Pros and Cons: Cloud Deployment Models

Cloud computing allows users to access software, data, and other services stored in online servers. Cloud deployment models offer varying types of virtual or physical infrastructure and access to resources, depending on users’ needs. For instance, you might need something simple for your small business’s cloud applications, or you could need to handle terabytes’ worth of data for your enterprise company.

There are several cloud deployment models that you can choose from. So whether you're mulling a migration or considering the benefits of the one you're using now, this article will examine deployment models through the lens of overall offerings, plus security and cost.

Cloud Deployment Models at a Glance

The cloud offers advantages to developers in deploying applications and data, because developers can allocate capacity from the cloud’s shared pool of resources rather than being limited to an in-house system. This permits greater scalability, elasticity, and enhanced management of a company’s IT services.

There are challenges in using cloud resources, however: 

• If a power failure or server crash occurs, a developer could lose all the instances of her application. 
• Various firewall settings or security policies could cause connectivity issues with internal networks. 
• Managing logins for multiple developers or team members becomes more complicated.

In response, many developers are seeking a way to more easily deploy applications into containers on public or private clouds. Below, we'll walk through the various cloud deployment offerings and weigh their pros and cons. 

Public Cloud Deployments

The public cloud is an architecture in which a third-party supplier manages on-demand technology services and infrastructure that are shared among numerous companies over the public internet. It is the most common type, relying on online-only servers and other resources provided by the third-party company. They increase the flexibility and convenience of IT procedures, because the fully internet-accessible storage doesn’t require much management. Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud Platform (GCP), and Microsoft Azure are the best examples of public cloud providers.

Pros

• Public clouds are easy to set up and the most convenient option, since all the management and services are handled by the service provider.
• Many cloud companies have a high level of customer support.
• Businesses can use public cloud storage to quickly scale up or down as needed.

Cons 

• Many cloud solutions only provide basic functionality with limited customization options.
• There may be a limit to the amount of resources you can consume.

Private Cloud Deployments

A private cloud is made up of cloud computing resources that are used by only one company or organization. It is hosted either on-site or through a third-party provider, and is quickly becoming the wave of the future. 

Pros

• The corporation is the sole owner and controls service integrations, operations, rules, and user behavior.
• Companies can tailor their solutions to meet specific needs. 
• Private clouds can accommodate legacy apps that aren’t compatible with public clouds.

Cons 

• Private clouds kept in-house may require a lot of maintenance.
• Sometimes the hardware has an impact on the application’s scalability when there is an unexpected increase in traffic.
• If the cloud data center is limited to on-premises resources, the infrastructure may not be equipped for unexpected traffic.

That limitation is of concern since the impact of cloud provider outages underscores how important reliability is to users. 

Hybrid Cloud Deployments

In a hybrid cloud deployment, workloads exist on both public and private clouds. Businesses generally use a hybrid deployment if they want some workloads to stay on-premises, but there are other reasons too.

Some applications, such as database software, need to exhibit the same level of performance regardless of where they run. With a hybrid deployment, organizations can keep one or more production workloads on-premises and still use the cloud for development and testing. This ensures their application never runs below a certain performance threshold.

Pros

• Hybrid cloud deployments offer adaptability, combining the best features of each cloud type.
• Businesses can choose which workloads should run in the cloud and which ones should stay on-premises.
• You can offer an environment combining both types of resources with minimal latency.
• Because you’re not bound by the constraints of any one platform, you can scale to meet the needs of your users.

Cons

• This model takes much more time to set up than traditional cloud models.
• Ensuring file compatibility across private and public clouds might be difficult.
• The hybrid model can be harder to implement and maintain.

Community Cloud Deployments

In a community cloud deployment model, specific related organizations—usually in the same industry or with the same goals—share access to the cloud infrastructure provided by one of the companies or by a third party. Benefits include savings on time, costs, and workload. 

Pros

• The infrastructure is shared by all the tenants, so choices are made cooperatively.
• Data is in closer physical access, but the system is less complex than a private cloud.
• The shared platform provides more opportunities for colleagues and companies to collaborate on goals.

Cons

• Because this model relies on finding companies with comparable criteria, it’s still less popular than other deployment models.
• Bandwidth and storage capacity might be an issue when numerous firms share the same resources.
• You get excellent performance with limited scalability.

Multi-Cloud Deployments

In the multi-cloud deployment model, organizations combine several public or private cloud vendors (such as Amazon, Microsoft, or Google), all managed through a common platform.

Pros

• This model allows businesses to embrace horizontal deployment models, meaning they can run applications across multiple platforms, instead of being restricted to one application that runs on a single hardware platform.
• Multi-cloud is an excellent storage and scalability solution since it allows organizations to scale their storage up or down in response to changing demand.
• It offers flexibility for developing products swiftly while making use of each cloud provider’s unique services.
• Multi-cloud providers offer a range of high-availability alternatives across data centers and geographical locations, so you have options when outages happen.

