A private cloud is one of the two types of cloud computing (the other is public cloud) with a separate and secure cloud-based environment where only one specific user/client can operate.

Just like with other cloud models, the ‘private cloud’ models also offer computing power as a service within a virtual environment that contains a pool of physical computing resources. However, in the ‘private’ cloud model, the pool of resources (cloud) is offered ONLY to a single organization/client offering them a greater control and privacy.

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What makes up a private cloud?

From technical point of view, it is very hard to define what makes up a private cloud because the technical system used to offer the difference services that can be categorized as being ‘private’ cloud services can significantly.

Rather, such services as categorized by the features that they provide to their user.

Two traits (features) that differentiate private cloud from other models include:

• the ring fencing of a cloud for the sole use of an organization, and …
• higher level of network security.

Private cloud services are just the opposite of public cloud services. In public cloud services, more than one clients/users access virtualized services, all drawing their resources from the same pool of servers stationed across public networks.

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Whereas in public cloud services, client draw their resource from a particular pool of physical servers that may be hosted externally or internally, and may be accessed via private leased lines or secure encrypted connection through public networks.

The ring fence cloud model offers additional security for any organization that needs to store and process sensitive data or carry out confidential tasks. For example, a financial company can use a private cloud service to store their important data internally, while still benefiting from some of the features of cloud computing , such as the on-demand resource allocation.

The private cloud model is very similar to the ‘traditional’ local access network (LAN) model used by past organizations but with an added benefit of virtualization.

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Here are the features and benefits of using a private cloud:

1. Offers high level of security and privacy: – Though public cloud services also offers a certain degree of security to any organizations using it, but private cloud services – using security techniques such as delivering a pool of resources with restricted access to connections made from a dedicated leased line, behind organization’s firewall, and/or internal hosting – can make sure that sensitive transactions are kept out of the reach of online hackers.
2. Offers a highly personalized network solution: – Since only a single user (organization) is given access to a private cloud, that company will have the benefit of configuring and managing their IT infrastructure inline to create a highly personalized network solution, offering a greater control.
3. Offers a cost saving and reduce carbon footprint:– By implementing a private cloud model, a company/business can improve the allocation of their resources within their firm by making sure that all the resources are readily available to individual/departments that needs it. Although, a private cloud service is not as cost-effective as a public cloud due to smaller economies of scale, they make better use of the computing resources than the ‘traditional’ LAN models as they reduce the investment into unused capacity.
4. Enhances reliability of resources: – Even though cloud resources such as servers and networks are hosted internally, the virtualization of these resources means that the network and servers are more reliable to individual failures across the physical infrastructure. For example, virtual partitions can pull their resources from the remaining undamaged servers.
5. Cloud bursting: – Some cloud service providers may offer a chance to deploy cloud bursting, within a private cloud model, in case the demand for resources spikes up dramatically. In this case, the provider can switch certain non-sensitive (non-important) tasks to a public cloud in order to give more space in the private cloud for the critical functions that needs it. You can integrate a private cloud with a public cloud services to create a hybrid – related article: What is a Hybrid Cloud? – where non-critical tasks are allocated to the public cloud to increase the efficiencies of the other.

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