Private cloud versus public cloud: the biggest differences

What is the private cloud?
 

The name gives away what a private cloud is: an environment that the cloud provider provides to and for one organization. You don't share resources with other customers, which is the case in a public cloud. The private cloud gives you all the resources and services you need without having to share hardware or software with other organizations.
 

A key advantage of the private cloud is the high level of control over setup and security. You tailor the cloud to the special needs of your business and the necessary level of security. This creates more room for customization. Unlike a public cloud, you always know exactly where your data is stored.
 

The private cloud does have a potential drawback. Namely, maintenance and implementation of updates can be complex. Having a private cloud in-house means you sometimes have to buy additional software and install hardware. In the public cloud, scaling up capacity quickly is usually easier.
 

What is the public cloud?
 

Are you using a public cloud (Azure, AWS, Google Cloud)? Then your cloud environment, hardware and software are in the cloud provider's environment. That provider also owns the cloud resources and delivers the cloud services and resources you need over the Internet. You share the cloud infrastructure with other customers of the provider.
 

Like many products and solutions, a public cloud has both advantages and disadvantages. Relief is an important advantage: you don't have to worry about managing and updating the software and servers. Moreover, you do not have to make additional investments in updating hardware and software, while you do not have to recruit specialized IT personnel for management. The elasticity of the public cloud makes it easy to quickly generate additional resources and computing power. Moreover, you only pay for what you actually use. With proper policies and oversight, you can also realize substantial cost savings in the public cloud.
 

The biggest disadvantage of a public cloud? The limited room for customization. Public cloud platforms offer mostly generic functionality. Options tailored to your specific business are usually not available in a public cloud environment. In addition, the location of data is a concern. The public cloud provider may store your data outside the Netherlands or Europe (the big players within this cloud segment are American), something that is not allowed for certain types of sensitive data.
 

Where private and public clouds differ
 

Although the private and public cloud share much in common (underlying technology, operational efficiency), there are also substantial differences. Time to take a closer look at the most important ones.
 

Security and access control
 

In the private cloud, you are first and foremost responsible for securing your data, IT infrastructure and (virtualized) hardware yourself. The public cloud assumes shared responsibility: the cloud provider takes care of securing all hardware and software infrastructure it provides, while you secure your data and applications. A private cloud offers more customization options for fine-grained access control and data security than its public counterpart. A private cloud also gives you the option of secure private connections that bypass the public Internet altogether.
 

Cost and scalability
 

But what about cost and scalability differences between the two main cloud variants? In terms of adoption and maintenance, the private cloud tends to cost a bit more, mainly because you have to deal with more complexity, customization and your own responsibilities. However, costs can be contained with a combination of automation, flexible licensing arrangements and cost management and budget planning tools.
 

The public cloud is more scalable than the private cloud, but does offer a bit less reliability in terms of performance due to the shared-resource model. Ultimately, the higher reliability and higher uptime often make the private cloud more cost attractive (downtime costs money) than its public counterpart.
 

Adaptability and control
 

In the public cloud, you are largely dependent on the cloud provider's policy choices and the technology it offers. Customization is usually impossible or limited. The private cloud offers more opportunities to customize your cloud landscape to the specific needs of your organization. The degree of control the user can exercise is also higher, especially since you decide where your data will reside.

Availability and reliability
 

The private cloud gives you access to "dedicated servers" reserved specifically for your organization.

This construction offers a higher uptime guarantee than a shared cloud environment.The reliability of the private cloud increases further thanks to redundant (double) facilities and good facilities for failovers.

When do you choose the private cloud and when the public cloud?
 

But when do you choose which cloud type? A private cloud is the best choice for organizations seeking a high degree of control and adaptability. This is the case, for example, if you process a lot of sensitive data and have to comply with strict rules around data and privacy protection. Also, companies operating in a very specific business that requires a lot of custom IT would be wise to go for a private cloud model. Keep in mind that setting up and managing a private cloud requires more specialized expertise than running a public cloud.
 

Are ease of use and scalability at the top of your priority list? And are you looking for maximum peace of mind when it comes to security, IT infrastructure and hardware? Then the public cloud is a great option.
 

Don't want to choose? Then combine the best of both worlds by combining public and private in a hybrid model. You put frequently used and generally accessible applications with a low user risk in the public cloud, while business-critical, sensitive data and applications with a higher risk level run in a more strictly secured private cloud environment.
 

Make an informed choice
 

Private and public clouds both have their unique characteristics, advantages and disadvantages. Specific wants and needs determine which is the best choice for you. The public cloud is easier to manage and excels in terms of scalability and ease of use. The private cloud is more complex, but also richer in customization options in terms of security and setup. Private clouds also often outperform their public counterparts in terms of performance. Above all, clearly identify which cloud aspects are particularly important to you. On the basis of a concrete list of requirements you can then make a well-considered choice.
 

About Eurofiber Cloud Infra
 

You can turn to Eurofiber Cloud Infra for various high-quality cloud and connectivity solutions. Eurofiber Cloud Infra helps you create and manage a conclusive digital infrastructure which forms the perfect basis for the business continuity of your organization from an open infrastructure model.
 

With our Private Cloud we offer a secure and scalable cloud platform which forms an ideal basis for developing or hosting business applications and setting up a complex IT environment. Secure Cloud Connect gives you access to a virtual private network to the cloud that separates your cloud environment from the public Internet. Finally, DCspine provides a fully automated online data center interconnection platform that takes your connectivity to an even higher level.