Comparing Public, Private and Hybrid Clouds

The ability to share resources and access files from virtually anywhere and on any device has made cloud environments extremely viable in the eyes of a growing number of organizations and the general public. The “cloud” is essentially a third-party infrastructure that creates a network of machines that store data, allowing for greater flexibility in the way businesses and organizations are able to manage data. The economic advantages of using a cloud computing model are undeniable, but with various deployment models, it is important to first determine the needs of your business so you can choose if a public, private or hybrid cloud is right for you.

The most common model of cloud computing is a public cloud, where data storage is provided and accessible over a public network, like the Internet. Ideal for sharing resources and doing collaborative work, this model is typically provided as a service and is used for applications that have a lot of users. Public clouds also tend to be inexpensive and are usually on a pay-per-usage scale based on capacity, so organizations can still optimize efficiency without the high-added cost. However, because this model is built for collaboration, it offers limited security and reliability. The ease of access and availability of the data stored on a public cloud makes it inadequate for keeping sensitive or confidential information secured.

For greater security and control over a data center, a private cloud offers data storage over a private data network that is owned by a single company. Typically used by larger businesses because of the higher cost, the private cloud computing model offers security through firewall protection and gives the company complete control over information within the data center. For businesses whose assets primarily lie in their data and applications, or for those that operate within a secure industry that handles sensitive information, a private cloud should be a perfect fit.

With a hybrid cloud model, two or more different deployment models operate individually but are united under a single entity, allowing businesses the versatility of being able to manage both private and public data. Hybrid clouds are more complex to manage because they combine both in-house and external storage, but they’re useful in keeping all aspects of the business in their proper environment – secure information is controlled, while collaborative access is allowed to other less sensitive data. Especially for multifaceted businesses and organizations that store a variety of client and company data, a hybrid cloud can provide the flexibility in access necessary to operate under special circumstances.

With evidence of good economies of scale and various fiscal and organizational advantages, knowing which cloud type best meets your needs can make a significant impact on how your business manages data. Which cloud model do you think is right for your business? Let us know in the comments below!

2015: Time to Focus on the Cloud

It is predicted that as of this year, 90% of enterprises will have hybrid cloud services in place. Taken at face value, this sounds as if the battle is over for enterprise IT and the migration to SaaS, PaaS or IaaS is all but accomplished. However, for many IT departments, it simply means they have only begun to fight by migrating at least one software service, such as email, to public infrastructure.

The reality is that integration of cloud services will become the standard, sooner rather than later. Those enterprises that delay adoption, while the trend accelerates, will find themselves mired in an inefficient paradigm of managing in-house compute resources while competitors reap the advantages of flexible and extendible services residing in the cloud.

Benefits of Cloud Migration
Moving to a cloud paradigm spells opportunity for most businesses. The benefits are many:

• Reduction of expenditures in capital equipment
• Ability to rapidly scale compute costs to meet growth projections or point events
• Elimination of maintenance, update and recovery expenses
• An increasingly connected, agile mobile workforce
• Increased security and data control

Cloud migration, however, is not simply a matter of throwing a switch. Like any strategic move, there are tradeoffs. For instance, organizations must weigh the benefits of being able to rapidly respond to their market, with the detriment of giving up some control of application customization.

First Steps to Migration
One universal problem that has plagued IT departments before “cloud” entered the organization’s lexicon is still applicable: what to do with legacy applications. These are built upon assumptions about the environment in which they operate regarding software and hardware platforms, network infrastructure, security and monitoring. This situation leaves IT with an important decision: Should such applications be deployed first to a private cloud or go straight to a public cloud deployment?

Public versus Private Cloud
The decision whether to go private or public is guided by these factors:

• Service Demand – A private cloud is appropriate if demand is predictable and steady. If there is high variance, a hybrid or 100 percent public cloud approach makes sense.
• Network Requirements – Organizations requiring access only via specific networks or vendors cannot take advantage of public cloud services effectively.
• Application Dependencies – Enterprise applications with tight dependencies on specific devices or internal applications have the most difficulty in migrating to public cloud services.

Sub-Hybridization of Apps
IT departments overwhelmed by the scope of changes to analyze and act upon might consider taking smaller steps than wholesale migration of apps and services to any cloud - private or public. Hybridizing a single application in order to retain control over core features, while taking advantage of the flexibility of resources public cloud vendors offer, is one way to do this.

One example where this works is to retain a proprietary database within the organization infrastructure while "virtualizing” the interface to these data on servers located geographically closer to customers. Gradually, remote data caches can be added to improve responsiveness before converting to a fully distributed database.

Delaying Adoption Places You Squarely Behind the Curve
The challenges to moving to a cloud infrastructure are formidable but certainly not insurmountable. Delaying decisions because of lack of knowledge, skills or legacy drags your business behind the surging transition to cloud services. Rather, put your organization’s focus on the long-term benefits:

• Network and device autonomy
• Employee and customer IT self-service
• Resource elasticity to meet changing market demands
• Increased customer touch by a mobile workforce
• Higher collaboration potential among employees

The bottom line is a decrease in overhead and complexity with an increase in business productivity.

5 Things You Need to Know About Hybrid-Cloud Computing

Cloud computing is a relatively new trend in the Information Technology Industry. Because it is still a growing field, its precise definition is still a bit ambiguous. Generally speaking, cloud computing gives you the ability to deploy applications, systems and IT resources as services that reside in a global connected network known as the “cloud.” You can pull resources from the cloud whenever you need them, and you only pay for what you use.

A hybrid cloud is a cloud computing environment in which an organization provides and manages some resources in-house and has others provided externally. For example, an organization or company might use a public cloud service to store archived data but will continue to use in-house storage for operational data. Thus, let us look at the essential benefits of hybrid cloud solutions.

1. Cost efficiency - Hybrid cloud computing can maximize cost efficiency, especially capital expenditure. A hybrid cloud gives companies the leverage of accessing IT resources without an initial capital investment. Because a hybrid cloud uses both private and public clouds, it allows users access to significant economies of scale without exposing too much of their important data and vital applications. Thus, cloud computing shifts a company’s IT investment from capital expenditure to an operational expense.
2. Exit Strategy - Hybrid cloud computing can help a business build an exit strategy. One of the main concerns that companies have with a public cloud is the low level of data security. By using a hybrid cloud, businesses can maintain an in-house storage of operational data in their private clouds while using public clouds to store archived client information and data.
3. Speed - When it comes to running your business, it’s all about efficiency and speed. The elastic and rapid nature of a hybrid cloud may be one of the best attributes that contribute to the success of running a business. There are services available through the hybrid cloud that are less expensive than maintaining in-house IT departments. A hybrid cloud strategy will make it easier to bring on new resources more quickly and efficiently.
4. Stretch the Risk - From the perspective of cost, performance and rapid recovery, internally managed Disaster Recovery (DR) cannot touch the capabilities of a cloud or hybrid cloud system. Thus, using multiple providers to distribute the responsibility can help. Businesses can have one provider assume full responsibility, in case the other is compromised. This will give them the flexibility to switch to one from which they can operate efficiently post-disaster.
5. Bidding - Your hybrid strategy can allow you to accomplish bidding deals with vendors, allowing you to manage service levels through competition. You set the criteria, and a pre-reviewed list of capable suppliers bid on the services you require according to the vendors own flexibility and asset availability.

Therefore, hybrid cloud computing can help your business function more efficiently, by decreasing risks and costs while providing more secure space for all of your business data.