Ryan Oliveira

What are the types of cloud computing?

There are four main types of cloud computing: private cloud, public cloud, hybrid cloud, and multicloud. Additionally, there are three main types of cloud computing services: Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS).

The type of cloud or cloud service you should use is a personal choice. No cloud is the same as another, even when they are of the same type. Similarly, no two cloud computing services are used to solve the same problem. However, by understanding their similarities, you will be better informed about how the limitations of each type of cloud and services can affect your business.

What do clouds have in common?

Every cloud extracts, pools, and shares scalable computing resources over a network. They also enable cloud computing, which is the execution of workloads within this system. Clouds are created using a unique combination of technologies, almost always including an operating system, some type of management platform, and application programming interfaces (APIs). Additionally, it is possible to add virtualization and automation applications to all types of clouds to include more resources or achieve greater efficiency.

What is the difference between clouds?

In the past, the difference between public, private, hybrid, and multiclouds was easily defined by their location and ownership. However, this is no longer so simple. Below are their differences and some observations.

Public Cloud

Public clouds are cloud environments typically created on IT infrastructure not owned by the end user. Some of the largest public cloud providers are: Alibaba Cloud, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud, IBM Cloud, and Microsoft Azure.

Traditional public clouds were run off-premises. However, nowadays, cloud providers offer services in customers' on-premises data centers. As a result, location- and ownership-based distinctions have become outdated.

All clouds become public when environments are partitioned and redistributed to multiple tenants. Fee charging is no longer an essential feature of public clouds. Some cloud providers, like Massachusetts Open Cloud, allow tenants to use them for free. The bare-metal infrastructure used by public cloud providers can also be extracted and sold as IaaS or developed and marketed as PaaS.

Private Cloud

Private clouds are generally defined as cloud environments dedicated to a single end user. The environment is usually run behind that user’s firewall. All clouds become private when the underlying IT infrastructure is dedicated, and the customer has fully isolated access to it.

However, private clouds no longer need to be based on on-premises IT infrastructure. Nowadays, organizations are creating private clouds in leased data centers located off-premises. Thus, all rules about location and ownership are obsolete. This has also led to several subtypes of private clouds, including:

Managed Private Cloud

Customers create and use a private cloud deployed, configured, and managed by a third-party vendor. Managed private clouds are an option for companies with few employees or IT teams without the necessary qualifications to provide suitable private cloud infrastructure and services.

Dedicated Cloud

A cloud within another. It is possible to have a dedicated cloud within a public cloud or a private cloud. For example, you can deploy a dedicated cloud for the accounting department within the organization’s private cloud.

Hybrid Cloud

Hybrid cloud is a seemingly single IT environment created from multiple other environments connected by local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), virtual private networks (VPNs), and/or APIs.

Hybrid cloud characteristics are complex, and requirements can vary depending on who you ask. For example, a hybrid cloud may need to include:

• At least one private cloud and one public cloud
• Two or more private clouds
• Two or more public clouds
• A virtual or bare-metal environment connected to at least one public or private cloud

But any IT system becomes a hybrid cloud when applications can move across multiple different, but connected, environments. At least some of these environments must originate from consolidated IT resources that can be scaled on-demand. All these environments need to be managed as one through an integrated management and orchestration platform.

Multicloud

Multicloud is an approach composed of more than one cloud service and vendor, either public or private. All hybrid clouds are multiclouds, but not all multiclouds are hybrid clouds. Multiclouds become hybrid clouds when multiple clouds are connected by some form of integration or orchestration.

A multicloud environment can exist purposefully (for better control of sensitive data or as redundant storage space for enhanced disaster recovery) or accidentally (usually as a result of shadow IT). Certainly, having multiple clouds is becoming more common among companies seeking to improve security and performance in an expanded portfolio of environments.

Cloud Services

Cloud services consist of infrastructure, platforms, or software hosted by third-party vendors and made available to users via the internet. There are three main types of "as a service" solutions: IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS. Each facilitates the flow of user data from front-end clients to the provider's systems and back via the internet. However, what is offered varies.

