Cloud deployment models: Key pros and cons of each model 

According to Statista, the global cloud computing market is worth some 600 billion in 2024. The steady growth doesn’t slow down, leading to active demand.  

The increase in demand has led to several varieties of cloud deployment models offering different rates of scalability, convenience, performance, privacy, and cost. It’s not always clear which one is more suitable for business.  

Possessing fundamental knowledge in these matters, DICEUS decided to explain the main deployment models of cloud computing in more detail. We hope this will help you make the right choice.  

What is cloud deployment? 

Deploying an application today does not exclusively require physical infrastructure. Cloud services allow you to receive both a server and data storage that can be used for personal needs. Distributed systems combining the power of a large number of computers, grid computing, and virtualization ultimately provide more possibilities. 

The cloud deployment model is the backbone of cloud system implementation. It is a diagram of how users interact with resources and network infrastructure located in different locations. It determines where the servers you use are located, who manages them, what you can change yourself, and whether you provide services or have to build them yourself.  

In essence, the shape and size of a model are dictated by the cloud infrastructure’s purpose and rate of availability. 

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What is a cloud deployment model?

Cloud deployment models enable businesses, enterprises, and entrepreneurs to launch software projects fast, at flexible costs, without the strict need for hardware or commonly related technologies. A virtual software foundation is available online, and the cloud environment allows the building of essential apps and entire digital business infrastructures. The extent of its operations depends only on the chosen cloud deployment types.  

At DICEUS, we consult you on how to’s and help set up a private cloud, join or launch a public cloud, or achieve a cost-effective hybrid cloud solution to back up a project, startup, or whole business cloud infrastructure. We cover all aspects of cloud computing deployment models, guiding the choice of the best-fitting cloud model, assisting cloud migration, handling multi-cloud deployment, empowering the setup of your own data centers, and providing more cloud offerings.  

What cloud computing deployment routes are there?

The essential models differ in managing, owning, and handling security protocols and access control specifics. Previously, only four deployment models of cloud computing used to be defined. Today, we have five schemes to tackle. 

Public cloud  

A public cloud is a free-use infrastructure or cloud hosting providing open access to systems and services. Vivid instances are Amazon EC2, IBM Cloud, Google App Engine, Microsoft Azure, etc. 

Service providers own the infrastructure, so users do not need to buy and maintain their hardware. Vendors offer resources as a service with pay-as-you-go tariffs, all working online. And you can scale these resources as needed. 

This is the best choice for businesses operating in low-privacy industries. 

Advantages

Cost efficiency 

• No need for physical hardware maintenance expenditures 
• The pay-as-you-go approach gives more budget control and flexibility 

Simple scaling 

• Public clouds provide scalability where resources can be scaled in line with shifting demands 
• No hardcoding, refactoring, or other manual interventions required 

Collaborative benefits 

• Public clouds can be accessed remotely at any time, even offline 
• Boosted data availability due to centralized data storage 

Reliable uptime 

• Powered by multiple well-maintained data centers, public clouds are mostly downtime-free 
• There are automated backups and failover features in place 

Legal compliance 

• The cloud service provider handles legal questions and keeps up with industry standards 

Maintained security 

• Cloud providers also handle updates, patches, and upgrades for security 

Simple integrations 

• Add-ons and extra features are easily added by dragging and dropping them 

Disadvantages 

Limited control 

• A cloud user don’t have full control over the whole cloud environment-based infrastructure 

Possible security issues 

• Storing sensitive data in the publicly available cloud may be risky 

Service disruptions 

• Though less prone to downtime, breakdowns, and technical issues still may happen on the provider’s side 
• In case of an issue, the only thing a cloud user can do is wait 

Long-term expenses 

• While you are saving overhead and short-term expenses, long-term public cloud usage may be more expensive comparably 
• There may be hidden or hard-to-detect costs accumulating 

Vendor lock-in 

• Cloud migration to a new environment (another type or to another provider) can be problematic due to vendor lock-in 

Customization boundaries 

• Public cloud environments cannot be modified and expanded precisely how you like 
• There is also a specific performance limit, so highly demanding computing operations are not for public clouds 

Private cloud 

From a technical point of view, there is practically no difference with the public model. The defining nuance is that the private cloud system is used by only one organization. The systems and services are only made available to authorized users. The cloud has higher security standards and is controlled by the IT departments of the same company. It is a great solution for businesses with high data security requirements. 

