Deployment Models in Cloud Computing
The cloud can be deployed in different environments, and the choice depends on specific needs related to control, cost, and compliance:
- Public Cloud: Public clouds are owned and operated by third-party cloud service providers, which deliver their computing resources like servers and storage over the Internet. Microsoft Azure is an example of a public cloud. With a public cloud, all hardware, software, and other supporting infrastructure are owned and managed by the cloud provider. You access these services and manage your account using a web browser.
- Private Cloud: A private cloud refers to cloud computing resources used exclusively by a single business or organization. A private cloud can be physically located on the company’s on-site datacenter, or it can be hosted by a third-party service provider. But in a private cloud, services and infrastructure are always maintained on a private network, and the hardware and software are dedicated solely to your organization.
- Hybrid Cloud: Hybrid clouds combine public and private clouds, bound together by technology that allows data and applications to be shared between them. By allowing data and applications to move between private and public clouds, a hybrid cloud gives your business greater flexibility, more deployment options, and helps optimize your existing infrastructure, security, and compliance.
Advantages of Cloud Computing
Cloud computing offers several compelling benefits for businesses and individuals:
- Cost Savings: Perhaps the most significant cloud computing benefit is in terms of IT cost savings. Businesses, regardless of their size, exist to make money while keeping capital and operational expenses to a minimum. With cloud computing, you can save substantial capital costs with zero in-house server storage and application requirements.
- Scalability: Different companies have different IT needs — a large enterprise of 1000+ employees won’t have the same IT requirements as a start-up. Using the cloud is a great solution because it enables enterprise to efficiently — and quickly — scale up/down their IT departments, according to business demands.
- Business Continuity: Protecting your data and systems is an important part of business continuity planning. Whether you experience a natural disaster, power failure, or other crisis, having your data stored in the cloud ensures it is backed up and protected in a secure and safe location. Being able to access your data again quickly allows you to conduct business as usual, minimizing any downtime and loss of productivity.
- Collaboration Efficiency: Collaboration in a cloud environment gives your business the ability to communicate and share more easily outside of the traditional methods. If you are working on a project across different locations, you could use cloud computing to give employees, contractors, and third parties access to the same files.
- Flexibility of Work Practices: Cloud computing allows employees to be more flexible in their work practices. For example, you have the ability to access data from home, on holiday, or via the commute to and from work (providing you have an internet connection). If you need access to your data while you are off-site, you can connect to your virtual office, quickly and easily.
- Access to Automatic Updates: Access to automatic updates for your IT requirements may be included in your service fee. Depending on your cloud computing service provider, your system will regularly be updated with the latest technology. This could include up-to-date versions of software, as well as upgrades to servers and computer processing power.
- Competitive Edge: While cloud computing is increasing in popularity, there are still those who prefer to keep everything local. That’s their choice, but doing so places them at a distinct disadvantage when competing with those who have the benefits of the cloud at their fingertips. If you implement a cloud-based solution before your competitors, you’ll be further along the learning curve by the time they catch up.