What is the difference between public cloud and community cloud?

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What is the difference between public cloud and community cloud?

Public cloud and community cloud are two different types of cloud service models that offer distinct features and benefits.

Public Cloud:
A public cloud is a cloud computing model that is open to the general public and is owned and operated by a third-party cloud service provider. In a public cloud, the infrastructure and resources are shared among multiple organizations or individuals. Some key characteristics of a public cloud include:

1. Accessibility: Public clouds are accessible to anyone with an internet connection, allowing users to access their applications and data from anywhere at any time.

2. Scalability: Public clouds offer scalability, allowing users to easily scale up or down their resources based on their needs. This flexibility enables organizations to handle fluctuating workloads efficiently.

3. Cost-effectiveness: Public clouds follow a pay-as-you-go pricing model, where users only pay for the resources they consume. This eliminates the need for upfront investments in hardware and infrastructure, making it a cost-effective option for organizations.

4. Shared infrastructure: In a public cloud, multiple organizations or individuals share the same infrastructure, including servers, storage, and networking resources. This shared infrastructure allows for cost-sharing and efficient resource utilization.

5. Limited customization: Public clouds provide standardized services and limited customization options. Users have limited control over the underlying infrastructure and are dependent on the service provider for updates and maintenance.

Community Cloud:
A community cloud is a cloud computing model that is shared among a specific group of organizations or individuals with common interests, such as industry-specific requirements, compliance regulations, or security concerns. Some key characteristics of a community cloud include:

1. Restricted access: Unlike public clouds, community clouds are accessible only to a specific community or group of organizations. This restricted access ensures that the cloud resources are shared among trusted entities with similar needs and requirements.

2. Enhanced security and compliance: Community clouds offer enhanced security measures and compliance controls tailored to the specific needs of the community. This allows organizations to meet industry-specific regulations and maintain data privacy and security.

3. Shared costs and resources: Similar to public clouds, community clouds enable cost-sharing among the community members. This can result in reduced costs compared to building and maintaining individual private clouds.

4. Customization and control: Community clouds provide more customization options and control over the infrastructure compared to public clouds. Organizations within the community can tailor the cloud services to meet their specific requirements and have more control over the underlying infrastructure.

5. Collaboration and knowledge sharing: Community clouds foster collaboration and knowledge sharing among the community members. This enables organizations to leverage shared resources, expertise, and best practices within the community.

In summary, the main difference between public cloud and community cloud lies in their accessibility, target audience, customization options, and resource sharing. Public clouds are open to the general public, offer standardized services, and are cost-effective for individual organizations. On the other hand, community clouds are restricted to a specific community, provide enhanced security and compliance controls, and allow for more customization and control over the infrastructure.