Infographic created by HotWire Networks, a web hosting company

Your company wants to move to the cloud. That’s great, but do you understand what you may be getting into? Tech professionals should know that even though it’s talked about as if there was only one type of cloud computing, the truth is a bit more complicated. As it turns out, there are a few different variants of what the cloud is. Each one of these variations comes with its own unique set of advantages and disadvantages, meaning you may need to do some homework before you decide on the best course of action for your organization. 

Most people are familiar with the public type of cloud, which means the infrastructure is owned and maintained by a third-party provider. However, there also exists a private cloud, in which the network is dedicated solely to one entity with no sharing of resources the same way a public cloud operates. A hybrid cloud model combines public and private networks to offer a greater degree of flexibility. 

The public cloud is the most popular type of model because it eliminates the need for companies to maintain their own information infrastructures. This comes with the caveat that they have less control and fewer customization options. The private type of cloud enhances security and allows companies to create the precise network architecture for their needs, but it is a significant investment. The hybrid model allows you to benefit from the best aspects of private and public cloud systems, but at the cost of requiring more attention and maintenance. 

Knowing all your options is important if you want your company’s cloud migration to have the most impact. What might be right for one business may not be for another. For more information about the various types of cloud networks, take a look at the accompanying resource.