What is a Public Cloud Deployment Model?

Public cloud, also known as external cloud, is a form of cloud computing that involves a third party providing end customers with access to the computing resources they require, such as servers, applications, and storage space, through the Internet. Public cloud services operate on a ‘pay-as-you-go’ basis.

Think of it as renting an apartment and living there without the maintenance obligation. Some public cloud providers are Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP).

The main cloud deployment models are the public cloud, private cloud, and hybrid cloud. Every model is geared towards the needs and demands of a certain group of users. The public cloud offers shared resources for cost efficiency, the private cloud provides dedicated resources for enhanced control, and the hybrid cloud combines both for flexibility. The ideal model for your organization depends on specific requirements like security, budget, and desired level of control.

Public cloud differs from on-premise infrastructure by ownership, payment structure, flexibility, assistance, and openness. Therefore, while public cloud resources are owned and run by the third-party CSP, on-premise resources are owned and run by the actual company. This results in variations in costs, scalability, and responsibilities.

Public cloud is a cloud computing model where a third-party provider delivers computing resources with shared infrastructure and easy scalability of resources.
However, in public cloud environments, data is stored across multiple servers in data centers owned and managed by cloud service providers (CSPs), where users lack direct control over these servers and less control over the underlying infrastructure compared to on-premise solutions.

Some of the leading public cloud solutions include AWS, Azure, and GCP. Their services include:

• Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS):  Virtual machines, storage as well as networking.
• Platform as a Service (PaaS): Cloud-based solutions for application development and deployment.
• Software as a Service (SaaS): Applications stored on the cloud (such as Salesforce, Dropbox, and others).

Visit AWS, Azure and GCP websites to look for more information on the options tailored to your organization’s needs.