Types Of Cloud Environment – A Simple Overview (2021)

Introduction

In the era of technology, the cloud environment is important as well as a versatile term. Cloud is a concept that includes cloud servers, cloud-based, cloud storage, cloud infrastructure, cloud computing, etc. The cloud environment architecture enhances the available storage capacity and processing power of the hardware to assist the cloud service provider to create a consolidated and powerful computing network accessible through the internet.

1. What is a Cloud computing environment?
2. Types of cloud environment

1) What is a Cloud computing environment?

Cloud environment is a very broad term that includes a collection of services offered to enterprises for enhancing their functionality and IT capacity. The major feature of the cloud environment setup is that it centralizes resources and improves business efficiency. This enables mobilization for the workforce and facilitates remote workstations and working possible

Specific characteristics of the cloud computing environment can be briefed as follows:

• On-demand self-service
• Broad network access
• Resource pooling and multi-tenancy
• Rapid scalability and elasticity
• Measured service

2) Types of cloud environment

Different types of cloud services also called cloud deployment are categorized for the convenience of the users. Cloud coding environment describes the implementation of the cloud platform, access, and hosting of the same. The users can select from the popular types of cloud environment based on their specific requirements and according to where and when they want to use the cloud model:

1.) Public cloud

Public clouds have immense storage space and that turns into easy scalability. The public cloud companies provide infrastructure as well as services that can be shared by all the customers. The Advantages of multi-tenancy in a cloud computing environment are extremely beneficial for companies such as Google, Microsoft, or Amazon. If the applications are designed portable they can also be deployed to the private cloud for production.

Pros

• Versatile
• Pay as you Go
• Cost-efficient
• Built-in redundancies
• Realized disaster management plan

Cons

• Cloud environment provider has the entire control
• There is a risk of security vulnerability

2.) Private cloud

Private cloud providers are normally preferred by a single business organization with a high regulatory requirement. Under this kind of cloud environment only authorized users are permitted to utilize, access, or store data. Private cloud is a complete on-premise cloud normally behind firewalls

Pros

• High and essential security and control
• Access to valuable assets is restricted
• Portable data
• The risk of downtime is comparatively lesser

Cons

• Lesser economical model
• The consumer owns the infrastructure and software

3.) Hybrid cloud

A combination of private and public clouds is a hybrid cloud. This kind of multi-cloud environment is designed for enterprises that require features of both the cloud environment. The applications are well designed to allow both platforms to interact and run seamlessly with high portability amongst both platforms. 

Cloud bursting has a private cloud for storing data and proprietary applications. However, when the traffic and the demand increases, this model then ports to a public cloud model to supplement the private cloud model

In the other kind of hybrid cloud, most of the data and applications are in a private cloud environment. The non-critical and lesser important applications are outsourced to the public cloud. This kind of arrangement is normally preferred by organizations that require specialized development tools, CRM platforms, basic productivity software, etc

Pros

• Highly scalable and flexible
• Cost-efficient
• Enhanced security

Cons

• Network-level communication and connectivity gets hampered
• Performance risk prevails

4.) Community cloud

The community cloud environment is a lesser popular environment. This kind of environment can be specified as a multi-tenant, collaborative platform where multiple entities share the same application. The consumers may belong to the same industry or share the same concerns such as performance, compliance, and security. It is a strategically private cloud performing like a public cloud environment. Financial services firm, healthcare organizations, governmental agencies, etc prefer this kind of set up

Pros

• Better scalability
• Cost-efficient
• Compliance with industrial regulations is ensured
• Interests of the group are preferred and implemented
• Highly flexible system

Cons

• Issues in the inter-cloud environment such as performance, prioritization, etc
• Risk of data security 

5.) Multi-cloud model

This is a more complex hybrid cloud environment, where there are multiple public cloud services that combine with the private cloud environment. This arrangement is recommended when a single public cloud is not capable to cater to the requirements

Pros

• Specialized and versatile
• Highly flexible
• Cost-efficient

Cons

• Risk of data security
• May create confusion in handling

Conclusion

The cloud computing environment has brought a drastic and significant change in the ways the business needs are adhered to. However, it becomes vital to understand how to simulate the cloud environment. Identifying and understanding the appropriate type of cloud environment can definitely create ample opportunities and derive tremendous business results. Having said all this it is very important to identify and select the appropriate type of cloud environment and from a reliable cloud service provider.

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