The term cloud computing covers a wide range of classifications, types, and architectural models. This network-based computing model has transformed the way we work. And yes, chances are you are currently using—or have used—cloud services.
What Is Cloud Computing?
Cloud computing is the practice of storing or accessing programs, applications, or data via the internet, instead of directly from the hard drive of a laptop, computer, tablet, or smartphone. Slightly different from the general term “cloud,” cloud computing can be categorized into three main types:
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Public cloud is cloud computing delivered over the internet and shared across multiple organizations or companies.
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Private cloud is cloud computing dedicated exclusively to your organization or company.
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Hybrid cloud is a combination of public and private cloud environments.
How Cloud Computing Works
Public cloud and private cloud share similar configurations. Both use various technologies to virtualize resources into shared pools, add administrative control layers, and enable automation functions. All of these processes together form a cloud environment.
A cloud is considered private when it is built on dedicated systems managed by the organization that uses it, while it is public when resources are shared with other users. Meanwhile, a hybrid cloud combines two or more interconnected cloud environments.
All these technologies must not only be integrated within the cloud to function properly, but also be connected to the consumer’s IT systems. This is what enables public cloud services to work effectively. Such connectivity depends heavily on the operating system. Virtualization, management, and automation software that form the cloud all run on top of an operating system. The consistency, reliability, and flexibility of the operating system directly determine how strong the connections are between physical resources, virtual data pools, management software, automation scripts, and end users.
When the operating system is open source and designed for enterprise use, the infrastructure not only relies on the cloud as its foundation, but also becomes flexible enough to scale efficiently.
Examples and Use Cases of Cloud Computing
There are many easy-to-understand examples of cloud computing that you have likely used either personally or professionally, such as:
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Document sharing tools like Dropbox, Google Docs, and Microsoft 365
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Social media and communication services such as Facebook, Twitter, Microsoft Teams, and Skype
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CRM and productivity management tools like Salesforce and Atlassian
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ITSM and ITOM software such as BMC Helix
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On-demand streaming services like Netflix, Sling, and Hulu
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Machine learning and big data analytics
What Is Public Cloud?
Public cloud refers to a cloud computing model where IT services are delivered over the internet. As the most popular cloud computing model, public cloud offers a wide range of solutions and computing resources to meet the growing needs of organizations and businesses.
Public cloud provides:
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High elasticity and scalability
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Relatively low costs due to subscription-based pricing
Public cloud services can be affordable, freemium, or subscription-based, where you are charged based on actual usage.
Public cloud functions range from general services like email and applications to enterprise-level operating systems and infrastructure used for software development and testing.
Public cloud providers are responsible for developing, managing, and maintaining pools of computing resources that are shared among multiple tenants across the network.
Public cloud is also commonly referred to as VPS (Virtual Private Server) in the hosting world. So if you’re wondering whether a VPS is a private cloud—don’t be mistaken. A VPS is actually a form of public cloud.
Indonesian Cloud offers several public cloud services you can consider:
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Indonesian Public Cloud
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AWS Public Cloud
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Azure Public Cloud
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IBM Cloud
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Alibaba Public Cloud
Advantages of Using Public Cloud
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Low initial investment: Minimal capital expenditure is required to maintain IT infrastructure.
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Technical flexibility: High scalability and flexibility to handle unpredictable workloads. Capacity and resources can scale quickly to meet user demand and traffic spikes.
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Focus on core business: IT complexity is reduced because the cloud vendor manages the infrastructure.
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Cost efficiency: Flexible pricing based on different Service Level Agreements (SLAs).
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Monitoring and analytics features: Organizations can collect valuable metrics on stored data and resource usage. Public cloud supports large-scale analytics across diverse data types to generate insights.
Public Cloud Architecture
Public cloud environments are fully virtualized and rely on high-bandwidth networks to deliver data. Providers operate multi-tenant architectures, allowing organizations to share infrastructure while using similar computing resources. Each organization’s data remains separated and isolated from others.
Cloud vendors operate services in isolated locations called availability zones, which consist of two or more interconnected data centers. Organizations can choose zones based on proximity to their target markets.
