Despite popular belief, so-called "cloud computing" does not always involve putting your systems out on the open Internet for the world to see. In fact, the "private cloud" is gaining more and more traction as cloud computing matures.

What is a private cloud? First, let's talk about cloud computing in general. When most folks talk about cloud computing today, they are referring to the public cloud. The public cloud typically involves the provision of services, whether they be software, an operating environment or raw processing power. These services are accessed with simple computers, typically Windows-based PCs running a browser. These computers connect to the provisioned services over a relatively high-speed network, most commonly the Internet.

In a private cloud, businesses or government agencies provide their own services to internal users. Like the public cloud, these could be software applications or just computing platforms. Users connect to the services using their own PCs and typically use the internal network without ever going out on the Internet.

Why would any organization opt for this setup? For one, it's much easier for an IT department to support. Rather than specially configured PCs on every user's desk, all that is needed is a scaled-down PC with a browser. Make no mistake about it, any PC with even the most basic software is infinitely more difficult to maintain than a PC with just a browser.

Why not just use the public cloud? Many organizations continue to be wary of putting their sensitive information out on the World Wide Web.

Even seasoned IT professionals agree that the typical public cloud provider is more secure than the typical internal network, but the risk to many is simply too great. The big providers continue to look after big success stories, such as Los Angeles outsourcing its e-mail system to Google. Until more of these implementations succeed, however, conservative folks just won't go for a public cloud implementation.

What we are seeing is that many organizations are adopting a hybrid strategy for their cloud computing implementations. Sales and marketing information, for example, is put on the public cloud with nary a second thought. Human resources information, however, is kept on a private cloud.

We certainly believe that over time the public cloud will become the preferred option, especially as more and more get comfortable and security improves. Until that time, however, which could be five years or even 10, the private cloud will continue to be popular.


This article is republished with permission from a column that previously appeared in The Honolulu Star Bulletin (www.starbulletin.com) on May 23, 2010.

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