The Difference Between Public and Private Clouds  

Published November 3, 2022
quickbooks hosting services for small medium businesses

The need to stay competitive and agile has never been greater. Over the last few years, disruptions in the technology and financial sectors have pushed large and small organizations to implement major changes. It’s no surprise that most accounting firms are ditching traditional human accounting systems for intuitive cloud-based QuickBooks hosting services. The flexibility and effectiveness offered by cloud-based hosting servers add real value to businesses. If your firm has decided to opt for the cloud, the next consideration is whether you want public or private cloud hosting. While each has its own set of pros and cons, the final decision depends on your firm’s needs and requirements.

To help simplify the decision, we’ve gone over the features of public and private cloud hosting below.

What is Private Hosting?

Private hosting offers dedicated hosting services to individual firms. This allows the firm to reap all the benefits of a hosting service without sharing resources. This form of hosting gives the firm a more secure cloud platform and increased control over data access capabilities. A third-party hosting service will provide a dedicated server and related hardware to your firm. This type of hosting is particularly useful for firms that handle sensitive data, such as pharmacies, legal enterprises, accounting firms, and personal record agencies.

Enhanced Security

Private clouds are significantly more secure compared to public clouds as the firm’s infrastructure lies behind a firewall that is accessed using the company’s intranet over encrypted connections. Since there’s only one administrator, the company can enforce tighter controls and restrict or grant access as required. It also ensures more flexibility and easier file coordination.

Improved Reliability

When cloud hosting needs arise, there is no confusion about who to call in the event of any trouble. One admin manages the entire cloud’s performance, which means it’s easier for the organization to make effective changes to improve the quality of services.

Quick Optimization and Scalability

The optimization process also becomes more streamlined with only one administrator at the helm. Firms no longer have to wait for input from others before changes can be put into effect. Secondly, scalability is an important factor for growing firms that want their support infrastructure to evolve. As data and hardware need increase, these firms need more space, and private cloud hosting gives them the opportunity to expand efficiently without sacrificing growth.

High Cost

The major drawback of private cloud hosting, and what keeps smaller firms from using it, is that it’s costlier compared to public cloud hosting. According to findings by RightScale, 43 percent of small to medium businesses use public clouds, while 35 percent opt for private solutions. Firms may also have to bear the expense of an in-house IT team to manage cloud deployment. More control over development platforms and software applications is great for customization but requires adept IT support. QuickBooks hosting services, such as gotomyerp, offer tailored solutions to clients along with 24/7 network support, application support, and system updates—so you get enterprise-level IT support at a competitive price.

What is Public Hosting?

Public hosting allows firms to share cloud host platforms with other entities at a reduced price. They are usually based in locations with massive amounts of hardware and provide economies of scale as more users sign up.

Low Cost

The most significant benefit of public cloud hosting is its low cost. The number of clients on these platforms allows the cloud service provider (CSP) to minimize costs. In some cases, CSPs provide free services by generating revenue through advertising on the platform.

Scalability Options

Due to the expansive capabilities of a publicly hosted cloud, firms can expand or contract according to their needs, given that the CSP is willing to increase your data space limit. The business will thus have access to modern infrastructure without having to invest in IT staff to maintain it.

Security Issues

The biggest drawback is that public clouds can’t offer advanced security and privacy capabilities. Weak security increases the risk of cyberattacks and can result in loss of data, consumer confidence, and unplanned downtime. Moreover, data control on public clouds is often irregular, and retrieving stored data can be troublesome and time-consuming.

Conclusion

Public and private clouds both offer attractive features that suit organizations with different needs. Firm size, data requirements, and industry norms should help you decide which solution is best. When it comes to QuickBooks hosting providers, you don’t always have to sacrifice your budget to get the best. At gotomyerp, we understand that cookie-cutter plans don’t fit everyone. That’s why we offer customized—yet scalable—solutions at a great price.

We provide clients with private infrastructure and 24/7 network support so they can get high-quality service without compromise.

To learn more about our secure QuickBooks hosting services, call (877) 888-5525 or reach out online.