The cloud is an efficient, affordable and scalable way to securely store your data online.
The cloud is a modern way of handling sensitive data compared to its legacy memory stick and computer hard drive alternatives.
One of the main benefits of the cloud to businesses is that data becomes accessible from anywhere at any time. It’s also a safe way to back up your data should an IT disaster or a cybersecurity attack occur.
The different types of ways to store your data in the cloud include public, private and hybrid cloud.
The definitions for each are:
Public cloud – cloud computing which is owned and operated by a third party and shared across networks via the internet.
Private cloud – cloud computing which is dedicated solely to your organisation’s internal network.
Hybrid cloud – cloud computing that uses both public and private clouds.
What is the public cloud?
One of the biggest advantages of public cloud computing is that many services are free to use. This allows organisations to utilise cutting-edge technologies and achieve scalability without having to factor in costs and labour.
Public cloud allows nearly infinite scalability and self-service provisioning for organisations but it’s not always the most suitable option for your business.
The pros and cons of the public cloud include:
Pros – low cost, high scalability, reduced complexity, self-serviced, great agility and cutting-edge technologies.
Cons – public cloud is the least secure, has minimal technical control and isn’t bespoke to your IT environment.
Whilst there are many advantages to the public cloud, if you work in a highly regulated industry with sensitive data then you may be best suited to the private cloud.
What is the private cloud?
Private cloud is a popular option for large enterprises that can afford to invest in a private service. If security and advanced data centre technologies are crucial to your organisation then private cloud can give you the exclusivity you need.
Choosing the private cloud means having a team in place to manage your private internal network. It doesn’t matter whether that’s managed internally or with an IT service provider.
The pros and cons of private cloud include:
Pros – Increase security, predictable costs, and it can uphold legal requirements.
Cons – limited scalability, high initial capital cost and higher IT overheads.
What is the hybrid cloud?
The hybrid cloud is a frequently chosen option as it combines both private and public cloud, providing the benefits of each while reducing their drawbacks.
Choosing a hybrid cloud option can lower your costs and increase flexibility and scalability.
The pros and cons of private cloud include:
Pros – greater flexibility, greater resilience, fewer IT overheads and a wider range of services.
Cons – additional complexity, rising cost concerns and compatibility issues.
Hybrid and public cloud environments are not fully compatible which means issues may rise with synchronisation.
Our business cloud solutions can completely transform your IT and the way you operate. We have a wide variety of secure, agile and scalable solutions for you to choose from.
