Adaptive Computing: Why IT Execs Need to Bone Up on the Benefits of Private Cloud

By Erin Harrison, Executive Editor, Cloud Computing

In this day and age, enterprises are faced with an array of decisions and questions when it comes to cloud computing. The first issue is usually deciding whether cloud is even beneficial in the first place, but after deciding to make the shift to the cloud, businesses need to determine whether a public, private or hybrid model makes sense for them. In a recent CopperEgg blog post, the answer is quite simple: private.

In many cases today, the private cloud is a popular choice, especially among industries that face regulatory compliance issues. In fact, the Western European private cloud computing market is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate of more than 23 percent through 2016, when it will generate nearly $8 billion in revenue, according to research firm IDC (News - Alert).

But the reasons to move to private cloud are just as varied at the selection criteria for choosing the right cloud model. Needless to say, IT executives need to be educated on the benefits of private cloud, according to CopperEgg, noting that many companies question the value of private cloud if they have already taken steps toward virtualization. Isn’t cloud and virtualization one in the same? The short answer is no.

TMC’s (News - Alert) Allison Boccamazzo sat down with Adaptive Computing’s Vice President of Marketing Chad Harrington, where he exclusively detailed not only why IT execs need to be educated on the private cloud, but why private cloud goes unsurpassed in today’s selection of cloud management.

Adaptive Computing manages some of the world’s largest computing installations via its signature Moab self-optimizing cloud management and HPC workload management solutions, allowing customers to consolidate resources, allocate and manage services, optimize levels, and reduce operational costs.

“While virtualization has been a top priority for organizations around the world, it is really just a stepping stone to the private cloud,” according to CopperEgg. “Although virtualization implementations enhance server performance, business efficiency and reduce IT expenses, these benefits will often be compounded with private cloud deployments.”

Harrington elaborated on this idea by explaining how, “When you deploy virtualization, it makes it easier to attain higher utilization and therefore lower your total costs, but virtualization alone isn’t enough. With virtualization alone, you will end up back in the same place where you started with low utilization if you don’t have a private cloud technology.”

Whereas a virtual infrastructure can improve customer service and reduce time to market, private cloud performance has the ability to make smaller companies more competitive with larger, resource-rich firms, according to the blog, which cites a recent Data Center Journal report.

Harrington added that this desirable competitive edge is found in the private cloud in three key ways: cost-savings, security, and flexibility.

Additionally, scalability is one of the most common influences for using the technology, as storage environments can increase or decrease in size on demand, helping businesses reach optimum efficiency during times of high and low traffic, CopperEgg said.

“From a cost standpoint, certain workloads are going to be much less expensive in the public cloud and other workloads will be much less expensive in the private cloud,” Harrington said while elaborating on the cost-savings aspect. “The difference is if you’re workload is [inconsistent] – if you have demand that spikes once a day or month – then the public cloud can really help you with that. If your workload is constant – or if you have roughly the same amount with minor variations in your workload – then a private cloud will be far less expensive. You’ll be much better off owning and operating those servers rather than renting them.”

In other words, imagine if you’re looking to make a big move and need a moving truck; if you move only once or twice a year, it makes far more sense to simply rent moving trucks for large loads which won’t fit, say, in your minivan. If you have a moving business, however, and are moving furniture all of the time, then it will be far cheaper for you to buy and own your own moving truck(s) than to rent one every day.

In addition, cloud can help businesses leverage next-generation applications and boost mobility, allowing them to embrace a remote workforce by giving employees the ability to access the necessary applications and data from virtually anywhere at any time. This added level of flexibility will undoubtedly increase productivity while cutting down on wasted time.

Harrington compared the flexibility and customization of the private cloud to the public cloud in terms of food preparation: it’s like you can only order on a menu when working within a public cloud, but when harnessing a private cloud, you can own your kitchen and cook up whatever you need to get the job best done. (Keep in mind that when you’re working within the kitchen, you have hands-on control of your servers for optimum control, whereas if you order off the menu, you have no idea what you’ll get).

As CopperEgg summarized: “By embracing the private cloud, organizations of all sizes across the world can experience performance improvements for a lower cost than traditional IT.”

Additionally, Harrington concluded in his main point, “Not to say that the public cloud or hybrid cloud isn’t useful, but if you only look at public clouds, you’re really missing out on those three key areas [cost-savings, security, and flexibility].”

It goes without saying that IT executives should undoubtedly make it a top priority to be educated on the private cloud.

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