Commonly confused

Public cloud vs Private cloud

Public cloud is shared multi-tenant capacity from a provider. Private cloud is dedicated capacity you control.

Public cloud

Public cloud refers to computing services offered by third-party providers over the public internet, making them available to anyone who wants to use or purchase them. These resources, such as servers, storage, and applications, are owned and operated by the cloud provider and.

Public cloud offers on-demand computing services over the internet, owned and operated by third-party providers for multiple customers.

Full PathTerms™ definition

Private cloud

A private cloud is a computing environment dedicated to a single organization, offering cloud benefits like scalability and self-service within that organization's exclusive control. It can be hosted on-premises in a company's own data center or managed by a third-party provider.

A private cloud offers dedicated cloud computing resources for a single organization, ensuring enhanced control and security for sensitive data and appl...

Full PathTerms™ definition

Why it matters

People mix up Public cloud and Private cloud in exam questions and job posts. Knowing the difference helps you pick the right control, process, or architecture choice.

How to remember the difference

Public cloud is shared multi-tenant capacity from a provider. Private cloud is dedicated capacity you control.

Related exam lists