Although the cloud environment is based upon virtualization, this doesn't meant that every virtualized data center is also a private cloud. According to the National Institute of Standards and Technology, there are five elements that turn a virtualized environment into a private cloud:
- Adaptability in the cloud environment
- Automated self-service
- Network access by the end user
- Pooling of resources
- Resource monitoring
Adaptability
Cloud environments need the ability to adapt to the accessibility of resources by expanding and contracting utilization of those resources. This is typically accomplished through an orchestration system that is driven by both data and events, while still accounting for the environment's usage.
Automated Self-Service
The difference between virtualization and a private cloud environment can be as simple as end user access. This access should be self-service and completely automated, without requiring any manual actions on the back end. The majority of time, this is accomplished by a web service and an orchestration solution to ensure that action is taken throughout the resource's life cycle.
Network Access
Accessing the resource is accomplished by a standard mechanism such as a remote access client or a web browser. This ensures that all end users have access no matter their level of technological experience. It also ensures that all members of an organization, no matter their location, have the same access and knowledge. By doing this, an organization can increase the efficiency of their employees and resource consumption.
Pooling of Resources
Cloud computing relies on dynamic consumption. In order to accomplish this, a traditional virtualization solution is tweaked to apply to a private cloud: the pooling of resources. This allows for dynamic consumption by combining and allocating compute, network, and storage resources.
Resource Monitoring
Another important component of turning virtualization into a private cloud is the monitoring of resources. Businesses need efficiency in all areas, and resource monitoring allows the elements discussed above to function efficiently, while also allowing some insight into the current state of the environment. This means that end users can see if a resource is available and what its current status is.
The virtualized environment is the base for a private cloud network, which it becomes when these five important elements are applied. By ensuring adaptability, automated self-service and broad end user access, the pooling of resources, and the ability to monitor these resources, businesses can increase both their efficiency and their productivity.