What Is Private Cloud?
Private cloud refers to cloud solutions dedicated to a single organization or company. In a private cloud, resources are not shared with other organizations.
Data centers are typically located and operated by vendors outside the organization’s premises. These data centers are isolated and accessible only through secure private networks. Private clouds can be customized to meet specific business needs.
With private cloud, organizations are fully responsible for managing and maintaining their infrastructure. However, private cloud can also be delivered as a managed private cloud, where deployment, configuration, and management are handled by the cloud vendor.
This option is ideal for organizations that lack sufficient IT staff or expertise. Managed private cloud allows companies to enjoy the benefits of private cloud without daily operational complexity.
Indonesian Cloud provides three private cloud solutions:
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Red Hat Private Cloud
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Nutanix Private Cloud
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VMware Private Cloud
Advantages of Using Private Cloud
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Exclusive environment: Secure and isolated infrastructure not accessible to other organizations
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Customizable security: Compliance with strict regulations through tailored security protocols
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Scalability: Capacity can be expanded by adding hardware resources such as SSDs or memory
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High performance: Reliable performance and strong SLA efficiency
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Flexibility: Infrastructure can be adjusted according to dynamic business needs
Why Choose Private Cloud?
Private cloud is ideal for IT leaders who want on-demand access to enterprise resources, particularly for security, budget, or regulatory reasons—commonly found in finance and healthcare industries.
These organizations often rely on encryption and firewall protocols, and private cloud adds an extra layer of protection through restricted access.
The decision to invest in private cloud depends on the workloads being supported. Resource-intensive workloads such as product development, research, and telecommunications are often best supported by private cloud.
What Is Hybrid Cloud?
Hybrid cloud is a cloud infrastructure that combines public and private cloud environments. For example, an organization might use private cloud for core IT systems while leveraging public cloud to handle occasional traffic spikes.
Another approach is using public cloud for non-sensitive data to reduce costs, while reserving private cloud for sensitive information.
Advantages of Using Hybrid Cloud
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Flexible deployment: Policy-based workload distribution across public and private environments
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Enhanced security: Public cloud scalability without exposing sensitive workloads
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High reliability: Consistent performance even when distributed across multiple data centers
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Cost control: Sensitive data remains on private cloud, while other workloads use more affordable public cloud
Which Cloud Should You Choose?
Choosing between public, private, or hybrid cloud depends on various factors such as usage, constraints, and business needs. In practice, many organizations use two or even all three cloud models simultaneously.
A well-planned strategy is essential to ensure optimal use of each cloud type. This can begin by evaluating workloads, data types, and prioritizing based on the pros and cons of each cloud model.
Three Cloud Service Models
Cloud computing enables businesses not only to scale computing resources massively, but also to reduce costs through shared infrastructure. In general, there are three cloud service models:
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Software-as-a-Service (SaaS)
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Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS)
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Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS)
Software-as-a-Service (SaaS)
In the SaaS model, software is paid for via subscription and hosted in the cloud provider’s data center. Microsoft Office 365 is an example, offering productivity and collaboration tools without requiring organizations to manage their own email servers.
Desktop applications such as Office Pro Plus can be installed via a web portal rather than physical media. Updates and bug fixes are automatically installed in the background.
Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS)
In PaaS, developers can build applications online using platforms provided by cloud vendors. Code is developed, stored, and deployed from the vendor’s data center, eliminating concerns about hardware, storage, or security.
For example, the game Angry Birds uses Google App Engine as its PaaS to scale automatically and support millions of users.
Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS)
In the IaaS model, organizations access computing power and storage using the cloud vendor’s hardware, while maintaining control over the infrastructure and operating systems.
The vendor is responsible for hardware management, capacity, and security, while the organization monitors application performance and scales resources as needed. Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure are leading providers of IaaS solutions.
That concludes our article on Public, Private, and Hybrid Cloud by Indonesian Cloud. We hope this article helps you choose the right cloud solution for your needs. To read more technology-related articles or learn more about Indonesian Cloud products, please visit Indonesiancloud.com and our VPS website cloudhostingaja.com. See you in our next article.