The Power of Private Cloud Computing

When companies move data, applications, and processes to the cloud, they must choose which infrastructure to use and decide how data and apps will be hosted and distributed. Companies have the option of private cloud computing, using the public cloud, or hybrid cloud computing solutions.

Here we’re looking at the benefits of using private cloud computing and the differences between public and private cloud infrastructures.

Public vs. Private Cloud Computing

The biggest difference between public and private cloud infrastructures is how data and applications are stored. The public cloud serves many organizations at once and the private cloud houses and distributes only your company’s data.

With the public cloud, the service provider makes applications, storage capacity, and other resources available to all organizations using their servers. With the private cloud, organizations must build infrastructures on their own servers or invite a third-party administrator to help build the resources they need.

When deciding which type of cloud to choose, consider your data and applications including any regulatory or security requirements. Companies in health or financial services industries have strict rules about security and may be best served with private cloud solutions.

Security and Private Cloud Computing Solutions

The private cloud offers higher securityby using personal servers which other companies can’t access. Data can be stored on servers managed and maintained by internal IT staff within an organization’s network or in a cloud service provider data center. Data stored in data center servers can be accessible by private, secure network links.

On-premise servers offer an additional level of security by being maintained in house. Yet today, many data centers meet strict data security compliance requirements to meet company needs and demand. Businesses in less sensitive industries with higher demands for fast and cheap infrastructure often choose public cloud computing solutions.

Reliability

Private clouds also offer more reliable service for users which is often lacking in shared public cloud resources. Companies should consider network performance for the type of applications and services they put in the cloud. If server availability is unpredictable, private cloud solutions may be necessary.

 

Cost vs. Flexibility

Private clouds cost more to launch due to installing servers, storage hardware, and building infrastructures. However, private clouds offer more flexibility to move workloads among servers when usage spikes or when deploying new applications. When you own the servers, you don’t need to ask permission before making big changes.

When working with a cloud service provider, you must sign a contract which may or may not guarantee certain service levels or workload flexibilities. With a private cloud, the process is streamlined as your staff helps make any changes.

Real Life Example of the Private Cloud – Air France

Air France automated and increased the reliability of their 1,500 Linux services by deploying private cloud computing. Prior to moving to the private cloud, Air France spent increasing amounts of time and money on installations. They needed a tool to automate deployments of their operating systems, capacity management, and monitoring tools.

Since automating, they went from taking six days to install a server cluster to one day. Rather than taking 24 hours to install one virtual machine, it now takes 15 minutes. The company says the private cloud paid for itself in one year and offered greater security and agility in a cost-effective way.

As you consider the pros and cons of public or private cloud computing, think about your industry, applications, and data needs.