Cloud computing has really hit its stride in the past few years. As more business has migrated to the space, providers have been busy creating new offerings to meet the specific needs of business consumers. The technology that drives cloud computing has become available to business and as a result, they are rapidly adapting it to run on internal private cloud networks.
For many businesses, the private cloud is seen as a more secure alternative to the public cloud. As companies adapt and adopt private clouds, the software is being used more and more as a type of “point of control” to interface with the public cloud.
This “hybridization” touches on several key points for business. By adopting a dedicated private infrastructure in house, security of proprietary, critical or sensitive data is better enhanced. Companies are using public cloud services to feed into and enhance their private clouds as a means to procure additional computing services when needed. By interfacing with private cloud services businesses are able to maintain privacy and security while still benefiting from public cloud services like storage and computing power when needed.
In essence, the public cloud is used to carry out operations at the request of the private network, which is in turn, carrying out the request of the application or end-user. Many managed service providers are using this hybrid approach with their business clients. Enterprises have embraced this form of the hybrid cloud and it is a plausible approach for most business users.
There are three key reasons that this private cloud model will continue grow as a “point-of-control”:
• Private clouds make meeting data regulation and security concerns easier.
Businesses are becoming more comfortable with the privacy and security offered by private clouds. Proprietary applications, confidential, proprietary and sensitive data are more secure and controllable in a private environment. In addition, government regulation sometimes dictates where data must reside and private clouds make compliance cleaner.
• One interface controls all environments.
Using a private cloud as a public cloud controller means one set of interfaces for end users. This can simplify the use of services by lessening the learning curve and providing a common layer of abstraction when using a private environment.
• More effective governance and control.
Governance, access and security are much easier to implement on a private cloud. Public cloud use can be controlled, monitored and used on an as needed basis allowing for tighter control of employee usage and budget.
Private clouds offer companies power, control and efficiency along with the security, control and performance of dedicated technology. They also provide access to all of the benefits the public cloud offers in terms of scalability, flexibility and budgetary control. Operating a private/public hybrid can be complex. Many providers offer a specialized understanding and expertise in the set-up and maintenance of all aspects of the cloud environment. Consult with a Togglebox expert to determine if a private cloud is a right fit for your company’s specific needs. The cloud is here to stay and it’s changing how business operates. If your business data requires a higher level of security and privacy along with flexibility for rapidly scaling up of operations a hybrid cloud environment might be right choice for you.