Glossary Definition: Private Cloud

The private cloud is a digital environment dedicated specifically to one customer. As such, the customer has full control over downtime, as well as the hardware.

Typically, the private cloud runs on in-house hardware and the entire environment is specifically designed for each customer’s unique needs. Private cloud storage is highly secure, which is why many organizations that need to adhere to strict regulations opt to leverage the private cloud over the public cloud.

The private cloud is defined by leading provider, VMware, as “a model of cloud computing where the infrastructure is dedicated to a single user organization.”

There are various private cloud services and private cloud solutions available, such as Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Amazon Web Services.

There are several other terms that are used interchangeably with the private cloud. These include:

• Corporate cloud
• Internal cloud
• Virtual private cloud
• Managed private cloud
• Private cloud computing
• Private cloud hosting
• Private cloud server
• Private cloud architecture
• Private cloud service
• Private cloud software

Although there are countless private cloud providers, some of the most notable companies include:

• Dell
• Google
• HPE
• IBM
• Microsoft
• OpenStack
• VMware

Private cloud security is generally considered to be more secure than the public cloud because its whereabouts are known to less people. However, as a company grows, so does its brand awareness and associated security threats.

That said, both the private and public cloud are known to be extremely secure. This is because the connection between cloud servers and a user’s browser are encrypted, which means the flow of data between the two is scrambled and coded to prevent unauthorized access. The servers are also monitored continuously to protect the cloud from cyber attacks and other security breaches.

Additionally, private cloud storage offers another layer of protection as it often combines on-premise storage solutions with cloud-based systems. Lastly, private cloud infrastructure is able to be modified to suit a specific organization’s security requirements.

The private cloud is an environment dedicated specifically to one customer. As such, the customer has full control over downtime, and the hardware. The entire environment is customized, and specifically dedicated to their needs.

In contrast, the public cloud provides users with access to software solutions and applications via the public internet. It’s hosted by a third party provider, such as Google, and available to many people.

Pharma companies leverage the private cloud in several ways, such as to manage:

• Patient data
• Manufacturing data
• Data transfers
• Storage

It’s more common in pharma than the public cloud because it enables organizations to maintain sensitive data in a secure environment.

Private clouds are important for pharma because pharma organizations maintain highly confidential, sensitive information. As such, the private cloud offers these organizations a sense of confidence, knowing that their data is backed up and readily available, but safe from hackers and security threats.

Additionally, it allows pharma companies to scale drug discovery and production because their organizations have full control over downtime. They can dictate things such as their upgrade schedules, which is crucial for 24/7 manufacturing, and ensure operations run smoothly and workflows are efficient.