Should you invest in a private cloud?

Did you know that many of the mobile apps you use on your smartphone are powered by the cloud? That is, when you download an app onto your device, you don’t really install the entire program, but only the interface for transmitting inputs and displaying outputs. The bulk of the app — which does the actual data processing — is in the cloud. This means that apps won’t consume as much space and processing power as they would if they were locally installed in full.
 
In a similar fashion, businesses like yours also utilize cloud-based applications for all sorts of purposes, such as accounting, managing personnel files, and monitoring inventory. You can do this without having to build your own IT infrastructure since you can rent from cloud providers.
 
There are two main types of cloud, namely public and private. Let’s quickly look at each one, then delve into why you might need to invest in a private cloud.

Public and private clouds compared

A public cloud is a set of data processing and storage resources that are shared among different clients, whereas in a private cloud, resources are dedicated to a single client. Think of public and private clouds as commercial airlines and private jets, respectively. Commercial flight tickets are available to anyone with a passport and visa, whereas a private flight can be chartered exclusively by one party.
 
In a public cloud, the costs of using these resources are spread among those clients, making this type more affordable than the private cloud. The cloud provider manages the cloud infrastructure for their clients, which is convenient until you want to exercise greater control and customization of the cloud environment. The provider is also the one that sets cybersecurity protocols for all clients, so if you need more stringent security, you won’t really be able to do much on a public cloud.
 
All of these are again akin to flying: commercial flight tickets are affordable, but the airline sets the flight schedule and routes. Flying private, however, will cost you a pretty penny, but you can set your own departure time and pick a private airport.

Why would your business need a private cloud?

The type of cloud you must choose will depend on your business requirements. Here are the main reasons why you’ll want to utilize a private cloud instead of a public one:

Your business requires elevated levels of performance and customizability
Much like how you can pick the airplane you want to fly in when chartering a private flight, you can select the servers and other hardware you need for your own private cloud. You’ll want to do this if the power of public cloud servers is insufficient (which is something you’d know after letting a top-notch cloud provider like SimplyClouds determine your requirements for you).
 
You’ll also get to customize your cloud environment according to your specifications. You can configure your cloud infrastructure, enable the comprehensive use of cloud orchestration and automation tools, and implement more stringent security protocols (more on this below).

Your business needs to implement stringent security
Since you can customize the configuration of your private cloud, you can integrate strict security protocols that keep your company safe from cyberattacks and compliant with all applicable rules and regulations.
 
Also, since cloud resources are shared in a public cloud, a breach on one client may also affect the other clients using the same resources. Lastly, when clients simultaneously require more processing power from the same shared resources, they won’t get much unless they pay for more resources.

Your business needs cloud resources solely dedicated to it

A public cloud serves many clients, which means that it has a greater chance of suffering instability and downtime. In a private cloud, resources aren’t shared, which means greater availability and minimized risk of performance drops and downtime. This is perfect for high-traffic eCommerce websites and massively used applications like the ones for social media, dating apps, and mobile games.

Caveat: Private clouds are most suitable for large companies

Just like how only people with deep pockets can afford to fly private, private clouds tend to be ideal for large enterprises. This is because of the following reasons:
 
●      Costs for server rack space and hardware and software are taken on by only one client.
●      You either need employees with cloud expertise or a third party to set up, maintain, and monitor your cloud infrastructure for you.
●      Customization tends to result in longer cloud deployment times and longer optimization processes.
 
As with all investments, a cost-benefit analysis will help you discern whether a private cloud is right for you. In that regard, SimplyClouds can help you determine the type of cloud your business needs. Be it public, private, or hybrid, we can help you design, implement, and manage your very own cloud environment. Get in touch with us today.