What is a public cloud?

Is your company struggling with rising IT costs, the need to quickly scale your technical infrastructure or the desire to access cutting-edge technology? The answer to these needs may be the “public cloud.” You’ve certainly come across the term more than once, but do you really know what’s behind it? It’s a solution that is driving the digital transformation of companies around the world. We will explain to you how this model works and why it can be a game-changer for your business.

A few words about cloud computing: an introduction

Cloud computing, also known as Cloud Computing, is an operating model in which IT services are provided by a third-party provider. In this model, applications and data are stored on servers that are located outside the company’s local infrastructure. The cloud allows convenient access to resources from any location and device with Internet access, and the maintenance of the system is the responsibility of the provider.

Types of cloud models:

• Colocation – one of the oldest ways of using cloud services, which involves renting space in a server room. The customer has access to the technical infrastructure, such as power, internet connectivity and cooling systems.

• IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service) – a cloud service provider provides full hardware, software and maintenance services.

• PaaS (Platform as a Service) – enables the use of off-the-shelf platforms that are customized without the need to manage the infrastructure.

• SaaS (Software as a Service) – making specific software and its functions available without the need to purchase a license. The user pays only for the actual use of the service.

In many enterprises, the first step towards cloud solutions is to implement a private cloud, i.e. a dedicated IT environment in which resources from different locations are integrated with each other. Such a model guarantees greater flexibility and operational efficiency, and thanks to automated management systems, providers and users can freely order and configure the IT services they need according to demand.
In addition to this dedicated approach, there is an even more open and scalable model that has revolutionized access to IT resources. It is, of course, about public cloud services. What exactly characterizes this solution?

What is a public cloud?

Public cloud computing is a computing model in which a service provider makes IT infrastructure (servers, switches, Internet connections, etc.) available to a wide range of users. Customers do not have to invest in their own hardware or maintain an elaborate server room – they just pay for the resources used: virtual servers, disk space, computing power or applications.

The distinguishing feature of the public cloud is that resources are shared, so multiple customers can run on the same infrastructure. It’s a solution that is flexible, scalable and accessible via the Internet. In advanced configurations, it is also possible to connect the cloud directly to the customer’s infrastructure, such as through a dedicated fiber-optic link, thereby increasing security and performance.

Public cloud vs. private cloud – differences

In private cloud computing, the IT infrastructure is dedicated to only one organization, which can build it on its own or rent it exclusively. In a public cloud, the IT infrastructure is shared by multiple users (organizations and individuals), and the cloud service provider is responsible for its maintenance. It provides computing power, disk space, applications and other services on a pay-as-you-go or subscription basis.

Key features of the public cloud

The public cloud has completely revolutionized the way companies and private users access digital resources. Wondering how this model can support your business needs? The possibilities are quite substantial!

High availability

Public clouds are designed with a lot of redundancy – every piece of infrastructure (server, disk, switch) is duplicated, so if one server fails, your virtual machine is automatically moved to another working server – no downtime.

Scalability

Do you need more RAM, more disk space or a more powerful processor? Cloud computing allows you to customize your work environment according to your needs. With just a few clicks, you can get the effect you want – and without physical hardware modifications.

Speed of deployments

Setting up a virtual machine is a matter of minutes. You don’t have to buy a server, transport it to a server room or configure it. In the cloud, everything happens online – with just a few clicks you can create databases, upload files and use disk space.

Automatic backups

The cloud allows backups on a minute, hourly, daily or weekly basis. Recovering data from a backup is also one click – convenient and fast. Even though you don’t have your own IT infrastructure, you don’t have to worry about losing valuable data.

Full virtualization

Public cloud computing is not just servers. It’s a whole virtual ecosystem: from firewalls (including modern Web Application Firewalls), to routers, switches, to load balancers and object storage spaces (e.g. S3).

Security

The modern cloud computing model uses advanced security mechanisms, such as application firewalls and encrypted connections. Combined with dedicated connections (e.g., fiber optics), the level of security can surpass traditional local server rooms.

When is it a good idea to use the public cloud?

The public cloud is used in almost every industry. It is used by:

• E-commerce companies (e.g., to operate online stores),

• accounting offices (e.g., accounting systems),

• Manufacturing and logistics companies (integration with ERP),

• Software houses and development teams (testing and staging environments),

• Startups and medium-sized enterprises that want to scale without large capital expenditures.

For very small websites or simple applications, the public cloud may be too elaborate and expensive a solution. In that case, it’s better to start with simpler hosting, and move to the cloud over time as the business begins to scale.

Flexible billing models

One of the biggest advantages of the public cloud is the “pay-as-you-go” model. You only pay for what you actually use – on a minute, hourly or monthly basis. You don’t have to worry about redundant infrastructure that costs money but isn’t used.

Testing and development opportunities

Many companies – including ITH – offer the opportunity to test the cloud at no cost. This is a great opportunity to see if a solution will work for your business. Development, test or even production environments can be set up with no startup investment.

Automation and integration with existing infrastructure

The public cloud can be managed in an automated way – through an API. This allows you to create new machines, implement changes or integrate solutions with existing infrastructure. What’s more, the cloud can become the IT center of your company – offices, warehouses or factories connect to it.

Bottom line: is it worth choosing the public cloud?

Flexibility, cost-effectiveness and security – these are the three most important reasons that cloud technology is marking a new era in the business world. It is not just an IT tool, but an entire platform that enables rapid development, easy testing of ideas, increased availability of systems and savings on infrastructure costs.

You don’t have to be an IT expert to enjoy the benefits of the public cloud. If you want to test how it works – contact us and take advantage of the trial version. This could be the first step to your company’s digital transformation. Do you have questions about private cloud, hybrid clouds or public cloud connectivity? We will be happy to dispel any doubts!