Private Cloud vs. Data Centre: What's the Right Fit for You?

Understanding cloud options isn't simple. While the term cloud means "moving complex computing workloads off premises," your options aren't as simple as cloud versus not-cloud. While cloud is here to stay, when it comes to picking the right kind of cloud, your options are different than they were just last year.

In this blog post, you'll learn about the complex definitions behind private clouds and data centres. Ultimately, you'll learn how to make sense of your options and the factors to consider when evaluating choices. Our goal is to help you choose the data hosting option that's right for you.

What's the Difference Between Private Clouds and Data Centres, Really?

Private clouds aren't necessarily an alternative to data centres. At a core level, they're both extensions of the same virtualisation technology that separates your workload from your technology. Both options include many of the same benefits, including quick scalability, the ability to easily provision resources, and business continuity.

Ultimately, the term data centre is most commonly applied to mean "public cloud" at a provider's data centre, while private cloud denotes dedicated infrastructure. This dedicated infrastructure may occur on-premises or with the help of a provider who offers this option.

While there are complex factors that can inform a decision between public or private cloud, one of the most common is whether a client's business model or compliance requirements dictate dedicated infrastructure.

This is important:

The decision between public and private cloud isn't a "this or that." It's actually a decision between available options for managing your workload, which includes on-premises, colocation, private data center arrangements, and public cloud.

Your workload, security, compliance, and elasticity needs should dictate whether or not you require dedicated infrastructure and which setting is the best for either dedicated or non-dedicated infrastructure.

Confused? That's normal. We'll dive deeper into the differences and available options below.

• Long-term storage,
• Large-scale data storage,
• Seasonally-impacted web applications,
• Mission-critical web applications,
• Applications with uncertain demand, and
• Testing environments.

Your workload might be a better candidate for a private cloud if:

• Your compliance requirements dictate dedicated infrastructure,
• You have extremely high-performance needs,
• You need to maintain a homegrown or infrequently-used application, or
• Demand is predictable.

Is Private Cloud vs. Data Centre Better?

The type of workload is a huge factor in determining whether or not you need dedicated infrastructure, as well as the best setting for that infrastructure. However, it's not the only factor. Consider the following:

1. On-Premises vs. Provider

Since the concept of "private cloud" can encompass on-premises deployment, a critical first step in evaluating the right fit for your business is whether an on-premises deployment or a provider is the right choice for you.

Factors that can affect on-premises versus provider selection can include:

• Staffing,
• Need for Control,
• Proximity to Providers
• Real Estate,
• Redundancy,
• Equipment, and
• Cost Investment.

2. Colocation vs. Private Cloud vs. Public Cloud

If you decide you lack the resources to create an effective private cloud environment on-premises, you should also evaluate the option of using a provider's data centre for colocation.

Factors that can affect whether you should consider colocation or a provider's services are similar to on-premises versus provider, without the considerations of real estate and related costs (such as heating, cooling, and redundancy).

3. Elasticity Needs

Any cloud deployment requires an in-depth understanding of workload demands. Ultimately, the right infrastructure is strong enough to handle your peak loads without wasting capital resources.

Purchasing too many dedicated resources can lead to unnecessary costs. Mapping your workload demand is the most effective way to really understand your needs, which can dictate whether dedicated equipment via private cloud is necessary or cost effective.

If you're concerned about your ability to accurately predict workload demands, that's okay. The right cloud services provider has the expertise on staff to help with these calculations.

4. Security and Compliance

If your organisation isn't required by applicable regulations to invest in dedicated infrastructure, your choice between private cloud and data centre should still include attention to security.

Maximising security and compliance requirements aren't necessarily simple, either. If your organisation doesn't have the ability to meet regulatory requirements on-premises or with colocation, public cloud may be safer due to knowledgeable staff and data centre certifications.

Is Private Cloud or Data Centre Better?

If you're thinking about your workload in terms of data centre versus private cloud, you've probably figured out that the answer is "well, it depends." Data centre vs. private cloud can take many forms, which include:

• On-Premises deployments,
• Hiring a colocation provider,
• Hiring a public cloud provider, or
• Hiring a private cloud provider.

The term "data centre" can encompass both dedicated and non-dedicated infrastructure, while on-premises deployments are typically dedicated infrastructure. In deciding between these factors, you should consider workload needs, price points, elasticity demands, security/compliance, and other factors.

Making Sense of Cloud Options

As adoption of virtualisation technologies continues to soar, the amount of options available for business data storage is increasing, too. Talking to a cloud expert can be a smart first step when determining whether you should look into a data centre or private cloud and which setting is the best fit for your needs.

To receive a complimentary consultation from one of VpsCity's staff experts, please click here to start a conversation today.

Our Data Centres Designed To Meet Your Business Needs

Our facility has been built to exacting standards and provides a resilient environment with security, power and extensive connectivity for all your mission-critical hosting needs. A wide range of value added managed services are also available.

Built and operated to provide a resilient and always-available hosting environment. We understand that outsourcing mission-critical IT systems involves trust and this governs the principles on which we design and maintain our data centre. As such it is built to the highest industry standards, offer high levels of physical and environmental resilience and are protected against fire and power outages.

Our Private Cloud

Our fully managed private clouds are supported by scores of certified experts for each platform we provide, in addition to around-the-clock proactive monitoring by our support staff. We offer a cost-effective, virtualised environment, designed and built for your specific business needs. We also offer managed support with the ability to provide on-demand scaling. Our cloud platform provides your company with a reliable, easily scalable and secure cloud — without costly vendor lock-in.

Deliver features faster by providing your users with on-demand, self-service access to infrastructure. Get the enhanced security of dedicated, physically isolated network, compute and storage layers. Customise the dedicated compute, storage and networking components to best suit your needs. Gain performance advantages over public cloud, with dedicated resources for your business.

Is a Data Centre or Private Cloud Right for Your Workload?

Workload, along with costs and compliance, is often a driving factor in determining whether an organisation opts for a private cloud or data centre deployment.

Workloads that are typically thought of as a good candidate for a data centre setting include: