Cloud Computing Deployment Models#
Cloud deployment models describe where your cloud infrastructure is hosted and who controls it.
The four classic models are:
- Public Cloud
- Private Cloud
- Hybrid Cloud
- Community Cloud
Public Cloud#
Infrastructure is owned and operated by a third-party cloud provider (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud).
Characteristics
- Multi-tenant (shared physical infrastructure)
- Highly scalable and elastic
- Pay-as-you-go
- Provider manages underlying hardware
Examples
- AWS EC2, S3
- Azure VM
- Google Cloud Compute Engine
Use cases
- Startups
- Web apps
- Development and testing
Private Cloud#
Cloud infrastructure is used exclusively by a single organization.
Characteristics
- Dedicated hardware (on-prem or hosted)
- Full control over security and compliance
- Higher cost
- Customizable to business needs
Examples
- VMware vSphere
- OpenStack
- AWS Outposts
Use cases
- Banks
- Healthcare
- Government sectors with strict compliance
Hybrid Cloud#
A mix of private and public clouds working together.
Characteristics
- Workloads can move between clouds
- Supports burst handling (cloud bursting)
- Balanced cost + control
- Requires network integration (VPN/Direct Connect)
Examples
- On-prem + AWS
- On-prem + Azure Arc
- Private DC + Google Anthos
Use cases
- Legacy systems that must stay on-prem
- Disaster recovery
- Seasonal workloads
Community Cloud#
Shared cloud infrastructure for a specific group of organizations with common goals or compliance needs.
Characteristics
- Multi-tenant but restricted to a defined community
- Shared standards, security, and policies
- Can be managed by one or more members, or a third party
Examples
- Government shared cloud
- Universities sharing research computing
- Hospitals sharing patient data systems under strict regulations
Use cases
- Research organizations
- Law enforcement groups
- Multi-organization healthcare networks
Comparison Table#
| Feature | Public | Private | Hybrid | Community |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ownership | Provider | Single org | Both | Shared orgs |
| Security | Medium | High | High | High |
| Cost | Lowest | Highest | Medium | Medium/High |
| Scalability | Very high | Medium | High | Medium |
| Control | Low | Full | Medium/High | Shared |
Summary#
Cloud deployment models define where your resources live and who controls them:
- Public → Shared, scalable, low cost
- Private → Dedicated, secure, expensive
- Hybrid → Mix of both, flexible
- Community → Shared by several organizations with similar needs