May 8, 2019
Businesses that migrate to the cloud have an easier time with a lot of today's technology-related frustrations, like accessibility, scalability, performance, management, and staying up-to-date.
Of course, migrating to the cloud isn’t always easy, and you’ll also have a big decision to make — which cloud?
Cloud Computing FAQs
In its simplest form, there are three types of cloud computing: public, private, and hybrid. We previously published a detailed breakdown of each of the three types of cloud computing. Today, we'll be covering some of the frequently asked questions our clients ask when they're trying to determine which one is right for their business.
1. Which Type of Cloud Computing Updates the Fastest?
The winner here is the public cloud. But here’s more context.
Public Cloud — Fastest
Cloud providers will push updates automatically, often multiple times per week. Your applications and infrastructure receive the latest security patches, performance improvements, and new features without any action required from your IT team.
Hybrid Cloud — Variable
Update timing will depend on which components you're using. Public cloud resources update automatically at the provider's pace, while your private infrastructure follows your internal schedule. You can test critical updates on private systems before deploying widely while benefiting from rapid public cloud improvements.
Private Cloud — Slowest
Your IT team will control the entire update process, from testing to deployment. Updates will depend on your internal resources and approval process, and many organizations will perform updates quarterly or monthly to minimize disruption.
2. Which of the Cloud Types Are Easiest To Maintain?
Public cloud wins this one hands-down for minimal maintenance requirements, but each model offers different levels of control and responsibility.
Public Cloud — Hands-Off Approach
Your cloud provider handles everything: server maintenance, security patches, hardware replacements, and infrastructure monitoring. Your IT team can focus on strategic initiatives instead of keeping systems running. It's like having a fully managed data center without the overhead.
Hybrid Cloud — Shared Responsibility
You get the best of both worlds, but with divided maintenance duties. The public cloud components require zero maintenance from your team, while private infrastructure needs traditional IT management. This approach works well when you need control over sensitive systems but want to reduce overall maintenance burden.
Private Cloud — Full Control, Full Responsibility
Your IT team manages every aspect: hardware maintenance, software updates, security patches, and system monitoring. While this requires significant internal resources, it gives you complete control over maintenance timing, security protocols, and system configurations.
3. What Are the Security Risks of Cloud Computing for Each Type?
This one’s complicated! Security strength will vary by deployment model, but success depends more on implementation quality than cloud type alone.
Private Cloud — Maximum Control
You maintain complete oversight of security protocols, data access, and compliance measures. Since infrastructure is dedicated exclusively to your organization, you can implement custom security frameworks tailored to your specific industry requirements. However, security effectiveness depends entirely on your internal IT expertise and resources.
Hybrid Cloud — Strategic Protection
This model lets you keep sensitive data on private infrastructure while leveraging public cloud benefits for less critical workloads. You can isolate confidential information behind your firewall and VPN while still accessing scalable public cloud services. The key is properly segmenting data based on sensitivity levels.
Public Cloud — Enterprise-Grade Standards
Major providers like Microsoft and AWS invest billions in security infrastructure that most organizations couldn't match internally. They offer advanced threat detection, compliance certifications, and 24/7 monitoring. However, you're sharing responsibility. They secure the platform while you secure your applications and data.
4. Which Type of Cloud Computing Is the Highest Performing?
This question has a clearer answer. Organizations that have a private cloud get the strongest network performance. In large part, this is due to the infrastructure specifications that can be built with just your company's needs in mind.
5. Which Type of Cloud Computing Is the Most Scalable?
It's important to choose a cloud that fits your company's growth plan. Whether you plan to grow your number of employees or number of services offered, public and hybrid clouds give you the best ability to meet the needs that come along with company growth.
Cloud Computing Services for Small Business
We've covered the ins and outs of cloud computing, but before you move forward with a cloud solution, it’s also important to know that quite a lot of businesses get a few things wrong when it’s time to migrate. Cloud migrations gone wrong are notorious for causing anything from data loss to business disruption. Our teams handle cloud migrations regularly, so they know how to avoid downtime, productivity loss, and budget creep.
If you know you’d like to take advantage of more cloud tools but would benefit from some expert help getting there, click the link below to browse the cloud services we offer.
