INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Most technologies experience continuous change and innovation, and with the extent to which cloud computing has significantly evolved over
the last ten years, it is no exception
Previously, the cloud was for more for technology-based sectors, whereby the computing geniuses of the world would test new, revolutionary
ideas.Now, the landscape of the cloud is far more widely incorporating and open for business, with companies taking up residence for
multiple reasons and to serve a huge range of sectors
All have asked themselves the same question: which is better, where does the future lie, in the private or public cloudTwo competing
forcesBoth forms of cloud are scalable, flexible clusters of computing power, usually servers, and associated services including management
The public cloud is easy to access and generally provided by large corporations such as Google or Amazon.On the other hand, the private
cloud is slightly different
Private clouds are for the exclusive use of a specific entity, and they may be hosted either by that entity itself, using its own equipment
and location or, more frequently, hosted by a third-party provider that manages the private cloud, ensuring updates, quality of service and
security.While it is common to hear people defending their preferred cloud provision, and plenty of published articles contrast the two, as
time passes it becomes less appropriate to discuss cloud computing in these terms
For as the market matures, and more people experience cloud computing in various formats, clearly there is a place for both forms, but
perhaps in slightly different formats or proportions.What's right for youWhen it comes to selecting cloud provision, is not which is
'better', but rather the stage of maturity of the business (what is appropriate for a start-up may be much less appropriate when it is an
established business), the nature of its work (if the same business diversifies, it may need to change its cloud) and the sector that the
With an increasing focus on privacy and data protection comes a need to ensure the highest levels of security, particularly for those in
sectors such as banking and health, where data security is vital and mandatory to ensure regulatory compliance
Many would say this is where the private cloud excels, since private cloud providers are generally much more specific about their security
provision than public cloud providers, whose provision can also vary widely
While the public cloud is generally safe, many businesses need the detailed understanding and assurance that private provision can
Indeed, the apparent affordability of the public cloud can seem very appealing, but when businesses begin to grow and scale their provision,
the apparent costs can become misleading
As a business becomes more complex, the greater range and more detailed specifications of private cloud provision, such as the ability to
plug in specific applications and assure constant availability and data speeds, can become very important and reduce or outweigh cost
differentials.Uniting forcesThat being said, many businesses have some data and activity that is sufficiently security-critical to require
private provision, and some that is not
Many firms now combine both private and public cloud provision, either in the form of a bespoke hybrid package from third party providers,
or a combination of in-house and third-party provision
This has the advantage of assuring security and other compliance as required by sector or location, while also letting the business leverage
the cost, flexibility and accessibility benefits of the public cloud.And while there is also talk of open source solutions making private
cloud provision more affordable, at the moment the user base probably has too many concerns about the early stage of development to make it
In terms of public clouds, worries about security, providers' ability to assure regulatory compliance, the relative loss of control over
data and the limited extent of public cloud services' support and expertise all combine to make many businesses prefer to retain at least
some of their provision in a 'traditional' private cloud.Stepping into the futureUltimately, for as long as pen source solutions remain in
their infancy and the public cloud continues to lack detail and transparency, it is unlikely that businesses will, en masse, move their data
to the public cloud any time soon
Although the public cloud boasts many advantages, it cannot assure the reliability and safety of private cloud provision
Rather, the general movement seems to be more towards combined provisions that blend the accessibility and cost benefits of the public cloud
with the accountability and security of its private counterpart
The proportions in which these two are allocated will vary by sector, by the ambition of each business and its stage of development.Future
predictions are always speculative and prone to inaccuracy, but for now and for the foreseeable future, businesses that can combine public
and private clouds that meet their needs and stay within their budget are far more likely to be headed towards success.Toan Nguyen is
director business development cloud platform at e-shelter
