases. These factors will ensure that the selected cloud solution aligns effectively with your organization's objectives and IT strategy.