Is There More Than One Type of Cloud? – Tech Tip for January 21, 2020
This week, we are continuing to bust myths about the Cloud. And today, we are here to clear up a misconception that there is only one type of Cloud out there. In truth, there are three different types of Cloud computing: public cloud, private cloud, and hybrid cloud. But what’s the difference between them?
Public Cloud
The public cloud is probably the most common form of cloud computing. The infrastructure and services are owned and operated by a third-party cloud service provider (or CSP). And these CSPs have many different cloud tenants that share the same hardware, storage, and network devices while maintaining their own unique accounts online. Microsoft Azure is a great example of a public cloud. And many organizations tend to adopt them because they are usually more cost efficient, highly scalable, reliable (thanks to all the global servers), and don’t require maintenance.
Private Cloud
The private cloud is used privately by a single organization (the service and infrastructure are maintained on a private network). This is usually the preferred type of cloud computing for highly regulated industries that need to demonstrate a high level of control over sensitive data (like government agencies or financial institutions). With private cloud computing, an organization can either own their own cloud infrastructure and host it on-site or they can choose to pay a third-party service provider to host the private cloud for them and make sure they comply with their industry-specific regulations.
Hybrid Cloud
Hybrid cloud computing is a blend of both the public and private clouds. It can be more complex because an organization must juggle multiple platforms, but it’s a great solution for companies that want to maintain a private cloud for highly sensitive business processes (like financial reporting) while still relying on a public cloud for other large-scale needs. In that sense, the hybrid cloud option can provide greater flexibility.
A Closer Look
For a closer look at the public cloud, take a guided tour of a Microsoft datacenter to learn how Microsoft delivers cloud services: