As companies increasingly embrace digital transformation, moving to the cloud has become a strategic priority to enhance scalability, flexibility, and efficiency.
One of the most significant decisions for companies adopting an enterprise product is choosing the deployment model. Should businesses go with the public cloud, private cloud, dedicated cloud, or stick with an on-premise solution? Each deployment model has distinct characteristics, offering different trade-offs in terms of cost, scalability, security, and control.
The 3DEXPERIENCE Platform from Dassault Systèmes is a robust, integrated suite of applications that powers innovation and digital transformation for businesses. It is available on public, private or dedicated cloud as well as on premise, depending on the customer’s overall digital strategy.
In this blog, we’ll explore the differences between these deployment models and help you understand the pros and cons of each to make an informed decision for your business.
Public Cloud
A public cloud is a cloud computing model where infrastructure and services are hosted and maintained by a third-party cloud provider such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud. These cloud providers manage the infrastructure, and companies can rent computing resources on a pay-as-you-go basis.
Private Cloud
A private cloud is a cloud computing environment where infrastructure is dedicated to a single organization. Unlike the public cloud, where resources are shared, a private cloud allows businesses to have exclusive access to the infrastructure, often hosted within the organization’s datacentre or by a third-party cloud service provider.
Dedicated Cloud
A dedicated cloud is like a private cloud, but it is hosted and managed by a third-party cloud provider. With a dedicated cloud, businesses still have dedicated resources, but the infrastructure is maintained by the cloud service provider.
On-Premise
An on-premise deployment model refers to running the 3DEXPERIENCE platform on hardware and infrastructure located within the organization’s physical premises. This traditional model involves maintaining the software, hardware, and data centres internally.
Here is a table which dissects the benefits, challenges and trade-offs between the different deployment models discussed above:
Cloud Deployment Comparison Table
| Feature | Public Cloud | Private Cloud | Dedicated Cloud | On-Premise |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deployment Model | Hosted by third-party providers(e.g. AWS,Azure,Google Cloud) | Infrastructure dedicated to a single organization | Cloud infrastructure dedicated to an organization but hosted by a third-party provider | Fully on-site infrastructure managed by the organization |
| Scalability | Highly scalable, resources added dynamically as needed | Limited scalability, depends on private infrastructure capacity | Scalable within the dedicated environment, but constrained to the provider’s resources | Limited scalability, requires investment in additional hardware |
| Cost | Pay-as-you-go, cost-effective for varying workloads | Higher cost due to dedicated resources and customizations | Like private cloud but can be more cost-effective for high-demand applications | High upfront capital expenditure and ongoing maintenance costs |
| Security & Compliance | Shared responsibility model, general security controls | Higher security, more control over sensitive data, meets strict compliance needs | Offers security like private cloud, with provider-specific controls | Full control over security and compliance, but requires dedicated internal resources and expertise |
| Customization | Limited customization due to standardized infrastructure | Highly customizable based on specific organizational needs | Some customization allowed, but infrastructure is still managed by a third-party provider | Full control over customization according to organizational needs |
| Maintenance & Updates | Managed by the cloud provider, automatic updates | Managed by the organization or third-party, some manual intervention may be needed | Managed by the provider, but the organization has some control over timing and execution | Full responsibility for maintenance, updates, and patches |
| Global Accessibility | Accessible globally via internet, enabling worldwide collaboration | Limited, typically requires VPN or internal network access | Like public cloud but with more control over access policies | Limited, typically requires internal network or VPN setup |
| Integration with Legacy Systems | Integration may be challenging and require additional effort | Easier to integrate with existing legacy systems | Easier to integrate with existing systems, like private cloud | Full control, easier to integrate with existing internal systems |
| Flexibility | Highly flexible, fast provisioning and scaling | Less flexible, scaling limited by internal infrastructure | Flexibility to adjust resources within the dedicated environment, but constrained by provider resources | Less flexible, scaling requires significant hardware upgrades and IT resources |
| Access Control | Cloud provider manages access control, but organizations set policies | Full control over access control and user management | Full control over access policies, but provider manages infrastructure | Complete control over access control and user management |
| Risk of Downtime | Potential for downtime depending on cloud provider and multi-tenant environment | Low risk, since infrastructure is dedicated to the organization | Low risk, as resources are dedicated to the organization | Low risk, but depends on internal infrastructure reliability and management |
| Disaster Recovery | Managed by cloud provider with built-in recovery options | Customizable disaster recovery protocols, typically requires more effort | Provider-managed disaster recovery with some customization available | Full control |
Conclusion
The 3DEXPERIENCE platform on the cloud provides organizations with the flexibility, scalability, and cost-effectiveness needed to drive digital transformation. Whether choosing a public, private, or dedicated cloud solution, each option has its unique advantages based on the organization’s specific requirements. Public cloud offers cost efficiency and scalability, while private cloud provides enhanced security and customization. Dedicated cloud enables organizations to combine the best of both worlds.
In comparison to on-premise solutions, cloud deployments reduce IT complexity, enhance collaboration, and ensure that companies can scale quickly as business needs evolve. By moving to the cloud, businesses can gain a competitive edge, drive innovation, and optimize their product lifecycle management processes.
Ultimately, the choice between cloud and on-premise solutions, and between public, private, and dedicated cloud, will depend on factors like cost, security, compliance, scalability, and the company’s overall digital strategy. As more companies embrace the cloud, the 3DEXPERIENCE platform is helping organizations across industries accelerate innovation and streamline operations for the future.