Understanding the Different Types of Cloud Environments

From a business perspective, cloud computing refers to the use and availability of computing resources, such as servers or data storage, networking, analytics, over the internet under a pay-as-you-use model. By working with a cloud solutions provider, businesses can access cloud solutions from anywhere over the internet.

 

There are three types of cloud computing services:

• Infrastructure as a service (IaaS)
• Platform as a service (PaaS)
• Software as a service (SaaS)

IaaS provides the business with essential computing, storage, and networking resources on-demand. PaaS provides the business with a framework that allows developers to build customized applications. Meanwhile, the SaaS model, also known as cloud application services, utilizes the internet to deliver applications—this is the most common application of cloud computing.

 

Cloud computing has practically become mandatory for businesses. It allows for more flexible operations, is cost-effective, and can easily be scaled to meet larger requirements.

 

Moreover, the pandemic has forced the world to work remotely, and it becomes impossible to function without cloud services that provide shared resources between all employees.

 

There are several types of cloud environments, and an organization might not need them all. It is essential to spend and invest wisely before you opt for a cloud service or cloud environment. So, what kind of resources will best serve an organization’s purpose?

 

Here are the most used cloud environments.

 

Public Cloud

 

A public cloud is when a company offers cloud computing resources publicly over the internet. What this means is that anyone and everyone can access their cloud services for a fee, usually under a subscription model.

 

Public cloud vendors might offer specific resources such as storage for free while other resources need to be paid for. It might also follow a model where a specific number of resources will be given for free, and if you require more, you’ll need to pay for it.

 

Props of Public Cloud:

• They are highly scalable.
• Cost much less when compared to its counterparts.
• They give room for high flexibility.

 

Cons of Public Cloud:

• They are not as secure as an organization might require them to be.
• There’s not much room for customization.
• Support might be an additional service, available for a fee.

 

Private Cloud

Private clouds are also known as internal clouds or corporate clouds. As the name suggests, these provide services belong to a single entity or organization instead of being publicly available.

 

A private cloud offers all the resources that a public cloud will offer. Furthermore, it also provides better customization options and greater support. Private clouds are often built, owned, and maintained by the organizations that use them, but many cloud providers deliver support for the development and deployment of private clouds.

 

Props of Private Cloud:

• They provide a higher level of security and data privacy.
• They have more options for customization based on your needs.
• You don’t have to share resources with other companies or users.
• They tend to have better network performance.

 

Cons of Private Cloud:

• Scalability tends to be a challenge due to internal or vendor limitations.
• They are much more expensive to maintain than public clouds.
• Since private clouds work within an internal network, the area of operations will be limited.

 

Hybrid Cloud:

 

The simplest explanation of a hybrid cloud is that it’s a combination of a private and public cloud. This is another cloud environment used by businesses to keep operations and workflows more flexible.

 

Usually, when businesses need to function outside of internal networks, they tend to opt for the hybrid cloud environment. Workloads that need to be kept secure may run in the private cloud, whereas other workloads may operate in the public cloud. This allows the company to harness the benefits of the private cloud for essential operations, but also tap into the scalability of the public cloud when more resources are required.

 

Hybrid clouds are quickly becoming one of the most sought-after cloud environments because of these capabilities. The hybrid cloud market is expected to be worth $145 billion by 2026.

 

Props of Hybrid Cloud:

• It is flexible because it overrides the challenges of working within the internal network.
• The private portion of the cloud is highly secure, allowing companies to handle their usual tasks on a public cloud and their confidential tasks on a private cloud.
• It is scalable and cost-effective, giving companies the best of both environments at a reasonable price.

 

Cons of Hybrid Cloud:

• Initial deployment can be a tedious and cumbersome process.
• Cloud compatibility can be a challenge since it can be difficult for the private and public clouds to work together.

 

Multi-Cloud:

A multi-cloud environment consists of more than one cloud environment delivered to you by more than one vendor. This could be a mix of public and private clouds or several of the same type of environments.

 

For instance, if your organization has two separate services for your customers, you can use two different cloud services from two different cloud vendors. This enables you to compartmentalize separate parts of your business, so each has dedicated resources.

 

Props of Multi-Cloud:

• You can quickly mitigate risks by having copies of your work on multiple clouds.
• These help you avoid vendor lock-ins since you are already working with multiple vendors. You can always move on to a different one that provides similar services, and deployment won’t be an issue.
• You can choose the best set of services from different vendors and combine them to form your environment.

 

Cons of Multi_cloud:

• Your security might be at risk due to multiple actors being involved.
• The costs will be relatively high since you’re outsourcing to multiple vendors.
• Management and coordination can become a hassle since you’ll have different actors to sync with each other.

 

Find the Right Cloud Format with Uvation

 

You must choose the right type based on your requirements and business goals. You need to prioritize and gauge what kind of services you’ll need the most and plan accordingly.

 

So, how do you choose the right one? Here are a few tips:

 

Understand your business objectives. It is essential to know your goals since that will help you understand what your biggest priorities are. For instance, are your priorities security, performance, scalability, flexibility, or a combination of all the above?

 

Do your research on the top cloud service providers. Learn about their features, offerings, and what sets them apart. It is also necessary to find a solution that can deliver long-term value and is easily scalable. This way, every time your requirements change, you won’t have to start from scratch but build upon what you already have. 

 

Navigating cloud environments can be a challenge. Uvation can guide you in selecting the right cloud environment for your business. Reach out to us to start a conversation about your needs, and we will help you get one step closer to accomplishing your cloud computing goals.