What Are Different Types of Cloud Computing?

When the world was forced to adopt remote infrastructure, digital transformation was no longer a buzzword. It translated into reality with many companies adopting cloud infrastructure and mobile tools to enhance efficiency and productivity. Companies wary of the change met with survival issues that led to this transformation. 

It is predicted that by 2025, 51% of the IT spending across the four categories (application software, infrastructure services, business processes, and system infrastructure) will move away from traditional solutions to the public cloud. A majority of the businesses globally have decided to go cloud-first with their business and IT strategy. 

It is essential to know what cloud computing is and the 3 types of cloud computing services before you can commit to this move.

What Is Cloud and Cloud Computing?

When someone says cloud, what do they mean? It is a network of servers that are connected and manage unique functions. These servers are not physically present at your location; however, they can collect all the data and ensure it is stored properly.

You can access these servers using the Internet. Each server has a designated function. You can use them to store the data, retrieve it, run software solutions, manage your application, etc. 

These servers are managed by data centers, which are complete infrastructures required to host, network, and run the systems. When you connect your machines to the servers on data centers through the Internet, you surpass the need for physical infrastructure at your office. 

The delivery of these services, i.e., application management, data storage, and others over the Internet, is called cloud computing. 

Types of Cloud Models

1. Public Cloud

This cloud model is where the computing infrastructure is created, owned, and operated by a particular company. This company will lease out the servers as and when needed to the different businesses through the Internet. Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud, IBM Cloud, and Microsoft Azure are some of the public cloud models.

Pros

• Scalable and flexible models
• Cost-efficient cloud solutions because you pay for what you use
• Cloud management is ultimately the host’s responsibility
• Geographical boundaries do not restrict access to the cloud
• Reliable infrastructure with extensive adaptability
• Offers complete disaster recovery plan

Cons

• Privacy and security of the data stored in the public cloud are the biggest concerns.
• If you do not monitor your cloud usage or keep a tab on the unnecessary additions, you may spend a lot of money.
• If you need support for your cloud solutions, you may need to sign a different contract; it is not included in the deployment model.

2. Private Cloud

This cloud model is designed to support the needs of a single organization. It is a dedicated cloud solution that has been customized for the particular organization’s needs.

Pros

• Private clouds offer customization options that align the model to your business requirements
• Security is highly reliable and extensive with this model
• Businesses have autonomy over the servers
• Better protection of data so that third-party servers do not access them

Cons

• Handling a private cloud needs in-house IT expertise
• As it is an extensive solution, it is more expensive than other cloud models

3. Hybrid Cloud

When you combine the public and private models of the cloud, you give birth to the hybrid cloud model. In this case, the business will physically host a data center via the Internet to manage the data and operations. This is mainly used if the company already operates a private cloud model and wants to scale its capabilities.

Pros

• Flexible and scalable model
• Assists companies in managing heavy loads with immediate effect
• It offers better security as it is a combination of public and private models
• Speed of adoption concerning DevOps is higher with such cloud types

Cons 

• Maintenance could be a challenge as you are to manage both public and private models
• It could add to your expenses as you are managing an in-house cloud model plus the team
• You may experience compatibility issues as you are collecting data on separate models.

4. Multi-Cloud

In this model, the organization will use multiple cloud models. They could use three types of cloud computing models to manage the data and scale their business.

Pros

• It offers failover options, which means if one system fails, you can still access and retrieve your data
• You get high speed and performance with multi-cloud models
• Better security and data privacy for the business owners
• Flexible and scalable cloud options

Cons

• When you dock in multiple types of cloud platforms, you spend more money. It is not the most cost-efficient solution
• You will need to appoint specialists to manage the cloud model
• When you are integrating cloud deployment models with legacy systems, you may be challenged with security-related issues

Types of Cloud Services

1. IaaS (Infrastructure-as-a-Service)

This is one of the cloud service types where the business gains access to computing, storage, and networking-related resources. You can choose the cloud infrastructure model that helps you manage the load and scalability needs.

Pros

• You don’t need to invest in the servers or other related infrastructure for the cloud computing service model.
• Accessing the data and storing it is effortless
• You can cut down on the need for physical servers and infrastructure
• It allows flexibility and scalability

Cons

• You don’t have complete control of the servers or the computing model
• You may face bandwidth issues
• You will need to consider redundancy if you want to ensure failover options

2. PaaS (Platform-as-a-Service)

This cloud service model helps you with the design-to-development of your ideas. You can create simple apps as well as complicated solutions using this service. You will need to pay for the resources to build the apps.

Pros

• Ready-to-use tools that allow you to develop apps quickly
• You don’t need to hire resources to design your app ideas
• Multi-platform development is easy and effortless
• Gain access to sophisticated tools

Cons

• You are dependent on the vendor for the tools and infrastructure.
• You may also experience vendor lock-in
• These tools may not be compatible with all the platforms
• Platform security and data risks could pose to be a challenge

3. SaaS (Software-as-a-Service)

This cloud service model allows you to connect and use apps over the Internet. For example, you can use calendar applications for better appointment management without installing them or adding them to your infrastructure.

Pros

• It is a cost-efficient solution
• Low on the maintenance aspect
• On-the-go solution making it more accessible

Cons

• If the tool’s security is compromised, it can hinder your data security and privacy
• You don’t have complete control over the data or application.

Which Cloud Type is Best for You?

When choosing the cloud computing model and service for your business, answer the following questions:

1. What is the purpose of the cloud-first strategy?
2. What is the current load for your business?
3. What is your budget?
4. Do you need complete control of the resources?

Conclusion

With cloud computing gearing and most businesses taking up the opportunity to accelerate digital transformation, it is important to reiterate the different cloud computing types.

You can choose to move to one of the types of cloud solutions – private, public, hybrid, or multi-cloud. You should also choose the most appropriate cloud service from IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS. Partner with the right cloud solution provider to implement a reliable and efficient solution.