1.4. Cloud Deployment Models
Cloud deployment models define where your cloud resources are located and how they are managed. Think of it like housing: a public cloud is like renting an apartment (shared building, provider handles maintenance), a private cloud is like owning a house (full control, you maintain everything), and hybrid cloud is like owning a house with a vacation rental (flexibility to use both). Without choosing the right deployment model, organizations risk either over-paying for control they don't need or failing to meet compliance requirements that demand data isolation.
💡 First Principle: The First Principle is that cloud deployment models define the ownership, location, and management of cloud infrastructure, offering choices between fully managed public clouds, isolated private clouds, and integrated hybrid clouds.
Scenario: A healthcare company needs to decide whether to host all its applications on a cloud provider's infrastructure, manage its own on-premises data center, or combine both approaches — while keeping patient data compliant with regulations.
Reflection Question: How do different cloud deployment models (Public, Private, Hybrid) fundamentally allow businesses to balance control, cost, and compliance — and what breaks when you pick the wrong model?
