What is private cloud architecture?

Private cloud computing architecture is a version of cloud computing in which a single user or organization can access the actual cloud infrastructure. The data center and server may be owned by the user, or may be physically hosted and maintained by a third party.

A public cloud is what most think of when they think of cloud computing. The end user does not own the servers and data centers that run and support the cloud. They may be part of a large international company that provides cloud hosting and data services to other companies and members of the public, and their cloud likely shares server space with those owned by many others. This is an efficient and scalable setup and is generally the least expensive. It is also the least secure.

A private cloud is exactly what it sounds like: private. You either own the server or have paid for exclusive access to one. This can be more expensive, since you are renting or maintaining the entire server, regardless of the capacity it consumes. You are also generally expected to perform updates, patches, and software management on your private server yourself, even if it is located on third-party facilities. However, this and the exclusivity of the platform can have significant security benefits.

A hybrid cloud is a combination of a private cloud (which often handles your most critical or sensitive data) and public cloud resources. While they can’t be on the same server, the hybrid cloud architecture is set up so they can be managed as a unit when convenient. This architecture allows you to host your less sensitive data cheaply, but keeps your important stuff safe and exclusive.

A multi-cloud setup is like a hybrid cloud, only more so. Typically, a single organization uses an ever-changing mix of private and public clouds, hosted on-premises and off-premises, to provide them with the right balance of security, control, access, scalability, and cost.

So what does all that mean for you as a user? From your perspective, a private cloud is your environment. Your organization has full control over what’s on it, and only you are responsible for maintaining it, whether you own it yourself or rent it from a vendor.

Certainly! The three most important are described below:

You can also run a virtual private cloud hosted on a public cloud. This type of hybrid arrangement relies on the public cloud provider to isolate your cloud from everyone else. You still have sole control and responsibility over the private cloud, but often share the server space like a public cloud.

Another modified version of the private cloud, a managed private cloud, has your cloud run exclusively on a dedicated server. However, a third party is responsible for maintaining both your hardware and the integrity of your software.

Cloud automation is something else entirely. This is the process of managing the server environment automatically. An automated cloud handles scaling, resource configuration, and provisioning with little to no human oversight. An automated private cloud does the same for your private cloud environment.

Virtualization is a critical component of private cloud computing. This practice enables IT organizations to pool resources from multiple servers and create virtual replicas of operating systems, storage devices, networks, and more in an isolated environment within the cloud, to provide greater efficiency and maintain security for select organizations through which are not accessible to the general public. .

Private cloud servers offer organizations customized and secure computing environments, ideal for mission-critical tasks. Multiple sources pool resources to create a virtualization sandbox, keeping each organization’s data secure and separate from any other user group.

The management of private cloud servers depends on their official ownership, which can be maintained internally or hosted remotely by a professional cloud provider. Regardless, the decision ultimately comes down to who controls these critical environments and assets.

So how does a private cloud work and how does the service we offer operate? It all depends on the type of configuration you decide on. Most organizations exploring their private cloud options are interested in an infrastructure as a service (IaaS) or platform as a service (PaaS) model. We will talk about each one below.

IaaS is a model in which a provider provides a complete set of computing infrastructure to its users, usually remotely, and maintains it for them. This infrastructure can be ideal for running a private cloud, and combining a managed private cloud with the provisioned infrastructure is the perfect choice when you need high performance but cannot support on-premise private cloud architecture.

PaaS sees you provisioning, running, and managing a computing platform, such as a server, that is located offsite. It is suitable for public, private, and hybrid cloud applications.

The benefits of a managed private cloud architecture are clear: You get the control and security of a private cloud without having to maintain an entire server using internal resources. For example, Liquid Web’s managed private cloud offers enterprise-grade features and functionality to small and medium-sized businesses at affordable prices.

What makes the private cloud architecture private is the access to the data on the server. Only your organization can move anything on or off the server, making the entire cloud your playing field. Of course, you are also responsible for maintaining your security, so it is up to you how private and secure you really are.

Contact us to learn more about what you can do with a private cloud.