IaaS - Infrastructure as a Service

In an IaaS solution, a cloud service provider manages the infrastructure for you (physical servers, network, virtualization, and data storage) using an internet connection. The user can access it through an API or dashboard and essentially rents the infrastructure. The user manages components like the operating system, applications, and middleware, while a provider supplies the hardware, network, hard drives, storage, and servers, also being responsible for fixing outages, making repairs, and solving hardware issues. This is the typical deployment model for cloud storage providers.

PaaS - Platform as a Service

In a PaaS solution, the hardware and an application platform are offered and managed by an external cloud service provider, but the user is responsible for taking care of the applications running on the platform and the data they rely on. Mainly for developers and programmers, a PaaS solution provides users with a shared cloud platform for developing and managing applications (an important component of DevOps) without them needing to build and maintain the infrastructure usually associated with these processes.

SaaS - Software as a Service

A SaaS solution is a service that delivers an application managed by the cloud service provider to users. Typically, SaaS applications are web or mobile applications that users can access through a browser. Updates, bug fixes, and other general software maintenance tasks are performed by the user, who connects to the cloud applications via a dashboard or API. The SaaS solution also eliminates the need to install the application locally on each user's computer, allowing better collective access methods (by groups or teams) to the software.

Frequently Asked Questions about Cloud Computing

Which cloud should I use?

It depends on the task you want to accomplish.

• Workloads with large volumes or fluctuating demands are best suited for the public cloud.
• Workloads with predictable usage patterns are best suited for the private cloud.
• Hybrid clouds encompass all these options, as any workload can be hosted anywhere.

Which cloud is the most secure?

This is a complex question.

• Public clouds tend to be vulnerable to a wider variety of security threats due to multitenancy and various access points. In public clouds, security responsibilities are generally divided. For example, infrastructure security may be the provider's responsibility, while workload security may fall to the tenant.
• Private clouds are considered more secure because workloads generally run behind the user's firewall. However, it all depends on their security capability.
• Hybrid cloud security consists of the best features of all environments. Thus, users and administrators can minimize information exposure by moving workloads and data between environments based on compliance, audit, policies, or security requirements.

Which cloud is the most economical?

This is another complex question.

• Generally, you pay for what you use in a public cloud. Some public clouds, like the Massachusetts Open Cloud, do not charge tenants.
• Those who set up a private cloud are typically responsible for purchasing or leasing new hardware and resources to scale it vertically.
• Hybrid clouds can include on-premises, off-premises, or provider clouds to create a custom environment suitable for your cost limits.

Which cloud has the best features?

This depends on how you want to invest your money. Do you want to incur capital expenses (CapEx) or operating expenses (OpEx)? This is the classic question of vertical scaling versus horizontal scaling.

• Public cloud users have a potentially unlimited number of resources at their disposal, but access to them is an operating expense.
• Deploying additional private cloud resources requires buying or leasing more hardware, which means a capital expense.
• Hybrid clouds offer you the option to use operating expenses to scale horizontally or capital expenses to scale vertically.

Why Choose Tucupy?

Tucupy is the ideal partner for your cloud journey. As a software company with extensive experience, we understand the complexities and specific needs of each business when migrating to and operating in the cloud. Here are some reasons to choose Tucupy:

• Technical Expertise: Our team of experts is highly skilled in all forms of cloud computing, including public, private, hybrid, and multicloud, as well as services like IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS.
• Custom Solutions: We understand that every business is unique. That's why we offer custom solutions that adapt to your specific needs, ensuring you get the maximum return on investment.
• Support and Maintenance: We provide continuous support and maintenance to ensure your cloud operations are always efficient and secure. Our team is available to quickly resolve any issues, minimizing downtime.
• Advanced Security: Security is a priority for us. We implement best security practices to protect your data and workloads, regardless of the type of cloud you choose.
• Cost Efficiency: We help you optimize operational costs, whether scaling horizontally in the public cloud or vertically in the private cloud. Our goal is to find the perfect balance between performance and cost.
• Easy Migration: Migrating to the cloud can be a complex process, but we simplify it for you. With our structured approach, we ensure a smooth and hassle-free transition.

Choosing Tucupy means opting for a partnership that not only facilitates cloud migration but also maximizes your productivity and security in the cloud environment. We are here to help you achieve your goals with effective and reliable cloud computing solutions.