May 27th, 2021
At least 80% of organizations are expected to migrate to the cloud by 2025. These solutions allow for easy access and management of all your data.
There are several different types of cloud services to choose from, but 2 of the most popular are the public and private cloud.
Understanding the differences between these two options helps you choose the right one for your business. Read our guide to learn about the major private and public cloud pros and cons you need to know.
What Is The Public Cloud?
The public cloud provides cloud computing services to the public over the internet.
It's hosted off-site and managed by a service provider. They handle core infrastructure, software, back-end architecture, and other essential functions.
It's popular among single users and businesses and uses a "pay-as-you-go" billing model.
What Is The Private Cloud?
The private cloud, also known as the enterprise cloud, provides cloud services over a private IT infrastructure to a single organization.
It's managed by internal resources or, in the case of a VPC or virtual private cloud, over a third-party cloud provider's infrastructure.
Its services are hidden behind a firewall and only accessible to a single organization.
Private vs. Public Cloud Pros and Cons
One of the biggest private vs public cloud differences is their growth rates.
Public cloud spending is increasing at a rate of 24% compared to 8% growth for the private cloud. Private cloud adoption is also shrinking, reaching 72% in 2019.
You need to know the pros and cons of these two solutions to see the reasons behind this trend and decide which solution is right for you.
Public Cloud Pros
The public cloud offers a multitude of services.
It uses an affordable pay-as-you-go system with no maintenance costs.
Your public cloud hosting company will provide you with enterprise-level security and support.
Faster upgrades and integration provide implemented scalability.
Public Cloud Cons
Public cloud solutions are generic, limiting customization and making it harder to integrate legacy platforms.
The pay-as-you-go system is affordable but difficult to work into your budget. You may not know what you're required to pay until the end of the month.
The public cloud requires businesses to rely on their cloud hosting company for security, configuration, and more.
Public cloud solutions provide less information and don't allow you to see beyond front-end interfaces. This, along with additional legal and industry rules, makes it harder to maintain compliance.
Public cloud security is lower than private cloud security. This puts your data at risk of hacker attacks.
The public cloud also has lower service reliability. If you experience any issues, you'll have to wait for your cloud service provider to send help.
Private Cloud Pros
The main advantage of the private cloud is the control it provides. It lets you handle your own security, privacy, configuration, and management.
Private Cloud Cons
The private cloud is more complex, which means you'll require more IT and support staff.
It's more expensive than the public cloud, with higher maintenance and start-up costs.
Gaps in the knowledge of your IT staff can put your data at risk.
The private cloud may also limit your remote access. Slower technology integration and upgrades make it less scalable.
Where to Find a Cloud Hosting Service
Private and public cloud services are both useful ways to access and manage your data. Comparing private vs. public cloud pros and cons can help you determine which solution is right for your business.
Sectorlink is a cloud computing host you can trust. Check out our cloud web hosting service today.