Define Cloud Models
Cloud models define the type of cloud resource deployment.
The three main models are:
- Private cloud
- Public cloud
- Hybrid cloud
🏢 Private Cloud
Let’s start with the private cloud.
It is, in a way, the natural evolution of an enterprise data center.
It is a cloud (delivery of computing services over the Internet) used by a single entity.
The private cloud offers increased control to the company and its IT department.
However, it involves higher costs and fewer benefits than a public cloud deployment.
It can be hosted on-premises or in a dedicated off-site data center, possibly managed by a third party exclusively for the company.
🌐 Public Cloud
The public cloud is built, controlled, and maintained by a third-party cloud service provider.
Anyone wishing to purchase cloud services can access it.
Public availability is the main difference between public and private cloud.
🔗 Hybrid Cloud
The hybrid cloud is a computing environment that combines private and public cloud in an interconnected way.
It allows a private cloud to adapt to temporary increased demand by deploying resources in the public cloud.
It can also provide an additional layer of security.
Users can choose which services to keep in the public cloud and which to deploy in their private infrastructure.
📊 Comparison Table of Cloud Models
| Public Cloud | Private Cloud | Hybrid Cloud |
|---|---|---|
| No upfront investment to scale | Full control over resources and security | Offers the greatest flexibility |
| Applications can be quickly deployed or removed | Data is not shared with other organizations | Organization chooses where to run its applications |
| Pay only for what is used | Purchase of hardware required for startup and maintenance | Control over security, compliance, and legal requirements |
| No full control over resources and security | Organization is responsible for hardware maintenance | — |
🌍 Multi-cloud
A fourth scenario, increasingly common, is multi-cloud.
In this case, you use multiple public cloud providers.
You may use different features depending on the providers.
Or you migrate from one provider to another.
In all cases, you must manage resources and security across multiple cloud environments.
🛠️ Azure Arc
Azure Arc is a set of technologies that allows you to manage your cloud environment, whether it is:
- Fully public (Azure)
- Private (in your data center)
- Hybrid
- Or multi-cloud (multiple providers)
💻 Azure VMware Solution
If you already use VMware in a private cloud but want to migrate to a public or hybrid cloud,
Azure VMware Solution allows you to run your VMware workloads in Azure with smooth and scalable integration.