Advantages 

Fine-tuned security 

• As a cloud user and owner, you gain control over security protocols 

Full data privacy 

• Only authorized users can access sensitive data, which is stored either on-premises or in a protected environment 

Customizability 

• A private cloud environment can be shaped, optimized, and customized to the user’s desire 
• A cloud user gains full control of integrations, configurations, and overall software structure 

Peak performance 

• It is easier to maximize the performance of a single, in-house managed, internal cloud 
• Performance configurations and resource allocation can be fine-tuned 

Long-term cost efficiency 

• Once stabilized in use and maintenance, a private cloud can become quite profitable in the long term, especially considering its ROI potential 

Legacy software support 

• With full-on control of changes, private clouds can be integrated with legacy solutions unsupported by public clouds 

Disadvantages 

Upfront and other expenses 

• A business infrastructure powered by a private cloud requires a felt initial investment 
• Cloud maintenance, support, optimization, and upgrades all form ongoing costs 

Labor-intensive scaling 

• You may need to purchase new hardware and/or software in order to scale 

Labor-intensive management 

• A private cloud environment requires qualified specialists with specific skills to continuously monitor and manage the system 

Time-consuming to implement 

• A private cloud takes time to set up and configure (as compared to joining the public cloud) 

Community cloud  

This is the infrastructure for use by a specific consumer community. The deployment model is very similar to the private one; however, not one organization owns the server and associated resources, but several organizations have similar or everyday computational tasks, such as banks, joint business projects, etc. 

Advantages 

Cost efficiency 

• Here, major cost savings are achieved through a shared resource pool 
• Both dedicated resources and cloud support costs are distributed among all users of the community cloud 

Collaborative opportunities 

• Due to the shared cloud’s nature, a community cloud is great for collaboration between its users 
• Documents and content can be stored and accessed in one place, dashboards can be edited in real time, etc. 

Customization for sector-specific needs 

• Community clouds can be customized for industry-specific requirements, such as data storage and management practices. 

Disadvantages 

Limited scalability 

• Scaling resources requires consensus among all members, which can slow down expansion. 
• Unplanned expansions or fixes may be problematic 

Complex management and shared responsibility 

• Cloud governance requires coordination among multiple parties 
• Decisions about upgrades, security policies, and resource allocation must be made collaboratively 

Higher costs than public clouds 

• Although cheaper than a private cloud, community clouds are usually more expensive than public clouds due to the extra tech needs to accommodate more users at once 

Dependency on community agreements 

• Decisions about infrastructure management, updates, security practices, and expansions require consensus 

Data privacy risks 

• Multiple organizations sharing the same infrastructure can introduce privacy risks 

Hybrid cloud  

Given the type of cloud deployment model combines multiple cloud servers of different types, integrating them into one architecture but leaving them as separate entities. 

Secondary tasks, including the analysis of development and testing workloads, can be handled using the public system. The hybrid cloud approach protects and controls strategic assets in the most cost-efficient manner. On top of that, this model simplifies and streamlines the transfer of data and applications. 

Advantages 

Flexible foundation 

• Cloud users may keep data in private storage while using public cloud resources to scale performance 

Comparable cost efficiency 

• Coming in somewhere between public and private clouds in terms of cost savings 
• Only the most sensitive, work-intensive parts of your hybrid cloud require felt investments 

Easier disaster recovery 

• From public clouds, hybrids retain an availability of backups and external support 

Disadvantages 

Complexity in management and integration 

• Integrating and managing multiple cloud environments requires specialized expertise, tools, and security protocols 

Higher initial setup costs 

• Setting up a hybrid cloud requires investment in both private and public cloud infrastructure tools 

Skill requirement and dependency on vendors 

• Hybrid cloud models require IT teams skilled in both public and private cloud management 

Multi-cloud 

Multi-faceted deployment models employ solutions from several cloud providers at once. This is similar to the hybrid models but allows for multiple public cloud resources. Ideal for redundancy, provide higher availability of services and services from different clouds. 

Advantages 

Avoidance of vendor lock-in 

• By leveraging multiple providers, you do not have to depend on a single vendor, maintaining flexibility to switch providers as needed 

Optimized performance and cost efficiency 

• Organizations can select specific providers based on workload needs and costs 

Compliance and geographic flexibility 

• Multi-cloud allows companies to host data in regions that meet specific regulatory requirements, ensuring compliance across different jurisdictions. 

