Is Hosted Private Cloud the Migration Path Less Taken?

If you read a lot of business and technology publications, you might think public clouds are universally preferred over all other cloud options. To be sure, the numbers posted by Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft's Azure platform are nothing short of impressive. Statistics reveal that public clouds are growing faster than private clouds and analysts at IDC predict that public cloud growth will be 3 times that of private clouds by 2019.

However, recent Forrester research shows that migration to a Hosted Private Cloud is still a leading component of a Hybrid IT strategy for many organizations:

"Hosted private cloud adoption rose significantly between 2015 and 2016 in North America (28% to 33%). . . . Among all cloud adopters and planners, 36% state that hosted private cloud is - or will be - their primary cloud computing platform."

~ Adoption Profile: Hosted Private Cloud in North America and Europe, Q1 2017

What Is a Hosted Private Cloud?
A Hosted Private Cloud allows you to build, deploy, and manage applications with dedicated compute, network, and storage resources in a third-party data center. As a cloud option, they've been around pretty much since the concept of "the cloud" itself, but since these aren't the types of clouds offered by the larger, public providers in the business, they don't get as much publicity.

Hosted Private Clouds carry many of the same benefits as other cloud options. For example, as with a public cloud, you do not own the infrastructure so capital expenses are usually lower. In addition, your provider operates the facility, so the on-going tasks and expense of operating a data center is fully outsourced to the provider. This is a big benefit if facilities management isn't your strong suit.

Public Clouds are also known for their scalability but not necessarily their flexibility. Flexibility is where Hosted Private Cloud outshines Public; the customer can typically tailor the cloud environment to their needs. Whether it's hardware, software or improved access to system resources, the customer often has many more options available to them. Further, automation is typically also available as Private Cloud providers make it easy to provision resources.

For example, Private Cloud users can often view and monitor their physical and virtual resources via a portal - including Public Cloud resources. And providers can configure Hosted Private Clouds to immediately leverage multi-tenant resources if usage unexpectedly exceeds contracted capacity, so clients don't need to deal with capacity issues while they have their hands full with more immediate concerns.

Why Choose a Hosted Private Cloud?
Not surprisingly, Forrester found that first-time cloud migrations led the way with 27% of companies citing it as their reason for choosing a Hosted Private Cloud. On the surface, this makes sense. First, migrating to the cloud is often a significant project and organizations struggle with getting available resources organized to tackle a large project. Next, companies that put off migrating to the cloud often hold back due to key concerns like security and performance-exactly the types of issues a Hosted Private Cloud can help address. In fact, 67% of participants in Forrester's study cited security or ability to meet compliance requirements as their reason for adopting a Hosted Private Cloud.

To fully understand these two drivers, we need to take a closer look. Public Cloud providers offer a wide array of security options, but the user often needs to take responsibility for ensuring these options are configured correctly. A Hosted Private Cloud is less of a DIY proposition if the provider offers managed security options. For organizations with significant security requirements, especially those for whom security is not a core competency, managed security is a good choice.

As is the case with many regulations, such as PCI DSS and HIPAA, compliance is closely related to security. Furthermore, some compliance regulations also mandate knowing where your data is stored. A Hosted Private Cloud typically gives you more options and control over that than a Public Cloud.

Finally, Hosted Private Clouds also make sense for organizations who rely on applications that aren't engineered for the cloud, e.g., large, monolithic applications such as legacy ERP systems. To move these functions to the cloud securely and without loss of performance often requires the application either be replaced or rewritten. Neither of these options is quick or inexpensive. Legacy apps can often be migrated from on-premises infrastructure to a Hosted Private Cloud as is.

Why Choose a Public Cloud?
If Hosted Private Clouds give you everything a public cloud does with even greater security and performance, and without the need to rewrite or replace applications, why would anyone choose a public cloud? The last thing I want to do is leave you with the impression that Hosted Private Clouds are always better. Today's Public Clouds provide outstanding performance for a variety of workloads, security is state-of-the-art, and they can usually help you cut costs even better than a Hosted Private Cloud. For the right workloads, a Public Cloud is an excellent choice. Public Clouds can also be an invaluable resource for disaster recovery and business continuity planning, although, a Hosted Private Cloud still offers many preferable benefits.  It's worth exploring the available options with your Managed Services Provider and making the decision based on a prioritized set of requirements.

