When is private cloud the right choice?
Private cloud is well suited to organisations that need high levels of security, control, compliance and performance. When you are handling sensitive data, operating under strict regulations or running mission-critical applications, dedicated infrastructure gives you the isolation and control those workloads depend on.
It also suits organisations with complex computing needs, because it allows direct control over the infrastructure, with capacity for custom configurations, resource optimisation and a tailored security suite.
What are the typical use cases for private cloud?
Typical use cases for private cloud include:
- Finance: protecting financial records and supporting compliance with FCA and UK GDPR requirements, alongside standards such as PCI DSS
- Government and public sector: handling sensitive or citizen data securely, often procured through frameworks such as G-Cloud
- Healthcare: storing and processing patient information in line with applicable regulations
- Legal services: managing confidential case files and client communications
- Enterprises with proprietary data: protecting trade secrets, intellectual property and custom-built applications
- eCommerce: keeping high-traffic platforms fast and available during peaks such as Black Friday
- Software and eLearning providers: hosting data-intensive platforms that need predictable performance
- Insurance and other regulated technology providers: meeting certification requirements with isolated hardware and resilient infrastructure
Private cloud is not limited to one sector. What matters is what the workload needs.
What do private cloud use cases look like in practice?
Think Learning is a learning technology provider whose platform supports around 60 clients, 17% of them in NHS healthcare, with services ranging from PPE fitting processes to vaccination appointment booking. Its Totara learning management system needs a lot of power, so we designed a bespoke private cloud and migrated its existing client base without disruption. Read the case study.
Remarkable Commerce builds eCommerce platforms for retailers including Ben Sherman, Moss Bros and M&Co. On a private cloud, it scales resources up and down around Black Friday, where it previously had to add new dedicated servers every year. Read the case study.
Spearhead AG develops technology for the digitalisation of vehicle claims. Working in the insurance industry, it needed its own isolated hardware, an ISO-certified hosting provider and a certified Platform as a Service (PaaS) environment, and now runs a private cloud on Red Hat OpenShift across Zurich and Frankfurt. Read the case study.
What types of workload suit private cloud?
Private cloud is often chosen for:
- Business-critical applications and ERP systems
- Microsoft SQL Server, MySQL and PostgreSQL databases
- High-traffic websites and eCommerce platforms
- Virtual machine and Kubernetes container workloads
- Applications that process sensitive or regulated data
- Private environments for AI workloads
- Migrations from legacy on-premise infrastructure or other virtualisation platforms
Running AI models in a private environment helps organisations keep control over the data those models use, which matters when that data is sensitive or proprietary.
When might another option be a better fit?
Dedicated infrastructure delivers the most value for workloads that are demanding, sensitive or steady. For smaller applications with modest or highly variable resource requirements, a logically isolated environment such as an enterprise cloud may be more cost-effective, and some organisations use both.
How do you know if private cloud is right for you?
Questions worth asking include:
- Does the workload handle sensitive, regulated or proprietary data?
- Do you need consistent performance, even at peak times?
- Do you need control over configuration, software or licensing?
- Do you need specific certifications or a particular hosting location?
- Do you have the in-house expertise to run it, or would a managed service suit you better?
If you answer yes to several of these, private cloud is worth considering.
The next steps
Private cloud is used across regulated sectors and performance-critical platforms alike, wherever security, control and consistent performance matter. Whether it suits you depends on your workloads, compliance requirements and the resources you have in-house.
Understanding the use cases is the first step. Choosing the right design requires a broader look at your applications, security needs, growth plans and budget model.
If you are considering private cloud, speaking with an experienced managed hosting provider can help. Speak to one of our Cloud Consultants about your requirements, or explore our Managed Private Cloud options.
