Not every cloud is the same. There are three main types: public, private and hybrid.
Public cloud
A third-party provider owns and runs it, and delivers it over the public internet. Many organizations share the same hardware underneath, but each one's data stays separate.
Think of an apartment building: everyone shares the building, but your flat is locked.
Private cloud
A private cloud serves exactly one business. The servers might sit in the company's own data centre or with a hosting vendor. It gives full control over security and the network, which is why some government agencies choose it.
It's like owning your own house.
Hybrid cloud
Many businesses blend public and private together to get the best of both. Salesforce's own example: a bank might keep sensitive customer records in a secure private cloud, and run busy customer service apps on a public cloud to handle spikes in traffic.
One more: community cloud
You may also hear about a fourth type. NIST, the US standards body, defines a community cloud as one shared by a group of organizations with the same concerns, such as the same mission or the same rules to follow. Think of a few hospitals or government agencies sharing one cloud. It can be run by those organizations or by a third party.
It's like a gated community: shared, but only by members.
Where Salesforce fits
Salesforce Help describes Hyperforce as "the next-generation Salesforce infrastructure architecture, built for the public cloud." For an admin, that means Salesforce looks after the servers and you focus on setting it up.
| Type | Who uses it | Everyday picture |
|---|---|---|
| Public | Many organizations, data kept separate | An apartment building |
| Private | Exactly one business | Your own house |
| Hybrid | One business, using both | A bit of each |
| Community | A group with shared concerns | A gated community |
Recap
- Public: shared, run by a provider, each company's data kept separate.
- Private: serves one business.
- Hybrid: mixes both.
- Community: shared by a group of organizations with the same concerns.
- Salesforce's Hyperforce is built for the public cloud.
Next, let's meet Salesforce itself.
Now you try
If you ran Peakline, which cloud would you choose, and why? Share your pick in the video's comments.