Table of contents
1.
Introduction
2.
Public Cloud 
3.
Private Cloud
4.
Hybrid Cloud
5.
Multi Cloud
6.
Frequently Asked Questions
6.1.
What is Cloud?
6.2.
What is Azure?
6.3.
What is the Public Model?
6.4.
What is the Private Model?
6.5.
What is the difference between the Hybrid and the Multi Model?
7.
Conclusion
Last Updated: Aug 13, 2025

Comparison of Cloud Models

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Introduction

Before diving into the four Cloud Models, we need to understand what a cloud is. Cloud is nothing but the servers that are accessed over the internet. It also consists of the software and the database used to run these servers. With the help of the Cloud Servers, the organizations do not have to worry about the physical servers or run the software on their own machines.

In this blog, we will discuss four Cloud Models.

  • Public Cloud
  • Private Cloud
  • Hybrid Cloud
  • Multi Cloud

Public Cloud 

Public Cloud is the most standard cloud computing model that is used to make the resources available to users remotely. Users can access resources like applications, databases, virtual machines, etc. Public clouds are generally freely available, or sometimes they are available on a pay-per-usage basis. Cloud Model is usually very effective for small companies that do not require incurring substantial setup costs up front. 

Some of the advantages of using the Public Cloud are,

  • Public Cloud Models generally have a very low or no setup cost. Companies can save a lot of money using the Public Cloud. Companies can save on the cost of setting up on-premise hardware and the cost of maintaining it. Public Cloud is the cheapest Cloud Model available.
  • After setting up a Public Cloud model, companies can bid farewell to the hassle of maintaining the system. The Cloud provider is the sole authority responsible for the maintenance of the data. Cloud providers have data centers and the required infrastructure to keep the servers running.
  • Public Cloud providers provide the users or the clients with infinite scalable platforms and services. Organizations can focus on expanding the applications without having to worry about the power or the storage capacity. 

Now that we have discussed the advantages of the Public Cloud let us look at a few drawbacks of using the Public Cloud.

  • The Public Cloud is not suitable for applications that have sensitive data.
  • Since the Public Cloud has no strict data protocol, it is more vulnerable to attacks from hackers. Thus there are a lot of concerns regarding security and privacy.
  • The Public Cloud does not provide as many customization options as the other available Cloud Models. 
  • Cause of the shared resources, the system might experience breakdowns in flexibility and scalability.

Private Cloud

The Private Cloud is quite similar to the Public Cloud. It overcomes the scalability and security issues experienced in the Public Cloud. Since the Private Cloud is not available to the general public, it is protected by a firewall making it more secure. Unlike the Public Cloud, the system is present on-premise in a Private Cloud. Private Cloud is considered the best option for companies working on big data projects having an enormous volume of data. Let us look at a few advantages of using the Private Cloud,

  • In a Private Cloud, the company is the sole owner of the service possessing complete control of the services such as integration, regulations, user practices, and operations. 
  • In the Private Cloud, only authorized personnel is provided with access to the Cloud. This is ideal for the protection of the company data. 
  • Organizations can customize the solution according to their needs and demands.
  • Public Clouds do not provide legacy applications, which is not the case with the Private Cloud. 
  • The Private Cloud is much more reliable than the Public Cloud.
  • It also provides the company with more control over the configuration of the system according to their requirements.
  • It provides a more enhanced quality of service to the clients.

There are a few drawbacks of using the Private Cloud some of them are.

  • While using the Private Cloud, the organization might need to invest in very expensive software and hardware along with trained personnel.
  • The scalability depends solely on the choice of hardware.
  • The Private Cloud is maintained on-premise by the personnel requiring high maintenance.
  • In a Private Cloud, the company may encounter issues regarding storage limitations.

Hybrid Cloud

The Hybrid Cloud Deployment Model is nothing but a combination of private and public models. Companies can have a mix of on-premise and cloud options using the Hybrid Model. The Hybrid Model can be used by all large-scale organizations as it combines the advantages of both the Private and the Public Cloud Deployment Models. Some of the merits associated with the Hybrid Model are,

  • Organizations can drastically reduce operational costs using the Hybrid model.
  • The Hybrid Model allows the company to combine two or more separate models together.
  • The security protocols are more straightforward in the Hybrid Model. Thus it is easy to protect the system from external threats.
  • The companies can easily customize the solutions to match their individual requirements.
  • Due to the combination of two or more models, it is easier to make the system more scalable in a Hybrid Model.

The Hybrid Model comes with its drawbacks. Some of the drawbacks of using the Hybrid Model are,

  • Hybrid Models are a very complex setup, and it is very tedious work to manage them.
  • Hybrid Models are only useful if the company has a varied use demand for the management of the workloads.
  • Hybrid Models can have a dependency on the infrastructure of the organization.
  • Attackers can violate the security of the Hybrid Model from the Public Cloud back door.

Multi Cloud

The last Cloud Model is the Multi Cloud. The Multi Cloud is a combination of multiple Public Clouds. The organization may use various Public Cloud Deployment Models, one for database, another for authentication, another as PaaS, and so on. Let us look at a few of the advantages of using the Multi Cloud,

  • Multi Cloud Deployment Model can prove to be pretty cost-effective for organizations. Dividing the Cloud among different vendors helps reduce the cost of deployment.
  • By dividing the Cloud among the vendors, companies can have a variety of vendors to choose from. Organizations can choose the best vendors for a specific task.
  • The Multi Cloud Deployment Model proves to be more reliable than any other Cloud Deployment Model.

Let us also look at the drawbacks of using the Multi Cloud Model,

  • Similar to the Hybrid Model, the Multi Cloud Model requires a very complex setup and can be tedious work to manage.
  • Since the Multi Model is a combination of Public Models, it is very likely to encounter attacks and is not very secure.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Cloud?

Cloud is nothing but the servers that are accessed over the internet. It also consists of the software and the database used to run these servers.

What is Azure?

Azure is one of the largest Cloud Services provided by Microsoft. Azure is generally used for application management. Azure provides the clients with Platform as a Service(PaaS), Software as a Service(SaaS), and Infrastructure as a Service(IaaS).

What is the Public Model?

A Public Cloud is the most standard cloud computing model that is used to make the resources available to users remotely. Users can access resources like applications, databases, virtual machines, etc.

What is the Private Model?

The Private Cloud is quite similar to the Public Cloud. It overcomes the scalability and security issues experienced in the Public Cloud. Since the Private Cloud is not available to the general public, it is protected by a firewall making it more secure. Unlike the Public Cloud, the system is present on-premise in a Private Cloud.

What is the difference between the Hybrid and the Multi Model?

The Hybrid Model is a mixture of the Public Model and the Private Model, whereas the Multi Model is a combination of two or more Public Models. 

Conclusion

This Blog covered all the necessary points about the different types of Cloud Models. We also looked at the advantages and the disadvantages of using all the Cloud Models. 

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