According to IDC, more than 80% of enterprise IT organizations will commit to a hybrid cloud architecture by 2017, i.e., some combination of public, private, multi-tenant, and on-premises resources. Choosing the right cloud is a matter of understanding the needs of your business and your workload.

21st International Cloud Expo, taking place October 31 - November 2, 2017, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA, will feature technical sessions from a rock star conference faculty and the leading industry players in the world.

Download Show Prospectus ▸ Here

Cloud computing is now being embraced by a majority of enterprises of all sizes. Yesterday's debate about public vs. private has transformed into the reality of hybrid cloud: a recent survey shows that 74% of enterprises have a hybrid cloud strategy. Meanwhile, 94% of enterprises are using some form of XaaS - software, platform, and infrastructure as a service.

With major technology companies and startups seriously embracing Cloud strategies, now is the perfect time to attend 21st Cloud Expo, October 31 - November 2, 2017, at the Santa Clara Convention Center, CA, and June 12-14, 2018, at the Javits Center in New York City, NY, and learn what is going on, contribute to the discussions, and ensure that your enterprise is on the right path to Digital Transformation.

Track 1. Enterprise Cloud | Cloud-Native
Track 2. Big Data | Analytics
Track 3. Internet of Things | IIoT | Smart Cities
Track 4. DevOps | Digital Transformation (DX)
Track 5. APIs | Cloud Security | Mobility
Track 6. AI | ML | DL | Cognitive
Track 7. Containers | Microservices | Serverless
Track 8. FinTech | InsurTech | Token Economy

Cloud Expo | @ThingsExpo 2017 Silicon Valley
(October 31 - November 2, 2017, Santa Clara Convention Center, CA)

Cloud Expo | @ThingsExpo 2018 New York 
(June 12-14, 2018, Javits Center, Manhattan)

Download Show Prospectus ▸ Here

Every Global 2000 enterprise in the world is now integrating cloud computing in some form into its IT development and operations. Midsize and small businesses are also migrating to the cloud in increasing numbers.  

Companies are each developing their unique mix of cloud technologies and services, forming multi-cloud and hybrid cloud architectures and deployments across all major industries. Cloud-driven thinking has become the norm in financial services, manufacturing, telco, healthcare, transportation, energy, media, entertainment, retail and other consumer industries, and the public sector.

Cloud Expo is the single show where technology buyers and vendors can meet to experience and discus cloud computing and all that it entails. Sponsors of Cloud Expo will benefit from unmatched branding, profile building and lead generation opportunities through:

• Featured on-site presentation and ongoing on-demand webcast exposure to a captive audience of industry decision-makers.
• Showcase exhibition during our new extended dedicated expo hours
• Breakout Session Priority scheduling for Sponsors that have been guaranteed a 35-minute technical session
• Online advertising in SYS-CON's i-Technology Publications
• Capitalize on our Comprehensive Marketing efforts leading up to the show with print mailings, e-newsletters and extensive online media coverage.
• Unprecedented PR Coverage: Editorial Coverage on Cloud Computing Journal.
  
• Tweetup to over 75,000 plus followers
• Press releases sent on major wire services to over 500 industry analysts.

For more information on sponsorship, exhibit, and keynote opportunities, contact Carmen Gonzalez by email at events (at) sys-con.com, or by phone 201 802-3021.

The World's Largest "Cloud Digital Transformation" Event

@CloudExpo | @ThingsExpo 2017 Silicon Valley
(Oct. 31 - Nov. 2, 2017, Santa Clara Convention Center, CA)

@CloudExpo | @ThingsExpo 2018 New York 
(June 12-14, 2018, Javits Center, Manhattan)

Full Conference Registration Gold Pass and Exhibit Hall ▸ Here

Register For @CloudExpo ▸ Here via EventBrite

Register For @ThingsExpo ▸ Here via EventBrite

Register For @DevOpsSummit ▸ Here via EventBrite

Sponsorship Opportunities

Sponsors of Cloud Expo | @ThingsExpo will benefit from unmatched branding, profile building and lead generation opportunities through:

