A public cloud is a cloud computing model where computing resources such as servers, storage, and applications are provided over the internet by third-party providers and shared among multiple customers. Unlike private clouds, where infrastructure is dedicated to a single organization, public cloud environments are multi-tenant, meaning resources are distributed across many users.
Public clouds deliver scalability, flexibility, and cost-efficiency because businesses pay only for the resources they use. Well-known public cloud providers include Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP). They support a wide range of services, from basic storage and computing power to advanced solutions like artificial intelligence and big data analytics.
Advanced
Public clouds operate on a shared infrastructure hosted in provider-managed data centers. Providers offer Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS), allowing organizations to choose levels of control and responsibility. Advanced deployments integrate tools such as autoscaling, serverless computing, and container orchestration to optimize performance and resource efficiency.
Security in public clouds relies on a shared responsibility model, where providers secure the infrastructure, while customers manage applications, data, and access. Multi-cloud and hybrid cloud strategies often include public clouds for agility and innovation while pairing them with private systems for sensitive workloads.
Relevance
- Offers cost-effective access to enterprise-grade IT infrastructure.
- Provides scalability to handle fluctuating workloads and demand.
- Accelerates digital transformation and innovation.
- Reduces the need for on-premises hardware investments.
- Enables global reach with distributed data centers.
- Supports modern technologies such as AI, IoT, and analytics.
Applications
- A startup hosting its website and databases on AWS.
- A retailer using public cloud platforms for seasonal demand spikes.
- A financial firm deploying analytics tools through Azure.
- Developers building and testing applications in public cloud sandboxes.
- Enterprises adopting SaaS solutions like Salesforce or Office 365.
Metrics
- Cost savings compared to on-premises infrastructure.
- Uptime and service availability guaranteed by provider SLAs.
- Latency and performance across different regions.
- Scalability speed and capacity under peak demand.
- Compliance certifications achieved by cloud providers.
Issues
- Security risks if access controls and data protections are poorly managed.
- Compliance challenges in industries with strict regulations.
- Potential downtime or disruptions if the provider experiences outages.
- Vendor lock-in limiting flexibility across platforms.
- Data sovereignty concerns when information is stored in global data centers.
Example
An e-commerce business migrated its online store to Google Cloud to handle rapid growth and seasonal traffic surges. The scalability of the public cloud enabled the company to maintain high performance during peak shopping periods while reducing infrastructure costs.