What is Public Cloud?
Learn about the benefits and characteristics of public cloud environments.
Public cloud is a category of IT services platforms in which third-party providers deliver computing resources, data storage, applications, and/or services to multiple enterprises or individuals via the public internet. Public cloud infrastructure is shared by multiple users, companies, and clients in contrast to private cloud, in which resources are dedicated to one organization. Public cloud services are used by companies that need access to scalable compute or data storage resources and that want to reduce or eliminate costs for on-premises IT architecture and services.
Companies use public cloud services to deliver computing resources such as applications, data storage, or virtual machines. Public cloud services can help companies host workflows, store data, or develop and deploy applications.
The public cloud helps companies by enabling them to quickly and temporarily scale operations that require more computing power, shared resources, or data storage capacity without investing in hardware, software, and data-center space. When utilized efficiently, public cloud services can potentially provide lower IT overhead costs for certain needs when compared to on-premises IT infrastructure.
Public cloud services shift the responsibility for maintenance, security, and other technical support to the third-party cloud service provider. Instead of managing all their own IT systems with on-premises solutions, client companies can rely on public cloud services to manage, maintain, and upgrade the system architecture. Public cloud services do not necessarily replace a company's in-house IT footprint nor IT personnel, but they can supplement internal teams with additional computing power and resources.
Public clouds are designed to provide scalability and flexibility. Companies can use public cloud to quickly increase their usage of data and resources as the company's needs change or as the company grows.
Public cloud services provide companies with benefits that include:
There are several different ways to use public cloud services, depending on each organization's business goals. Some categories of cloud computing, such as Software as a Service (SaaS), Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), and Platform as a Service (PaaS) can be deployed via the public cloud.
The public cloud provides various options for flexible, scalable access to computing services and resources. Companies can use public cloud services to align their technology strategies with the right level of support, security, and access to computing resources. Organizations that want flexibility, scalability, and potential cost savings often benefit from public cloud services.