Navigating the cloud landscape: Public, private and hybrid solutions
There is no denying the significant growth in public cloud computing over the past ten years, but more recently private cloud solutions have been making a comeback. As a result, we are operating in a multi-cloud world where organisations can choose from private, public or hybrid cloud options.
With a public cloud, all hardware, software and supporting infrastructure are owned and managed by the cloud provider e.g. Microsoft Azure or Amazon AWS. You share the same hardware, storage, and network devices with other organisations or cloud “tenants,” and you access services and manage your account using a web browser. A public cloud provides flexible, scalable building blocks for organisations to create their own solutions, but it requires significant effort to configure, integrate, and manage those components.
In contrast, a private cloud offers a pre-configured, ready-to-use solution tailored to meet specific needs. It combines the control of a private environment with the convenience of a fully managed service without the complexity of building and maintaining the infrastructure yourself.
At PDMS, we’ve seen this evolution in hosting coming for some time and have invested in our own private cloud in addition to developing the skillset to manage public cloud infrastructure. As demand for resilience, security, and control grows, many organisations are starting to re-evaluate their approach to hosting, particularly as software development and digital services are increasingly cloud-dependent. In this article, we explore the merits of different hosting options for mission critical software.
Balancing the benefits and risks of public cloud platforms
Public cloud platforms such as AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud have been revolutionary, offering flexibility, scalability, and cost-effective options for businesses of all sizes. Their ease of adoption made them the go-to choice for hosting various services—from apps to document storage, where the public cloud remains highly effective.
The public cloud with its “pay for what you use” models also allows businesses to scale their IT resources up or down based on demand without the need for upfront investments in hardware.
While public cloud services offer undeniable benefits, recent high-profile outages at Crowdstrike, AWS, and Microsoft have raised questions about their reliability. These incidents serve as a reminder that cloud dependency can sometimes come with risks—unexpected downtime, security vulnerabilities, and disruptions to critical operations. As a result, businesses are re-evaluating their hosting strategies to ensure they aren’t left vulnerable the next time a major cloud service falters.
Harnessing the power of private cloud
In response to these risks, more businesses are considering private cloud as an alternative. This isn’t a new idea; private clouds have always been a valuable option within the IT toolbox, providing added control, security, and predictability that public clouds cannot always guarantee. As the tech landscape evolves, private clouds are gaining renewed attention for good reason.
Think of the public cloud as a shared office space where flexibility is high, but privacy and security may be harder to control. In contrast, the private cloud is like a dedicated office tailored to specific needs ensuring that your critical operations remain secure and under your control.
Private cloud hosting offers several key advantages:
- Cost predictability: No hidden costs or surprises. You know exactly what you’re paying for, making it easier to forecast and control costs as well as allocate resources effectively.
- Data privacy and compliance: With the rise of stringent regulations and increasing data breaches, keeping sensitive information safe is paramount. A private cloud ensures data remains secure and compliant.
- Enhanced security: You can tailor security measures to your specific needs, offering better protection than a one-size-fits-all public cloud solution.
- Optimised performance: You control the customised environment, ensuring critical functions run smoothly without having to compete for resources with other users, even during high-demand periods.
At PDMS, we host many of our clients’ systems on private cloud infrastructure, providing them with enhanced levels of control and security while avoiding the common issues associated with public cloud alternatives. Our approach enables us to proactively monitor and manage each element of our client’s environment, providing a more stable, secure experience for all users. With our private cloud, our customers have peace of mind, safe in the knowledge that their systems are always up to date and compliant with the latest cybersecurity standards.
Optimise your IT infrastructure with hybrid and multi-cloud strategies
Of course, the debate isn’t always “public vs private cloud”. Many organisations find that hybrid and multi-cloud strategies offer the best of both worlds. Using the security and control of a private cloud for mission-critical functions while relying on the flexibility and scalability of the public cloud for less sensitive tasks strikes a balance between control and agility.
Like the office space, sometimes you benefit from the open plan office for brainstorming and faster day-to-day communication, while a private office is needed for more sensitive discussions. We’ve seen companies benefit from diversifying their cloud service providers. By implementing a multi-cloud approach, businesses can be better prepared for potential disruptions while maintaining critical operations.
Adapting to an ever-changing landscape
In an environment that changes so rapidly, it’s crucial to remain vigilant. After all, not all vulnerabilities emerge on the same day, so being proactive is essential to prevent updates from piling up until they reach a tipping point.
Security is paramount, but maintaining a secure, updated, and resilient infrastructure is a full-time job. While running your own cloud infrastructure might sound appealing, particularly with solutions like AWS and Azure, it’s important to consider the management overhead and security expertise required. Public cloud solutions may be quicker to implement but they often lack the resilience of private cloud alternatives and can become more costly and complex in the long run.
If you don’t have the in-house expertise, you may find yourself vulnerable to risks that could have been avoided. We've seen this first hand - companies attempting to manage everything themselves often realise the complexity and cost involved only when things go wrong.
At PDMS, we provide peace of mind by ensuring that our clients’ hosting environments are secure, compliant, and always up to date. Our multi-site private cloud provides a cost-effective, secure hosting option that ensures consistent availability, confidentiality, and integrity, often at a lower cost than many public cloud providers. As a close-knit team, we can react quickly to changes, spotting and addressing risks as they emerge rather than reacting after they lead to an incident.
The future of hosting
So, is the shift towards private cloud a passing trend or the future of hosting? In our view, it's clear that businesses need to be prepared for whatever comes next. The cloud revolution is far from over. With the rise of new applications, AI, and increased security risks, the private cloud is becoming a more attractive option for many organisations. Ultimately, the future of cloud computing may not be a one-size-fits-all answer but a hybrid approach that leverages the strength of both private and public clouds.
But whatever the future holds, one thing is certain: a well-planned, flexible approach to hosting - whether that's public, private, or hybrid - is key to ensuring your business can weather the storms ahead.
At PDMS, we’re steadfast in our security commitments, continuously adapting to this ever-changing landscape to stay ahead for our clients. This dedication enables us to provide a stable, secure environment, ensuring maximum uptime.
If you're considering your cloud hosting strategy, why not partner with a trusted provider like PDMS? We'll help you navigate the complexities to ensure your business is always one step ahead.
To find the best hosting path to fit your needs, discover our Hosting Solutions
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