• Featured on-site presentation and ongoing on-demand webcast exposure to a captive audience of industry decision-makers
• Showcase exhibition during our new extended dedicated expo hours
• Breakout Session Priority scheduling for Sponsors that have been guaranteed a 35 minute technical session
• Online targeted advertising in SYS-CON's i-Technology Publications
• Capitalize on our Comprehensive Marketing efforts leading up to the show with print mailings, e-newsletters and extensive online media coverage
• Unprecedented Marketing Coverage: Editorial Coverage on ITweetup to over 100,000 plus followers, press releases sent on major wire services to over 500 industry analysts

For more information on sponsorship, exhibit, and keynote opportunities, contact Carmen Gonzalez (@GonzalezCarmen) today by email at events (at) sys-con.com, or by phone 201 802-3021.

Secrets of Sponsors and Exhibitors ▸ Here
Secrets of Cloud Expo Speakers ▸ Here

All major researchers estimate there will be tens of billions devices - computers, smartphones, tablets, and sensors - connected to the Internet by 2020. This number will continue to grow at a rapid pace for the next several decades.

With major technology companies and startups seriously embracing Cloud strategies, now is the perfect time to attend @CloudExpo | @ThingsExpo, October 31 - November 2, 2017, at the Santa Clara Convention Center, CA, and June 12-4, 2018, at the Javits Center in New York City, NY, and learn what is going on, contribute to the discussions, and ensure that your enterprise is on the right path to Digital Transformation.

Delegates to Cloud Expo | @ThingsExpo will be able to attend 8 simultaneous, information-packed education tracks.

There are over 120 breakout sessions in all, with Keynotes, General Sessions, and Power Panels adding to three days of incredibly rich presentations and content.

Join Cloud Expo | @ThingsExpo conference chair Roger Strukhoff (@IoT2040), October 31 - November 2, 2017, Santa Clara Convention Center, CA, and June 12-14, 2018, at the Javits Center in New York City, NY, for three days of intense Enterprise Cloud and 'Digital Transformation' discussion and focus, including Big Data's indispensable role in IoT, Smart Grids and (IIoT) Industrial Internet of Things, Wearables and Consumer IoT, as well as (new) Digital Transformation in Vertical Markets.

Financial Technology - or FinTech - Is Now Part of the @CloudExpo Program!

Accordingly, attendees at the upcoming 21st Cloud Expo | @ThingsExpo October 31 - November 2, 2017, Santa Clara Convention Center, CA, and June 12-14, 2018, at the Javits Center in New York City, NY, will find fresh new content in a new track called FinTech, which will incorporate machine learning, artificial intelligence, deep learning, and blockchain into one track.

Financial enterprises in New York City, London, Singapore, and other world financial capitals are embracing a new generation of smart, automated FinTech that eliminates many cumbersome, slow, and expensive intermediate processes from their businesses.

FinTech brings efficiency as well as the ability to deliver new services and a much improved customer experience throughout the global financial services industry. FinTech is a natural fit with cloud computing, as new services are quickly developed, deployed, and scaled on public, private, and hybrid clouds.

More than US$20 billion in venture capital is being invested in FinTech this year. @CloudExpo is pleased to bring you the latest FinTech developments as an integral part of our program, starting at the 21st International Cloud Expo October 31 - November 2, 2017 in Silicon Valley, and June 12-14, 2018, in New York City.

@CloudExpo is accepting submissions for this new track, so please visit www.CloudComputingExpo.com for the latest information.

Speaking Opportunities

The upcoming 21st International @CloudExpo | @ThingsExpo, October 31 - November 2, 2017, Santa Clara Convention Center, CA, and June 12-14, 2018, at the Javits Center in New York City, NY announces that its Call For Papers for speaking opportunities is open.

Submit your speaking proposal today! ▸ Here

About SYS-CON Media & Events
SYS-CON Media (www.sys-con.com) has since 1994 been connecting technology companies and customers through a comprehensive content stream - featuring over forty focused subject areas, from Cloud Computing to Web Security - interwoven with market-leading full-scale conferences produced by SYS-CON Events. The company's internationally recognized brands include among others Cloud Expo® (@CloudExpo), Big Data Expo® (@BigDataExpo), DevOps Summit (@DevOpsSummit), @ThingsExpo® (@ThingsExpo), Containers Expo (@ContainersExpo) and Microservices Expo (@MicroservicesE).

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