Private Clouds and their Public Value with David Linthicum
Feb 13, 2025
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David Linthicum, a cloud strategist and author, dives into the often-misunderstood world of private clouds. He debunks the notion that they are inflexible and expensive, highlighting their improved scalability, cost efficiency, and enhanced security. David discusses the shift towards private clouds due to rising public cloud costs and regulatory demands, while exploring how businesses can effectively transition and integrate AI. He also outlines the true benefits of private clouds, emphasizing control over data and operational efficiency.
Private clouds have transformed into cost-effective and scalable solutions that can compete with public clouds, providing strategic advantages for enterprises.
Control over data and compliance is driving businesses towards private cloud adoption, as they seek enhanced security and regulatory oversight compared to public cloud options.
Deep dives
The Rise of Private Clouds
Private clouds have evolved from expensive and complex engineering projects to strategic options that can compete with public clouds. Modern private clouds offer technical and business advantages, acting almost like the 'easy button' for on-prem solutions. For instance, due to advancements in hardware and managed service providers, deploying a private cloud is increasingly straightforward and cost-effective. This transformation allows businesses to leverage open-source tools and hardware bundles more efficiently, leading to a more value-driven approach in comparison to public cloud options.
AI Workloads and Cost Considerations
The rising costs associated with AI workloads significantly impact the decision-making process for businesses considering cloud solutions. Companies face hefty expenses when leveraging public clouds for AI applications, often three to five times higher than traditional systems. As enterprises seek to control their data and costs, many are turning to private clouds and alternative infrastructure solutions to avoid the inflated pricing and limitations of public providers. This shift underscores the importance of considering not just technical capabilities but also financial viability in cloud strategy.
Control and Data Sovereignty
Control over data has emerged as a priority for enterprises, driven by regulatory concerns and the desire to safeguard intellectual property. CIOs increasingly prefer private or sovereign clouds that allow them complete oversight of their data, minimizing the risk of breaches and compliance issues. This focus on control highlights the limits of public cloud solutions, where data may reside in obscure locations and risk exposure to potential regulatory repercussions. Greater transparency and management autonomy make private infrastructure more appealing as organizations navigate complex data landscapes.
Scalability Myths in Cloud Infrastructure
A common misconception about private clouds is that they lack scalability compared to public cloud offerings. In reality, proper planning and architecture enable both private and public clouds to scale effectively to meet organizational demands. The belief that scalability is exclusive to public clouds often ignores the advancements in technology and management systems that facilitate resource allocation in private cloud setups. As organizations become more strategic in their infrastructure planning, they recognize that private clouds can easily accommodate their scalability needs while maintaining performance and cost efficiency.
Private clouds are often misunderstood—seen as expensive, inflexible, and unable to scale like public cloud solutions. But are these perceptions accurate? In this episode of Virtually Speaking, cloud strategist David Linthicum joins us to challenge these misconceptions and explore how private cloud infrastructure has evolved.
David breaks down why businesses are taking a fresh look at private clouds, from improved scalability and cost efficiency to enhanced security and control. With rising public cloud costs, increasing regulatory demands, and the need for AI-ready infrastructure, private clouds are proving to be a powerful option for modern enterprises.
Join us as we uncover the true value of private clouds and how they are shaping the future of IT.
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