In the push to remain competitive in a market where personalization is highly valued and the experience of the end-user is a driving factor in technology decisions, many organizations are making the decision to move to cloud implementation. Once you’ve decided that a move to the cloud is critical, you have another big decision ahead of you: determining the right cloud infrastructure for your needs.
The choices between private, public and hybrid cloud infrastructure come down to the individual needs of your organization, and ultimately, the price tag associated with each option. Here is a basic rundown of the three cloud infrastructure choices:
Private cloud: This is a cloud solution constructed and housed on your own server, and can be a safe and convenient choice, particularly if the infrastructure already exists. It offers an enhanced level of security over other cloud infrastructure options. Private cloud environments can be constructed to house any legacy system by adding a virtualization layer to reduce management in-house and allow service providers to access your system.
This option provides one of the easiest ways to transition from on-site systems to a cloud infrastructure. It is the most expensive option for implementation, requiring a significant initial investment, but lower monthly operating costs.
Public cloud: A public cloud infrastructure gives you all the data storage, processing and analytical power you need. The data is stored in data centers housed by the cloud provider. There are two main benefits to using a public cloud solution: the lead time on product deployment is significantly reduced, and the costs are handled as monthly operating expenses, versus an initial investment. Scalability is also a valuable trait of public cloud options, and there are almost limitless technical possibilities.
The major drawback of implementing a public cloud infrastructure is potential security concerns. The challenges of computing on a public domain and potentially sharing resources with other organizations can lead to weak areas in your security coverage.
Hybrid cloud: For many companies, the use of a hybrid cloud infrastructure is appealing. Some favor this approach because it offers the benefits of both private and public cloud environments, capturing both the robust security and technical prowess of each option, and optimizing the combination for the best possible fit for their organization. It has its drawbacks, such as the need to interact and manage contracts with multiple vendors, and navigate security needs with each one.
Ultimately, for many companies, the decision is not just about the best fit for their organization, but about the budget that they’re working within to get the best infrastructure. If you’re looking for guidance on how to get the best cloud infrastructure for your company’s budget and propel your digital transformation plan forward, talk with Access Tech today.