What is a Private Cloud?

A private cloud is a specific type of cloud computing that includes a very obvious and secure cloud based environment that only a specified client is allowed to operate. As with other cloud designs, private clouds can provide computing powers as a service that is within a virtualized environment by using a basic bank of physical computing resources. Under this private cloud model, the cloud is accessible by only a single organization or person providing the organization with a better control of their data and privacy.

The scientific tools used to provide the numerous different services are classed as being a private cloud service and can vary significantly, so it can be hard to exactly define what makes up a private cloud from a technical aspect. Rather, these services are typically categorized by the kind of features they can offer to their clients. Some traits that describe private clouds include a ring of fencing around the cloud for the exclusive use of one organization or higher levels of network security.

These traits can be defined in comparison to a public cloud which has many clients accessing virtualized services which draw all their resources from the same group of servers across the public networks. Private cloud differs from the public cloud because their services draw their resources from a specific pool of physical computers. But, these services can be hosted internally or externally and can be accessed across private lines or on secure and encrypted connections through public networks.

The extra security that is offered by the ring fenced cloud model is perfect for any organization, including enterprises that need to store or process private data and carry out very sensitive tasks. A private cloud service might be used by a financial institution that is required by law to store their sensitive data internally and who still wants to benefit from a few of the advantages of cloud computing within their business infrastructure, like on demand resource allocation.

The private cloud model is a bit closer to more traditional models of individual local access networks (LANs) that were used in the past by many enterprises but private cloud has added the advantages of virtualization. The features and benefits of private clouds are as follows:

Private Cloud Security and Privacy

Public cloud services can put into action a specific level of security but a private cloud, using techniques like a distinct pool of resources with restricted access to connections made from behind an organization’s firewall, dedicated lines or an on-site internal host, and can guarantee that operations are kept out of the reach of prying eyes

A private cloud can only be accessed by a single organization and that organization has the power to configure and manage everything and tailor it to their needs to achieve a perfect network solution. However, this degree of control will remove some of the economies of scale that is generated in public clouds by having a centralized management of all of the hardware

Private Cloud and Cost

Implementing a private cloud model is able to improve the allocation of some resources within an organization by making sure that the availability of resources to individuals, departments, or business functions and can directly and flexibly respond to their demand. Although they are not as economical as public cloud services are, due to smaller economies of scale and an increase in management costs.
They do make a more effective use of the computing resources than traditional LANs because they minimize the investment into unused capacity. This not provides a cost saving to organizations, but it can also reduce an organization’s carbon footprint too

Private Cloud Reliability

Even when resources are hosted internally, the formation of virtualized operating environments means that the networks are more resilient to individual failures that may happen across the physical infrastructure. Virtual partitions can pool their resources from any of the remaining unaffected servers. Where the cloud is hosted by a third party, the organization will still be able to benefit from the physical security that is allowed to the infrastructure hosted within data centers.

Some providers can offer the opportunity to use cloud bursting within a private cloud offering, in case there are events that produce a spike in demand. This service can allow the provider to switch certain non-sensitive functions to a public cloud to be able to free up more space in the private cloud for the special sensitive functions that require it. Private clouds can even be combined with public cloud services to form a hybrid cloud where non-sensitive functions are always earmarked to the public cloud to help maximize the efficiencies that they offer.

A private cloud can offer many services to an organization. The benefits listed above show that the private cloud is the perfect step to make to get into cloud computing. The benefits of a private cloud out-weigh the cost.

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