Cloud infrastructure is a fast-growing segment of the technology industry. Organisations of all sizes and industries are placing a high degree of trust in cloud computing, with 48% of businesses choosing to store classified data on the cloud.
In the face of its rapid growth, it can be difficult to keep track of all the different cloud infrastructure offerings available. There are many different types of cloud services, but what should you look for when choosing?
What is cloud infrastructure?
Cloud infrastructure is the framework used to host services in a cloud environment. Cloud infrastructure includes network hardware, data storage, operating systems, and software tools used to create and manage cloud environments.Â
When you use cloud infrastructure, you are renting the system and hardware used to run your service, but you don’t have the same level of customisation that is possible with a traditional, on-premises system.
Benefits of cloud infrastructure
Cost-effective: Cloud is generally cheaper than a traditional, on-premises setup. You don’t have to buy the hardware up front and can pay for it as you use it. This allows most providers to charge much lower prices than what is typically charged for an on-premises solution.Â
Flexibility: Cloud infrastructure can be easily modified to accommodate changing demand by simply adding more resources or using more powerful resources. This makes it a good fit for organizations that experience high levels of fluctuation.Â
Scalability: A cloud solution can easily be scaled to increase capacity during peak times and then scaled back down during off-peak times. This allows organisations to minimize costs by only paying for resources during times when they are actually needed.
Speed: It’s easier to scale up or down your infrastructure as needed because most providers offer auto-scaling functionality. This means you can quickly adapt to changes in demand without needing to manually scale resources.
Cloud service options
Infrastructure as a Service
Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) is one of the most popular types of cloud services. With IaaS, businesses rent cloud servers that they can use to store their data. They also have the option to install their own software on those servers.Â
With this type of cloud service, the businesses don’t manage the servers. The cloud service provider is responsible for managing the hardware and giving the customer access to the servers via the internet.Â
Businesses pay a set fee each month for their virtualised server. One of the biggest advantages of IaaS is that it’s scalable. The cloud service provider can increase or decrease the number of servers as needed.
Software as a Service
SaaS provides applications that are hosted on a third-party server. This may include email, customer relationship management (CRM), human resource management (HRM), accounting, or other commonly used applications. SaaS applications are built using third-party hardware and software.
SaaS providers host the software on their servers and give customers access to it via the internet. They typically charge a set fee per user per month.
Platform as a Service
Platform as a Service (PaaS) offers businesses a ready-made platform. It typically provides a set of tools with a database and integrates it into a single platform.Â
PaaS offerings enable businesses to quickly develop and deploy applications with a variety of development languages, databases, authentication systems, and operating systems.Â
This service is an especially ideal solution for businesses that want to focus on their core competencies, or for start-ups that don’t have the resources to build a custom application.
Cloud model options
Private cloud
A private cloud is a type of computing infrastructure that allows companies to host their own servers and storage on-premises. It provides additional security, flexibility, and control over the resources they use.
The private cloud is a virtualised environment that can be used by multiple users at the same time. The user’s data are stored in secure containers that are hosted on the same physical hardware as the other services running in the private cloud. These containers are designed to run independently of each other, so no one person has access to another user’s data without permission from them.
Public cloud
Public cloud is a type of cloud computing which is shared by many users and organisations. It can be accessed through internet and is usually considered as a cheaper option than private cloud. There are many public cloud providers, such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform.
Public clouds are becoming more popular because they provide an easy way for companies to start their own infrastructure without investing in expensive hardware or software.
Hybrid cloud
A hybrid cloud is a combination of the traditional on-premises cloud services and the public cloud. They provide better flexibility, scalability, and security for organisations of all sizes.
The adoption of hybrid clouds has increased due to the benefits it provides to businesses. It helps them save money and time by reducing data centre costs, allowing them to scale up or down according to business needs, and providing greater flexibility in terms of infrastructure choices.
What cloud infrastructure should you choose?
Private clouds have many benefits, but they aren’t always the best option. Depending on your business needs, public or hybrid cloud may be a better choice.Â
Cost is a major factor in determining whether or not you should use a private cloud. If the cost of setting up and maintaining your own private cloud isn’t significantly lower than the cost of using a public cloud, you should probably use a public cloud.
The cloud experts at Steadfast Solutions can help you decide what type of cloud infrastructure will work best for your business, and can take care of the entire process: from migration, to monitoring and management, to data backups, and more.