What is a Public Cloud?

What is a Public Cloud? The topic remains a daunting one for many users looking to move to Cloud. The reality is far simpler. However, to understand Cloud in its many forms, it’s important to understand the one basic universal: Public Cloud is based on the standard Cloud Computing model.

The Cloud Computing model is simply a model wherein a service provider makes resources, such as virtual machines, applications, and storage, available to the general public. In other words, a public cloud is a service offered by a third-party provider via the Internet. Public Cloud, put simply, enables enterprise to move and access data online accordingly. On a Public Cloud platform, third-party providers pay for and manage all associated technical hardware—absorbing the upfront expenses of investing in expensive equipment.

Most Public Cloud platforms are offered in a pay-per-usage model, meaning you pay for what you want and you only pay for what you are using. Public Clouds offer the ease of scalability, therefore, and users can either scale up or scale down to meet varying degrees of workloads and maintain user demands. Companies who prioritize ease of use and flexibility do well with Public Cloud as this platform provides a wide berth of freedom to easily add-on or take away options at their leisure.

Once in the Public Cloud, any type of data can be stored within it. It is a fully virtualized environment that relies on high-bandwidth network connectivity to transmit data quickly. Because Public Cloud storage typically uses multiple data centers and replicates file versions of data as backup, it is also seen as a resilient option to data loss and storage.

The greatest benefits Public Cloud typically sees are scalability, flexibility, the ability to gain access to IT resources without having to maintain infrastructure components or applications, fewer wasted resources as a result of the pay-per-usage model, and overall lower upfront costs. Public Cloud also boasts functionality and ease-of-use, in which third party providers can take care of anything and everything.

Not all aspects of the Public Cloud are beneficial, however, and it’s important to remember some of the drawbacks when opting into a Public Cloud model before deciding on which platform suits your enterprise needs best. While Public Cloud is seen as resilient, it’s least reliable in terms of security. This is due to its multi-user set-up.

Your data is in the Cloud along with everyone else’s, and while users’ data is isolated from one another, it poses a higher threat to your data’s security. Public Cloud will offer a suit of security technologies like encryption and identity and access management tools, but Private Cloud offers superior security.

Like with a Hybrid or Private Cloud, there are many pros and cons to opting into the Public Cloud model. The decision hinges largely on determining the needs of your business and discerning which model suits those needs best. zbrella’s Public Cloud Consultants and Architects can help assess if the Public Cloud is right for you. Our experts will assist you from the discovery process to the implementation to the training and the support of your Cloud. Our Cloud team does it all. Learn more about our Public Cloud services here, or contact us now here.