The Universal Question: Public vs. Private Cloud Hosting?
August 5, 2011
It seems to be a universal question when the topic of cloud computing arises: whether to take the private cloud road versus public (and in certain situations, vice versa).
There is no doubt that making a business case for cloud computing is becoming increasingly popular.
But deciding what will be the best cloud solution for your business requires analysis regarding the level of control, security customization and support your organization needs, according to Internap (News 
– Alert), a provider of IT infrastructure and cloud services…
The business case for cloud – especially in these uncertain economic times – is a solid one. If designed and provisioned properly, cloud deployments can lower capital and operating costs, increase flexibility and reduce complexity.
First, however, companies need to weigh the benefits gained from using one type of solution over another.
Security is often the first factor that comes up when companies consider the potential benefits of cloud computing.
Typically, private cloud solutions usually run highly sensitive, mission-critical, proprietary applications, whereas public clouds typically host development or test environment applications.
“With certain private clouds, your application sits within your own dedicated hosting environment, complete with firewall and multi-layered security features such as role-based security and intrusion detection. Within the multi-tenant environment of a public cloud, you follow the rules of the shared community,” according to a decision brief released by Internap.
If your company has certain security policies that determine how critical applications are accessed, classified and deployed, then the private cloud would likely be the best choice. But if you need support for traffic peaks on non-classified material, a public cloud is often a better choice for organizations that have cost-savings at the top of their priority list.
Another consideration is what level of control and customization your organization needs.
For example, your IT organization may require highly customized environments for each individual application. In that case, it should be considered that certain configuration flexibilities may not be available in a pre-defined, commoditized public cloud.
A private cloud environment can be adapted to meet specific needs and can run multiple applications for one customer. On the other hand, public cloud supports a variety of applications for multiple customers, therefore restricting options for its public users.
Cost and flexibility expectations also need to be factored into the equation, as the experts at Internap point out.
While a public cloud solution is usually less expensive but offers less flexibility, the customizability of a private cloud can increase costs.
It’s no secret that a public cloud is the more economical choice, however a private cloud may be economically attractive for its stability and predictable application uses.
Internap suggests that if you have a small business without the need for an expansive data center footprint or unneeded overhead, the public option may be your best choice.
“However, it is important to consider all relevant costs in order to make an informed decision. For example, support costs are often missed in determining the true cost of moving into a public cloud,” the brief points out.
Ultimately, companies need to make a decision on a cloud hosting model after evaluating each application or workload individually, as the security and customization requirements may differ greatly.
As Internap’s brief reminds us, “Regardless of your particular deployment, it is imperative to select a solution that delivers an enhanced end-user experience and superior availability.”