What’s the Difference Between Public and Private Cloud?

In recent years, cloud computing adoption has grown significantly among businesses of all sizes. Its ability to improve operational efficiency, flexibility, and scalability has made cloud technology a key driver in digital transformation.

The terms public cloud and private cloud are no longer foreign in today’s business environment. Both refer to the on-demand delivery of IT resources over a network but differ in infrastructure ownership and management. With a private cloud, an organization controls and maintains its own IT infrastructure to meet specific needs. In contrast, a public cloud allows organizations to access and utilize IT resources owned and managed entirely by a third-party cloud provider.

For example, a company with several departments requiring computing resources to run daily productivity applications might choose private cloud deployment. This means investing in hardware, maintaining a dedicated data center, and distributing resources through a secure, internal network. In addition, each user may need specialized systems or software to secure the environment from cyber threats. With public cloud, however, departments can simply access the necessary infrastructure via services provided by the cloud vendor—without worrying about physical infrastructure or ongoing maintenance.

What Is Public Cloud?

A public cloud is a cloud computing model where services are delivered over the internet by third-party providers like Huawei Cloud, Google Cloud, or AWS. In this model, resources such as servers, storage, and applications are shared among multiple users in a multi-tenant environment.

You only pay for what you use (pay-as-you-go), without having to invest in or maintain any physical infrastructure.

What Is Private Cloud?

Unlike public cloud, a private cloud is designed exclusively for a single organization. This infrastructure may be managed in-house by the company’s IT team or outsourced to a third-party provider like CBNCloud, which offers private cloud solutions supported by local infrastructure.

Private cloud gives you full control over your environment—security, configuration, and resource management can all be customized according to business needs.

What Do They Have in Common?

The public cloud originated from cloud service providers aiming to offer network-based infrastructure and storage solutions. Later on, several major cloud companies began offering cloud computing models built on top of their own infrastructure.

Due to the need to separate internal cloud environments from public cloud services operating in a shared environment, the private cloud model was developed. Despite their differences, public and private cloud share several similarities:

1. On-Demand Usage

Both models allow organizations to allocate and scale computing resources—such as networks, hardware, servers, and storage—on demand via software-driven interfaces.

2. Core Technologies

They both rely on virtualization to abstract physical hardware into usable APIs. Additionally, they offer features such as auto-scaling, orchestration, and fault tolerance.

3. Efficiency

Public and private cloud models are both aimed at improving IT operational efficiency. They reduce costs through resource optimization, speed up deployment, and enable faster go-to-market strategies, resulting in lower production overhead.

In summary, both cloud types are designed to boost business efficiency. However, public cloud offers greater cost efficiency and flexibility, making it suitable for a wider range of organizations compared to private cloud.

Comparison Table: Private vs. Public Cloud

When Should You Choose Public Cloud?

If your organization needs flexibility, rapid deployment, and low upfront investment, public cloud may be the ideal solution. It is best suited for:

• Startups that need to launch quickly with limited budgets.

• Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) looking for cost-effective IT solutions to support growth.

• Non-sensitive applications that don’t require advanced data protection.

• Temporary projects or development environments where buying infrastructure is impractical.

When Should You Choose Private Cloud?

Choosing a private cloud requires careful consideration, as it often involves higher investment in infrastructure. It is ideal for:

• Enterprises managing sensitive customer or internal data.

• Financial institutions, healthcare providers, and government agencies.

• Organizations that need complete control and flexibility over their IT environment.

• Companies bound by strict compliance and data regulations (such as ISO, PCI-DSS, or HIPAA).

Combining Both Worlds: The Hybrid Cloud Approach

Organizations that require both the agility of public cloud and the control of private cloud may benefit from adopting a hybrid cloud model.

Hybrid cloud allows businesses to:

• Run public-facing applications (like email or collaboration tools) on public cloud.

• Keep sensitive or regulated data securely within a private cloud.

This model offers a balanced approach—combining cost efficiency, scalability, and security, while enabling organizations to enjoy the best of both cloud worlds.

How to Choose the Right Cloud Solution?

If your organization prioritizes speed, scalability, and cost efficiency, public cloud is likely the better option. However, if data security, control, and customization are critical, private cloud may be the right choice—especially for industries with strict compliance requirements.

CBNCloud: Your Comprehensive Cloud Solution Partner

As a trusted cloud service provider in Indonesia, CBNCloud delivers a full range of customizable cloud solutions, including public, private, and hybrid cloud.

With reliable local infrastructure, professional support, and strategic partnerships with global providers such as Huawei Cloud and Google Cloud, we help businesses navigate digital transformation with security and confidence.

Our services include:

• Architecture consultation to choose the best cloud solution

• Data and system migration to the cloud

• 24/7 cloud management and monitoring

• Enterprise-grade security and compliance

• Backup and disaster recovery

Ready to Choose the Right Cloud?

Not every business needs the same cloud setup. That’s why CBNCloud is here—to help you find and manage the right solution based on your business needs and operational goals.

Contact our expert team today to explore how cloud technology can empower your business.