If your company is in the middle of transitioning to the services of cloud managed service providers, you will have a lot to consider, including how much to pay for your services and how much storage you’ll need. However, you must also take into account whether you’d like your cloud to be public or private. Both of these types of cloud storage setups have their benefits and disadvantages, which makes evaluating which of them is best for your company vital. To help you make the most informed decision, we’ve put together the basic facts.
What Is the Private Cloud?
Private cloud storage means you will have your storage completely to yourself. Your network, storage space and cloud hardware are all completely dedicated to you and your company. If your company is larger, this option may be the best for you because it delivers more security than a public cloud. Here are some of the things a private cloud can offer.
- Your cloud hardware can serve more than one purpose. If your company relies on specialized databases for organization, you can leverage your cloud environment to provide an alternative location to host databases.
- You have much higher security. Private clouds are built especially for you, meaning you can request as many security measures as you like to keep your data safe. You can even set limits on who can access which pieces of data.
- Your private cloud is made for you. Every aspect of your company’s cloud storage can be tailored to your needs because your company will be the only users.
- There are compliance benefits. By nature, public clouds cannot meet HIPAA, PCI or Sarbanes Oxley requirements. However, since your company’s private cloud is occupied by no one else but you, you can meet these standards with little trouble.
What Is the Public Cloud?
Public clouds are the most commonly used type of cloud storage by companies and individuals alike. When you choose to use a public cloud, you are essentially paying to use a small portion of a cloud storage company’s server. Public clouds potentially are the ideal backup solutions for small businesses. Here’s why.
- You have more control. Public clouds often have many users at once. If you choose to use a public cloud, you will have to set up and manage everything independently. This means you have full control over how you want your cloud to run, if this appeals to you.
- Public clouds are less expensive. When you sign up for a public cloud, you can simply pay based on your allotted space.
- You won’t have to deal with hardware. The cloud storage company will provide the hardware for you, which means you will have to work with whatever they have available. This can either be a plus or a detriment.
- There is no obligation. You can use your cloud storage for as long as you want, with no hassle when you decide to quit using a service.
At Single Point of Contact, we offer 24/7 computer support for our clients. If you want more information on how to choose the best cloud service for your company, contact us.
