Deployment models(public, private, hybrid, multi-cloud)
In my previous article, I wrote about what is a cloud in general and why we need / should use
the cloud combining it with the business strategy. You might like to start reading part 1 first, for
a general overview and continue with this post. In this one, I will try to explain the cloud
deployment types, which are basically public, private, hybrid, and multi-cloud models.
Each type has a different impact on your technology landscape. However, this decision is not only
technical because the chosen model (may not be only one model) has impacts on the business
decisions/options; it can affect some areas like legal, finance areas, etc.
You have to know that independent from whichever model you use in the cloud, you get most of
the common business benefits from the cloud strategy. In all of the models, you are going to use
technologies like virtualization, cloud automation, APIs with different levels of utilization.
However, not everything is the same.
Let’s have a look at these models in detail:
1. PUBLIC CLOUD
The public cloud is the model that comes to people’s minds when it is said “Cloud”.
It’s the model where your computing is done somewhere outside of your “on-premises” landscape;
mostly somewhere that you don’t even know physically. (of course, providers give you information
regarding the location 🙂
It’s the model that is provided by big brothers like AWS by Amazon, Azure by Microsoft, Google Cloud
by Google, Alibaba Cloud, IBM Cloud, etc.
In this model, services are owned and operated by third-party providers and shared by multiple
customers which provide a low(er) cost structure.
Services are maintained by the provider, therefore easier for the customers.
In the public cloud pay-is-you-go is usually the model that is being used, therefore it’s more flexible
financially.
However, this model is said to be less flexible as the customer has very little control over the system.
And also “named” to be less secure as it’s shared by multiple customers. But as it’s managed by
providers employing many professionals” focusing on security specifically, it may even be more secure
than an environment managed by customers’ own IT staff. Point to reconsider.
In order to show the size of the business:
IDC forecasts that worldwide spending on public cloud services and infrastructure will nearly double,
to around $500 billion, by 2023.
2. PRIVATE CLOUD
In a private cloud, a cloud computing solution is assigned to an organization. It doesn’t matter whether
the cloud is managed alone or by a third party, but a private cloud project requires specialized expertise
to virtualize a business environment.
In this model, Cloud Computing infrastructure is assigned to a private organization by a service provider
over the internet. It supports one enterprise.
There are 2 sub-types of a private cloud:
Hosted private clouds, which are offered by a third-party cloud provider, and internal private clouds,
which are managed and maintained by an organization internally.
It gives customers more flexibility, however, the model is harder to maintain, and the cost is higher than
the public cloud.
A good analogy I like is that
“A public cloud is like renting an apartment, while a private cloud is like renting a similarly sized house.”
3. HYBRID CLOUD
The hybrid cloud model on the other hand is the model where deployments combine one or more public
clouds with a private cloud, or with on-premises infrastructure.
In this mixed model, by accessing in-house and public cloud technologies at the same time, users and
IT can get the benefits of both worlds.
As a strategy, more vulnerable and private documents and data may be stored on the private cloud,
and information that requires less privacy required may be kept on the public cloud.
A hybrid cloud provides you a high level of control with options for where you can store your data while you
are having cheaper scalability with help from the public cloud.
Regarding the migration strategy, it is easier to migrate as you can choose to transition gradually over time.
4. MULTI-CLOUD
Multicloud is very similar to the hybrid cloud which refers to the use of multiple public clouds concurrently.
This type of cloud environment differs from hybrids, as the presence and usage of many clouds and many
cloud providers at the same time (integrated)
A multi-cloud environment can utilize private clouds as well, although it doesn’t have to. Normally,
this environment is used because a business has a variety of needs that one single cloud provider
doesn’t offer. These requirements/offerings might differ technically, geographically, legally, financially, etc.
as service may be provided by different vendors.
As the number of players and options is increasing, interoperability among providers and environments
is becoming a subject to consider in technical architecture and business decisions. Will your multi-cloud
model work together as a unique body? How about migrating a service from one to another? Therefore
at the same time, this model is very powerful and flexible; but this comes with the necessity of designing
your landscape well.
As a very quick summary,
The public cloud offers you an easy-to-manage environment that is not only yours, while the private cloud is
the one if you want your own cloud to manage but with more cost. If you want to benefit from both
worlds, you can use the hybrid model and even multi-cloud if you want to get services from more
than one provider at the same time.
Questions that should be answered then:
- Which model is better? For my technical landscape, for my business strategy?
- What should be the architecture, and what should I change/improve?
- How do I migrate to the cloud, which parts, and with what timing?
As a part of your business and technology plan, these questions should be answered, and a strategy
should be generated.
Published by
SAP Integration & Development Consultant | SAP Integration Black Belt | Cloud, nonSAP&SAP
Development, Integration, Architecture & Strategy | Cloud solutions. SAP CPI, SAP BTP, SAP,
PO – Process Orchestration.