Private cloud refer to a type of cloud computing that is dedicated solely to one organisation, providing greater control and security compared to public clouds. Private clouds are often chosen by businesses due to the increased control and security they provide compared to public clouds. With a private clouds, organizations have the flexibility to customize their clouds infrastructure to meet their specific needs and requirements.
Now that we have a brief overview of private clouds, let’s continue reading to learn more about this type of IT infrastructure.
What is a private clouds?
A private cloud is a computing environment that is dedicated entirely to one company and offers virtualized resources like servers, storage, and networking on-demand.
It can be hosted either at the organisation’s own data centre, at a third-party colocation facility, or via a private clouds provider who offers private clouds hosting services. The end-user organisation is responsible for the operation of a private cloud, including ongoing maintenance, upgrades, OS patches, middleware, and application software management.
Unlike public clouds, which serve multiple organisations, a private clouds is specifically designed for the exclusive use of one organisation, providing greater control and customisation over the infrastructure. This allows the organisation to meet specific security, compliance, and performance requirements that may not be achievable in a public cloud environment.
So, what is the optimal case for choosing public clouds over private clouds? It’s important to understand each type of cloud deployment so you can select which one best meets your goals.
Learn more in our post, ‘What Is a Public Cloud? Definitions and Common Use Cases‘.
Types of Private Cloud
In general, there are 4 types of private clouds: on-premises, managed, virtual private cloud, and hybrid private cloud. Each type of private clouds provides varying levels of control and customisation to accommodate an organisation’s specific needs and preferences.
On-premises private clouds
This is a private cloud that you can deploy on your own resources in an internal data centre. You must purchase the resources, maintain and upgrade them, and ensure security. On-premises private cloud management can be quite expensive, requiring a heavy initial investment and ongoing expenses.
Managed private clouds
In a managed private cloud, a third-party organisation provides maintenance, upgrades, support, and remote management of your private cloud resources. While managed private clouds are expensive, they are more convenient than on-premises solutions.
Virtual private cloud (VPC)
A virtual private clouds is a private clouds that you can deploy within a public cloud infrastructure.
It is a secure, isolated environment where private clouds users can run code, host websites, store data, and perform other tasks that require a traditional data centre. VPCs efficiently give you the convenience and scalability of public clouds computing resources, along with the security and control of a private clouds.
Hybrid private clouds
A hybrid private cloud is a combination of on-premises and cloud resources, offering the benefits of both private and public clouds. This model allows organisations to leverage the scalability and cost savings of public clouds while maintaining control and privacy over their data and applications in a private cloud.
What is the difference between a private cloud and an on-premises one?
One of the main differences between a private clouds and an on-premise server is in the deployment models between the two IT infrastructures.
A private clouds mainly utilises virtualization technologies to create a pool of computing resources that can be accessed on-demand. On the other hand, on-premises infrastructure is physically located at the organisation’s location. Although both computational resources are managed by the organization itself, private clouds offer more flexibility and scalability compared to on-premise servers.
Aside from that, here are the key differences between a private cloud and an on-premise server.
- The deployment of on-premise software happens in the local environment, whereas the deployment of private cloud software happens on the internet.
- In on-premises software, the company is responsible for maintaining the software, while the third party provider is responsible for maintaining the private clouds in the systems.
- The enterprise has full control of the software on-premise. In the private clouds, the enterprise does not have complete control over the software.
- The security is higher on-premises when compared with the private cloud. All the information is stored in the cloud environment, and there are chances of a security breach.
- Data always resides in the local environment and is not taken care of by any third party. Therefore, during downtime, data is fully accessible on-premise. While in a private cloud environment, the data and values reside with the third party, and they are not accessible during downtime.
- Cloud services have a monthly or annual subscription, whereas on-premise services come with a one-time installation fee that may be higher.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Private Cloud
The main advantages of a private cloud are its flexibility and scalability, which allow for easier resource allocation and management. However, the reliance on a third party for data storage and security can pose potential risks in terms of data privacy and confidentiality. In addition, the Google Cloud blog lists the following additional benefits and drawbacks of private cloud storage.
Advantages
- Enhanced Security: Private clouds offer dedicated resources and stringent security measures, minimising the risk of data breaches and unauthorised access.
- Greater Control: Organisations have full control over their private cloud environment, allowing them to customise configurations, security policies, and compliance requirements.
- Customisation: Private clouds enable organisations to tailor their infrastructure and services to meet specific business needs, supporting legacy systems, specialised applications, and regulatory compliance.
- Predictable Performance: With dedicated resources and isolated infrastructure, private clouds deliver consistent performance and reliability, essential for critical workloads and applications.
- Enhanced compliance: A private clouds can be freely deployed to comply with retention or access control regulations. You have control over the location of compute and data storage thanks to private clouds infrastructure.
- Application modernisation: To modernise their outdated applications, many organisations choose to adopt private clouds infrastructures. Private clouds offer a simpler way to move workloads to the clouds since they can be tailored to accommodate specific applications.
Disadvantages
- Higher Costs: Private cloud deployments typically require significant upfront investment in hardware, software, and infrastructure management, making them less cost-effective than public cloud alternatives.
- Complexity: Managing and maintaining a private clouds environment can be complex and resource-intensive, requiring specialised expertise and ongoing operational overhead.
- Limited Scalability: While private clouds offer scalability, they may not match the scalability and elasticity of public clouds, limiting their ability to handle sudden spikes in demand or growth.
Private clouds are only one part of clouds deployment models. There are still 4 other cloud deployment models that are designed to meet different needs and requirements.
Read more about it in our article, ‘Cloud Deployment Models: Definitions and Types‘.
Conclusion
Businesses looking to update their IT infrastructure will find private cloud computing to be an appealing alternative due to its unmatched control, security, and personalisation capabilities. Organisations may use cloud computing to drive innovation, efficiency, and company success in today’s competitive market by making informed decisions and knowing the characteristics, types, advantages, and disadvantages of private cloud computing.
Do you want to increase the effectiveness of the cloud environment management process?
Axle Networks IT Managed Services offers robust cloud management solutions tailored to your specific needs. With our team of experienced professionals, you can rest assured that your cloud-based resources and data will be protected from unauthorised access and potential security threats.