Access to best-of-breed solutions 

• Each cloud provider has unique services and strengths (e.g., data analytics, AI, IoT capabilities) 
• Multi-cloud strategy allows businesses to benefit from best-of-breed solutions across providers 

Disadvantages 

Complexity in management and integration 

• Managing multiple cloud providers requires complex monitoring, security, and integration strategies 

Increased security risks 

• Security protocols must be customized across different clouds, boosting risks of vulnerabilities 

Compliance challenges 

• Managing compliance across multiple environments with differing regulatory standards can be difficult 

Vendor compatibility and integration issues 

• Not all cloud providers are fully interoperable, which can make integration challenging 

Comparing cloud deployment models 

Specific types of cloud deployment models provide variability in use. For example, some companies are more suitable for public clouds for various reasons. In contrast, others do not want to use them due to the complexity, secrecy of projects, or legislation requirements on protecting intellectual property rights. 

To pick the best-fitting model, start by identifying your specific requirements: 

• Ease of configuration: public, community, and multi-cloud platforms are the best in this aspect, as most of the work is done by the ISP. 
• Ease of use: public and multi-cloud are the best in this regard, hybrid is also suitable with the right system settings. 
• Data control: These capabilities are more in-depth in private, hybrid, and public clouds when community members collaborate. 
• Reliability: Highest in a private cloud. A hybrid can have a sufficient level if it is well-tuned. 
• Scalability: Private and hybrid clouds provide the most significant capabilities here. 
• Security and confidentiality: the highest level is distinguished by private, public (if participants adhere to corporate security policy), and hybrid cloud. 
• Flexibility: the best options here are private and hybrid clouds since no one bothers you to settle resources. 
• Cost: The most inexpensive solutions are public and community clouds because the cost is shared between users. 
• Hardware requirements: Public and community clouds, by definition, require nothing here. 

A public cloud is a standard scenario for small- to medium-scale businesses. The larger the organization, the more important it is to a private cloud. For large enterprises wishing to minimize costs, it is worth choosing trade-offs. 

Three service models of cloud computing 

Despite the different types of cloud deployment models, no matter how you configure and manage equipment, you can pick from several basic service models: 

• SaaS (Software as a Service) 
• PaaS (Platform as a Service) 
• IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service) 

You don’t have to choose a single service model. You can pick different ones for different cloud infrastructure components. 

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)  

With this cloud service model, you rent the necessary hardware (servers, storage space, and dedicated network), managing only the software it is hosting. I.e., you get a ready-to-use virtual machine equipped with the operating system you require, full software access, and control. You are probably familiar with this approach if you have used Azure, AWS, Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, Google Cloud, etc. 

The ultimate advantages of this choice are simplicity and flexibility. The virtual machine quickly gets up and running. You can reinstall the OS, install any custom software, virtually clone any existing IT infrastructure, creating disaster recovery solutions. 

Platform as a Service (PaaS)  

Here, you do not control the operating system and the installed software. The provider does this. In this model, you are not limited to one specific application but can only operate within one platform. Installing and configuring a Kubernetes or Kafka cluster can take several hours. With PaaS, you can get it done in minutes. However, since the provider controls the platform, you may not be able to get a unique configuration. 

Software as a Service (SaaS)  

This way of cloud computing deployment provides a higher level of abstraction. The service provider manages virtually every layer of the cloud infrastructure. The difference with PaaS is that you are limited to a specific application. On the other hand, you can deploy a MySQL database and start writing data to it in a matter of minutes. You get a platform that does nothing by itself, on which you create something that works. The downside is that SaaS services are slightly more expensive. 

DICEUS expertise 

Only a deep understanding of the goals will make it possible to solve complex problems. At DICEUS, we develop cloud-based applications that enable customer organizations to leverage resources regardless of geographic location. Our solutions accelerate time-to-market, lower costs, and increase operational efficiencies by rapidly deploying cloud and IT infrastructures. 

The company also offers consulting services and analyses to identify business-enhancing operations and technologies. We have experience creating and implementing customized solutions from scratch for developing cloud applications and migrating virtual servers using different models for deployment in cloud computing. 

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Benefits we bring 

As preliminary research, we study the business model in detail and determine the readiness for implementation in the cloud or migration to another platform. We collect functional and non-functional requirements to provide a solution that meets customer expectations and business needs. Thorough preparation includes steps toward developing the right strategy and making recommendations for implementing the project. 

We create and implement SaaS software such as ERP, CMS, and HRM with a predetermined number of modules and functionality. Our best practices may include re-hosting, refactoring, and combining applications and clouds. We guarantee: 

• Lower IT management costs
• Higher flexibility of processes
• No business downtime
• Effective collaboration

With our deployment models for cloud computing, your employees can keep in touch with customers from anywhere at any time. They will also become more flexible in making decisions. Managing your big cloud data reliably and continuously will enable you to create and share reports faster with stakeholders. All this will greatly increase the attractiveness of your brand in the eyes of both customers and partners. 

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