Cloud computing has become a vital part of many businesses’ IT strategies. However, the 2024 Barclays CIO survey revealed that 83% of respondents are planning to move workloads from public cloud environments back onto private clouds or on-premise solutions – a significant shift from the 60% recorded in 2022; a shift that was no surprise to Michael Dell of Dell Technologies.
Before diving into why businesses are opting for hybrid and private cloud models, it’s worth summarising the differences between the cloud options available.
Public Cloud: Businesses share computing resources with others. Services are offered by providers like Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud. While public clouds offer scalability and ease of integration, they often raise concerns about data security and control due to shared infrastructure.
Private Cloud: A private cloud is dedicated solely to one organisation. It can be hosted on-site or through a third-party provider, offering enhanced control over the environment. For industries with strict data regulations or security concerns, private clouds provide greater assurance in protecting sensitive information.
Hybrid solutions: Elements of public and private cloud environments are combined. Businesses can store sensitive data in private clouds while using public clouds for less critical tasks, offering the flexibility to scale without compromising security.
The Growing Demand for Hybrid and Private Cloud Solutions
With growing concerns over data security, compliance, and control, many businesses in Malta are seeking more secure and flexible solutions, making hybrid and private clouds an increasingly attractive option. The Barclays CIO survey statistic underlines this trend, largely driven by the need for improved data sovereignty and compliance, particularly within regulated industries such as finance, healthcare, and gaming.
Private Cloud: Unmatched Control and Compliance
For businesses in Malta that handle sensitive customer data or operate in highly regulated sectors, such as iGaming or Financial Services, the importance of data sovereignty cannot be overstated. Private cloud solutions ensure full control over the IT environment, with no risk of data mingling with other businesses’ workloads as in the public cloud.
In addition, private cloud infrastructure can be customised to meet the exact needs of the business, from security measures to compliance protocols. This level of control is particularly attractive to businesses that need to guarantee the security of sensitive information or comply with strict regulations.
Smart Cloud: the local solution
Smart Cloud combines the advantages of both hybrid and private cloud models to provide businesses with the security, control, and scalability they need. By offering tailored managed solutions that are easily adaptable to your business’s unique requirements, Smart Cloud helps you avoid the one-size-fits-all limitations of the larger public cloud environments.
Smart Cloud allows businesses to seamlessly transition workloads between private and public clouds as required, maintaining the flexibility of hybrid models without sacrificing security. With built-in options for be-spoke virtual machines, secure cloud backups and Microsoft 365 local retention, Smart Cloud ensures that your business remains adaptable while protecting your data.
Key benefits of Smart Cloud
- Cost Efficiency: Use public cloud resources when demand spikes but return to the cost-effective private cloud for routine operations, allowing businesses to scale without incurring excessive costs.
- Security and Compliance: By keeping data on SmartCloud, businesses operating in regulated environments can ensure full compliance with MGA and MFSA regulations, all while maintaining robust data security protocols.
- Scalability: Smart Cloud offers businesses the agility to expand resources on-demand, meeting operational needs while maintaining cost-efficiency.
- Customisation: Tailor cloud solutions to your specific business requirements, ensuring a unique environment that enhances operational performance.
The cloud landscape is shifting, now is the time for CIOs and CTOs to assess how hybrid or private cloud environments can benefit their operations.
By opting for Smart Cloud Managed Services , which combine the best aspects of both private and hybrid cloud models, your business can stay agile, secure, and ready to scale in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. Whether you’re looking for more control, better compliance, or scalable infrastructure, Smart Cloud has the tools to meet your needs.
Find out more about our services on: https://www.melitabusiness.com/hosting-cloud/cloud-vps/