Public, Private and Hybrid Cloud Explained
Not all clouds are the same shape. The terms public, private and hybrid describe where your computing lives and who shares the underlying hardware with you.
Knowing the difference helps you understand trade-offs around cost, control and compliance that often come up in planning conversations.
The Three Models
- Public cloud: shared infrastructure from a provider like AWS or Azure; the most common and cost-effective choice.
- Private cloud: dedicated hardware for your organisation alone, hosted on-site or by a provider; more control, higher cost.
- Hybrid cloud: a deliberate mix of the two, with workloads placed wherever they fit best.
Why You Might Choose Each
Public cloud suits most businesses because it is flexible and you only pay for what you use. Private cloud appears where strict regulation or legacy systems demand isolation. Hybrid is popular with established firms that are modernising gradually rather than all at once.
How We Decide
- Map your compliance and data-residency requirements.
- Identify which systems can move easily and which cannot.
- Recommend the simplest model that meets the rules while keeping costs sensible.
| Model | Control | Typical cost | Common use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public | Lower | Lowest | Most businesses |
| Private | Highest | Highest | Strict regulation |
| Hybrid | Mixed | Mid-range | Gradual modernisation |
If you need a hand with any of this, your Progressive Robot delivery team is ready to help. Raise a ticket from the Support area of your client portal or speak to your account manager and we will guide you through the next steps.