Cloud computing continues to grow in popularity as a way for companies to reduce costs. Companies can cut costs by paying only for the time they actually use different hardware and software. They also save by not having to maintain hardware such as servers in facilities that need dedicated cooling systems, run up large electric bills and require specialized staffing. But many companies worry about using the public cloud because they fear that sharing resources with other companies can pose a security risk. Sensitive data could be a target of hackers or corporate rivals could target proprietary information. A private cloud offers a way to address risk concerns while gaining the advantages of cloud computing.
What private clouds have to offer
A company using a private cloud typically has the cloud all to itself. In-house IT staff typically maintains the cloud infrastructure and keeps the cloud behind a firewall. But there is a tradeoff between maintaining control of the company’s data and losing efficiency and savings that would have been obtained from sharing resources with other companies in a public cloud.
A private cloud, however, can still provide benefits such as software tailored for the cloud by being portable enough that it can be used by machines running different operating systems.
The private cloud can also provide a way for companies wary of wholesale change to take smaller steps i to the world of cloud computing. Different departments within a single company could operate in a private cloud in which they share computing resources. If departments paid only for what resources they used, they would have an incentive to spend less when they did not need the usual load and more during busier times.
While a private cloud may limit the savings that would have been gained by sharing hardware resources, keeping control of critical hardware in-house can enable a company to continue to use their preferred vendors and standards. And if there is a problem, it will probably be easier to figure out who should be held accountable.
If a company is operating in a country or industry with regulations limiting the use of the public cloud for sensitive data, they may be able to comply with the regulations and still use cloud computing by creating a private cloud.
A hybrid cloud offers companies both private and public cloud benefits. A company could secure its data behind a firewall while using application software based in the public cloud.
To learn more about what a private cloud can offer, click here.
About the Author: Ben Hargrove writes for websites like MadisonTi.com.