Cons

• Each cloud vendor uses different processes and billing systems and relies on different technological components, so it can be difficult to move apps and services from one cloud to another.
• Adding a second software vendor doubles the number of processes you’ll have to learn, and managing multiple clouds can be challenging. 

Security

Though cloud computing is increasingly used by consumers and businesses, these deployment models can also carry security risks. In this section, we'll look at some of the different security angles to be aware of with each deployment model. 

Public Cloud Deployments

Typical attacks on public cloud deployments include social engineering methods, through phishing websites or DNS entries, or brute-force login attempts using access tokens. In some instances, attackers use private cloud deployments to impersonate the cloud services of their target. This model doesn’t provide much protection from such attacks. 

• When compared to the private cloud model, security is low, making it inappropriate for sensitive data.
• To prevent contamination between customers using the same hardware on a public cloud, segmentation must be performed to the highest standard.
• Role-based access controls are simple to deploy in public clouds when compared to private clouds. 

Private Cloud Deployments

On-premises deployments typically require a physical boundary that separates networks from each other, so you can’t extend your network without adding a VPN gateway. This limits access and keeps your data more secure. 

• You can use as many security services as you like, including complicated passwords and mandatory password changes. This makes two-factor authentication significantly more secure.
• A private cloud allows you to configure your system to meet your company’s needs.
• Higher levels of authentication, API-enabled protection, and additional layers of security can be achieved with a private cloud.

Hybrid Cloud Deployments

Since hybrid clouds are a mix of public and private clouds, keep in mind that public clouds generally offer fewer security measures than private clouds (though some do provide as much security as their private counterparts). You need to be sure your sensitive data won’t be compromised. 

• You might keep email servers and databases on a private cloud.
• If data is properly distributed over the private and public clouds, your application will likely be more secure. 

Community Cloud Deployments

The community cloud model is newer and might not be a good fit for many enterprises. Because all data is stored in the same location, unauthorized users might be able to access it.

• This model is more secure if security regulations are aligned across all member organizations. 
• There might be security issues with a third-party vendor.

Multi-Cloud Deployments

This model requires a consistent, transparent solution across the entire cloud environment. 

• Each cloud provider’s vulnerabilities and remediations may differ.
• There should be a detailed overview of systems for monitoring, researching, and responding to threats.
• Human error, especially in access control and ID verification, can compound exposure points.
• Employees of a cloud service provider may have access to the company’s resources.
  

Cost

No matter which model you choose, cost will obviously be a factor. You need to consider the storage, hardware needs, and workflow involved in each choice. In this section, we'll run down some of the ways cost works with each model. 

Public Cloud Deployments

Though some businesses may be dubious about this option, a public cloud can be the most cost-effective model, and it’s not location-dependent. 

• Most providers offer a pay-as-you-go option, so you only pay for the services you use.
• SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS services can be accessed from any internet-connected device.
  

Private Cloud Deployments

Private cloud deployments are rapidly becoming the new standard for companies looking to improve their customer service, reduce downtime, cut costs, and improve their flexibility. 

• This is the most expensive model, requiring lots of resources and maintenance.
• Because of the costs—for hardware and personnel as well as other features—this model may better suit large businesses than small businesses.

Hybrid Cloud Deployments

While the cost of hybrid cloud hosting varies, it is common for businesses to operate apps on both private and public clouds. This is because many companies choose to host their applications in the public cloud only when they need them, rather than all year round. They divide their data into segments based on how sensitive data is and how much traffic will be present.

• This option is cheaper than a private model, but more expensive than a public one.
• If you’re not careful in selecting the proper services, you may overspend.
• The cost is determined by how workloads are distributed across public and private clouds.

Community Cloud Deployments

A community cloud may be owned and managed by a public or private organization, which offers users on-demand access to hosted computing resources. This lowers the infrastructure costs for individual members. 

• Costs are split among members. The resulting cost savings are this model’s biggest advantage. 

Multi-Cloud Deployments

Deploying different cloud environments allows service providers to take advantage of agility and cost savings. For example, some companies use multiple public clouds so they can purchase web servers or databases at lower costs

• Businesses can compare providers and secure lower rates based on their IT requirements.
• This model typically offers you a better negotiating position for expenses and contracts.
• However, finding and maintaining the needed programmers and architects may be difficult and add to your costs.

For an overall comparison of models, check out this Github table.

Conclusion 

Cloud computing is changing the way businesses operate as well as the way people manage their data. These different cloud deployment models offer various benefits and drawbacks depending on the size and specific needs of your business. As you look more closely at the options, you should be able to find the deployment model that best meets your business needs. 

If you're considering a cloud migration, learn how LaunchDarkly can help eliminate some of the risk, stress, and headaches for you in this guide or watch the video below.