Cloudy with a Chance of Decisions: Navigating Public, Private, and Hybrid Cloud Hosting

Decisions, decisions...we face so many of them every day in our professional lives.  As it relates to the cloud, we are well beyond the question of whether our data should be there or not.  It has become a question of...which cloud is right for your business.  If you are considering moving your business to the cloud but feeling unsure about whether to choose a public or private cloud solution, don't worry...you're not alone! With Big Tech companies like Microsoft, Google and Amazon putting literally hundreds of millions into advertising and product placement around their cloud offerings, it can be a challenge to determine which cloud hosting solution is right for your business needs. But fear not, we're here to help. In this blog, we'll break down the differences between public and private cloud hosting and help you decide which one may be best for your business. Plus, we'll explore the hybrid cloud hosting option, which combines the best of both worlds. So, grab a cup of coffee and let's dive in! 

Public Cloud Hosting

A public cloud is a type of cloud computing where the service provider makes resources, such as servers and storage, available to the public over the internet. In a public cloud, multiple users share the same resources, which makes it a cost-effective option for small to medium-sized businesses. The short list of public cloud providers usually includes “The Big Three” (Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud).  One of the main advantages of a public cloud is its scalability. You can easily add or remove resources as your business needs change, which means you don't have to worry about investing in hardware that you may not need in the future. Additionally, since you're sharing resources with other users, the cost of the service is usually lower than with a private cloud.  However, there are some downsides to a public cloud. Since you're sharing resources with other users, you have less control over the security of your data. Additionally, public clouds may not be suitable for businesses that require high levels of customization or control over their IT environment. In some cases, compliance can be an issue, as well.  

Private Cloud Hosting

A private cloud, on the other hand, is a cloud computing environment that is dedicated to a single organization. Private clouds can be hosted either on-premises or by a third-party provider, like Summit Hosting. Private clouds are ideal for businesses that require a high level of security or need to comply with specific regulations, like HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability) or PCI (Payment Card Industry). 

One of the main advantages of a private cloud is that you have complete control over the environment. You can customize it to meet your specific needs, and you have a higher level of security since you're not sharing resources with other users. Additionally, a private cloud is a great option for businesses that have sensitive data or need to comply with specific regulations.

Summit Hosting: The Best Cloud Hosting Solution for Businesses

If you're looking for a private cloud hosting solution, Summit Hosting is an excellent choice. We offer a variety of hosting options, including dedicated server hosting, virtual desktop infrastructure solutions, hosted QuickBooks solutions, and many more. We pride ourselves in being a cloud hosting solution for businesses in many industries, including accounting, construction, and healthcare.

One of the main advantages of partnering with Summit Hosting is our commitment to security. We have multiple layers of security in place, including firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and data encryption. Additionally, our hosting solutions are fully compliant with HIPAA and other industry specific regulations.

Hybrid Cloud Hosting

If you’re still on the fence on which type of cloud hosting is better for your business, perhaps exploring the option of hybrid cloud hosting is the solution for you. A hybrid cloud model is a mix of public and private cloud hosting. This hybrid approach can be useful for businesses that have varying IT needs or want to balance cost and security concerns.  In a hybrid cloud hosting approach, businesses can use a combination of public and private clouds to achieve the benefits of both. For example, businesses can use public clouds for non-sensitive data and applications, while using private clouds for sensitive data and applications that require higher levels of security and control. This allows businesses to take advantage of the flexibility and scalability of public clouds while still maintaining control over their most critical assets.  One of the key benefits of hybrid cloud deployment is that it allows businesses to avoid vendor lock-in, which can be a concern with traditional public or private cloud hosting solutions. With a hybrid cloud deployment, businesses can use multiple cloud providers and easily move workloads between them as needed. This provides businesses with more options and flexibility, allowing them to optimize their cloud solutions according to their specific needs and requirements. Additionally, hybrid cloud deployment helps alleviate against the risks associated with a single point of failure, as it can distribute workloads across multiple cloud channels to ensure maximum uptime and reliability. 

Which is right for you?

Now that we’ve broken down public, private, and hybrid cloud solutions, you might be wondering… “do I have to choose only one?” “Can I have multiple cloud solutions?” Depending on the size and complexity of your business, you may want to choose a single cloud solution or multi-cloud.  Single Cloud Solution: Single cloud solutions are like those all-in-one packages that claim to have everything, but they do have their limitations. Since cloud vendors control everything from updates to hardware and software choices, you might not have much say in what happens. Although they can be attractive because of the ease of use, they might not have all the specialized features your business needs, which could cost extra.   If you're considering a single cloud platform, make sure you check out their disaster recovery procedures. At Summit Hosting we take backups seriously. We create copies of backups to ensure that you can always recover your data, even if something goes wrong with the servers.   Multi-Cloud Solution: As more cloud users grow, they're realizing that one cloud service provider might not be enough for their complex business computing needs. A multiple cloud strategy means that you can mix and match different cloud services to create a comprehensive system that meets your unique needs. You can do this in two ways - create a hybrid cloud or use more than one cloud provider at the same time.   When you combine different cloud models, you can create a cloud-based system that is economical, scalable, and can adapt to your business's changing needs. Here at Summit Hosting, we’ll work with your multi-cloud to make sure your business is running the way you want it to. 

Conclusion

To sum up, choosing between a public or private cloud hosting solution depends on the unique needs of your business. While a public cloud may offer cost-effective scalability, it may not provide the security and customization required by some businesses. A private cloud provider, such as Summit Hosting, can enable greater control and security, making it the ideal choice for organizations with sensitive data or compliance requirements. However, for businesses with varying IT needs or concerns about vendor lock-in, a hybrid cloud hosting solution can offer the best of both worlds. By leveraging the benefits of both public and private cloud hosting, hybrid cloud deployment allows businesses to optimize their cloud solutions while maintaining control over their critical assets.  If you're still unsure which cloud hosting solution is right for your business, we encourage you to schedule a consultation with us. Our team of experts can help assess your business needs and determine the best hosting solution to meet your unique requirements. Whether you're looking for a private cloud or a hybrid cloud approach, we have the expertise and resources to deliver the right solution for your business. Contact us today to book your consultation and take the first step towards optimizing your cloud hosting solution.