In a recent study by Intel, it was projected that in the coming year, 80% of IT budgets will be allocated to cloud apps and solutions. Hybrid cloud implementation in particular has skyrocketed, with adoption rates tripling in the last year alone.
For businesses considering cloud adoption, the decision boils down to three main choices: public, private, or hybrid?
| Public Cloud |
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Scalability. Public cloud gives businesses the flexibility to pay as they go and scale up and down as needed. |
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Cost savings. Because resources are available on an on-demand basis, companies benefit from better cost effectiveness. |
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Reliability. Public cloud tends to be more reliable, thanks to the ability to transfer workloads to alternative data centers should one experience an outage. |
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| Cons |
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Security. Because public cloud servers can do their job from anywhere, data can potentially be housed in geographical locations with less stringent security protocols. |
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Surprise costs. The scalability factor could prove to be a pitfall when large quantities of data need to be transferred. |
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Application performance. Applications run through the public cloud can be negatively affected by increases in internet traffic. |
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| Private Cloud |
| Pros |
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Security. The private cloud offers increased security, particularly for bigger businesses or those that handle sensitive data. |
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Server control. Private cloud servers can be customized to suit a business’s preferences. |
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Flexibility. Data that isn’t sensitive can be moved to a public cloud when the private cloud is unable to meet a spike in demand, known as cloud bursting. |
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| Cons |
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Up-front costs. Though costs may level out over time, the up-front costs of private cloud are initially greater than those for public cloud. |
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Access. Data housed in the private cloud can be more difficult to access remotely. |
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| Hybrid Cloud |
| Pros |
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Flexibility. Hybrid cloud allows for maximum flexibility while still remaining scalable. |
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Reliability. Because applications and workloads are run both in-house and outside the network, businesses are better protected from outages. |
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| Cons |
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Multiple providers. Managing multiple providers in a hybrid setting can be challenging, especially in terms of knowing which cloud environment is being deployed. |
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Communication between clouds. Maintaining connectivity between public and private clouds can be difficult to manage. |
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| When it comes to cloud, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. To make the best decision for your company, consider the pros and cons of each cloud option. |
