Thinking About Public to Private Cloud Migration? Here’s the Essentials

The cloud. Love it or hate it, 94% of businesses depend on cloud solutions, and there’s no turning back. Yet, rising costs, security risks, poor support, and limited control are common issues with many public clouds. This is causing businesses to question if sticking with a public cloud is worth it—or if a public cloud to private cloud migration might be the smarter move.

While hyperscalers like AWS, Azure, or Google offer scalability and convenience, they can still present challenges like complex pricing and security concerns. However, with private clouds, companies can access the same scalability, lower prices, and more control.

Plus, with the growing trend toward hybrid-cloud and multi-cloud strategies, private clouds are becoming a key part of a secure and flexible infrastructure.

“Migrating from the public cloud to a private cloud can give businesses the tailored infrastructure and cost-control they need, especially when data sovereignty, compliance, and custom solutions become critical for growth and long-term success.”

– Tim Timrawi, CEO, Sharktech

Ready to learn more about migrating to a private cloud? In this article, we’ll help you do just that. What you’ll learn here is:

• The difference between public cloud vs. private cloud
• Why a public to private cloud migration might be a good idea
• The basics of a public cloud to private cloud migration process

Public Cloud vs Private Cloud: What’s the Difference?

Public and private cloud technology is the same—yet the difference is in how resources are managed and who controls the infrastructure. Public clouds share resources across many users, while private clouds dedicate resources to a single organization for greater control and customization.

Public and private cloud technology is the same; the difference lies in how resources are managed and who controls the infrastructure. Public clouds share resources across many users, while private clouds dedicate resources to a single organization for greater control and customization.

What is a Public Cloud?

A public cloud is a shared infrastructure managed by third-party providers like AWS, Azure, or Google. Businesses rent cloud resources and services, benefiting from scalability and ease of use, but they have limited control over configurations and security.

Think of the cloud as an office building where multiple businesses operate.
In a public cloud, it’s like renting office space in a large building where many other companies share the facilities.

You use common resources, like electricity, Wi-Fi, and security, but you don’t have control over how these resources are managed or customized. It’s convenient, affordable, and easy to get started, but you may face limitations if your business needs specific customizations or enhanced security measures.

What is a Private Cloud?

A private cloud is a dedicated infrastructure used by a single business. It can be hosted on-premise or by a third-party provider, offering greater control, customization, and enhanced security tailored to specific business needs and compliance requirements.

Now, imagine controlling the entire office building.
In a private cloud, your business controls everything—from the office layout to the security protocols. The space is leased from the owner, and they help you maintain it. But, you decide how resources are allocated, what security measures are in place, and how everything operates. It requires more effort to set up, but it gives you the flexibility and control to customize the space to fit your exact needs.

At a Glance: Public Cloud vs. Private Cloud

Why Businesses Explore Migrating from a Public Cloud to a Private Cloud

There are several reasons why businesses are choosing to migrate from a public cloud to a private cloud, and each business has unique motivations based on their specific needs and challenges.

Below are the top reasons today’s businesses are shifting to a private cloud solution.

Cost Control

We’ve already established that cost is the primary factor for a business to opt for a private cloud over a public solution. A closer look shows just how difficult keeping cloud costs in check really is. Nearly 50% of all businesses find it difficult to keep public cloud costs under control. Approximately one-third of businesses overrun their cloud spend by 40%.

Security

With public clouds, data security is primarily in the hands of the public cloud provider—like relying on an office building’s shared security system. Depending on the business, these security measures may be insufficient. If a security failure occurs, companies can find they’re unable to operate or that sensitive data has been compromised.

Customization

In a public cloud, customization options are limited to the provider’s offerings. While this may be enticing to businesses without complex cloud infrastructure needs, it can create issues with those that need more than an out-of-the-box solution.

Multi-Cloud or Hybrid Cloud Strategy

As cyberattacks increase and the expectation of continuous availability increases, businesses are opting to store data in more than one location. If a company’s public cloud is breached and operations halted, such as with a ransomware attack, a private cloud can be an additional zone of availability, allowing operations to continue and reducing the impact of the event on the business.

Sovereignty

In a private cloud, your business has full sovereignty over its data, workloads, and infrastructure—just like owning the entire office building. You decide how your data is managed, where it’s stored, and who has access.

In a public cloud, you often sacrifice this control, relying on the provider’s policies, which can lead to concerns about data privacy, compliance, and sensitive data security.

Next Steps: Understanding the Public Cloud to Private Cloud Migration Process

If the time comes to migrate from a public cloud to private, it’s important to explore the process and develop a public cloud migration strategy. As with all data migrations, there are certain risks involved, and charting a robust, thoughtful migration plan is key to overcoming any migration challenges that may arise.

Below are some tips that will help you make informed decisions and ensure you make a smooth transition to a private cloud solution.

Assess Your Needs and Infrastructure

As with any data migration, you need to evaluate your current infrastructure and business needs to understand your current cloud solutions and where you’d like them to be. Identify what public cloud features are limiting your business—such as costs or security gaps—and also determine which benefits you want to maintain.

As private clouds offer more customization and design capabilities, it’s crucial to assess your team’s technical expertise. Determine whether they can manage a private cloud independently or if external support will be necessary for success.

Select Your Provider

Choosing the right private cloud provider is critical to a successful migration and ongoing success. Look for a provider that offers robust migration support, ongoing management services, and the flexibility to scale with your business.

Ensure they have a strong track record in security, compliance, and client satisfaction. It’s also important to evaluate pricing models for transparency and cost efficiency. Consider whether the provider can meet your specific industry requirements, and don’t hesitate to ask for references or case studies to gauge their performance.

A few items to keep in mind when exploring private cloud providers:

• OpenStack. Look for private clouds built with OpenStack to prevent getting locked in by proprietary technologies.
• Transparent billing. If public cloud convoluted pricing is what’s driving you away, be sure to partner with a provider who offers transparent pricing and clear invoicing structures.
• Migration service. Public clouds often require you to hire external experts to migrate to their cloud. Try finding a company that includes migration services as part of the onboarding process.
• Contract obligations. Not all providers require you to lock into a years-long contract. Shop around—look for one that allows you to leave at your convenience and move workloads freely.
• Tech stack. You shouldn’t have to shift your tech stack as you expand. Partner with a company that uses open-source technology, such as KVM, to ensure compatibility.
• Ongoing support. Poor client service is another reason companies are unimpressed with current public cloud companies. Be sure to assess a new provider’s client service policies and see if it works for you.

Plan and Execute the Migration

Work with your provider to create a clear migration plan that details each step and is targeted to minimize disruptions. Prioritize critical data and applications, and test the process in phases to ensure steady progress. Prepare migration checklists that will help keep the project organized and running smoothly.

Have regular check-ins with project stakeholders to evaluate progress and ensure your move to a private cloud is a success. If the migration will result in new user behaviors, be sure to educate them on new processes and help them overcome challenges they may encounter.

Migrate to the Private Cloud with Confidence

Change is never easy, but sometimes it’s the only way forward. If public cloud solutions are consuming more resources than you’re comfortable with and are a source of friction, not ease, give Sharktech a call.

We offer private cloud solutions that let you break free from the chains of hyperscalers without sacrificing the ease, convenience, and business opportunities the cloud is designed for. Our cloud is built on an OpenStack foundation. Plus, migration services aren’t an extra – they’re standard for all of our clients.

Contact us today. It’s time for you to enjoy the cloud again.