There are various categories of cloud computing services a company can opt for depending on its size and IT needs. Cloud computing can be in the form of Software as a Service (SaaS), Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) and Platform as a Service (PaaS). Furthermore, an enterprise can also choose between private, public and hybrid cloud.
Private Cloud
Private cloud refers to cloud infrastructure that is owned and operated by an organization. The hardware and data can either be hosted on premise, or it can outsource IT resources from a third party’s data center. Such an arrangement is suitable for institutions that handle sensitive data or must maintain specific security standards. Public cloud, on the other hand, refers to centralized IT infrastructure that can be accessed using public networks. Common examples include Google cloud platform and Amazon AWS.
Lastly, the hybrid cloud is a combination of both public and private cloud. An example is whereby some laws might require organizations to store data within secured private data centers but use application processing resources that are available in the public cloud. Likewise, a company can host the majority of its infrastructure and systems within the private cloud and have a replica of their system on the public cloud allowing for quick scaling.
Despite the tremendous benefits of cloud computing, no enterprise can fully maximize the benefits of cloud computing without optimizing its efficiency. There are various optimization techniques that can significantly reduce computing and storage costs as well as enhance application performance. Three of them are as follows:
Auto scaling
All cloud service providers normally allow clients to obtain computing power and storage capacity on demand. This ensures that they only utilize what they need. However, you must ensure that the cloud resources utilized are adequately matched to your precise needs. Therefore, cloud integration that allows for auto-scaling gives you the power to avail the right amount of IT resources to each application in real-time. For instance, you can be able to specify both the minimum & maximum sizes of instances in addition to the scaling metrics. As such, you will greatly minimize the chances of overstretching or under-utilizing a particular resource. This will greatly enhance the productivity of your organization and save you both time and additional costs.
Analyze the extra cloud features
All top-tier cloud service providers normally unveil new features as well as launch entirely new cloud services from time to time. Most of the time, enterprises will subscribe to the new or additional features in order to boost their cloud performance. Some new features make tasks easier or quicker. Others bring new solutions that were previously not accessible through the cloud. Nevertheless, you must bear in mind that the extra services and features usually come at an added cost or at the expense of performance. For this reason, before hopping on to any new feature, you need to carefully analyze all the extra provisions and their repercussions to both performance and cost.
Maximize the use of optimization services & tools
It is impossible to optimize your cloud without keeping track of its performance. Various tools and services can greatly assist you in monitoring and assessing cloud performance. There are some robust tools that can boost cloud performance through making the right decision at the right moment. Alternatively, you can purchase specialized cloud services from providers in order to fine-tune your cloud both in the short term and long term.
It takes a lot of time, financial investment, and resources to effectively migrate your data and applications to the cloud. All these cloud optimization procedures can immensely assist you to attain a higher return on your investment, and guarantee long term business success.