Connecting to Cloud: What is the Difference Between Public vs Private Internet?

Public vs Private Internet: Which Method is Best for You?

Deciding between public and private internet depends on your needs for security, performance, and cost. Public internet is affordable and easy to set up, but may lack the reliability needed for critical applications. Private internet offers secure, dedicated connections and consistent performance - ideal for sensitive, high-priority workloads, though at a higher cost. Keep reading to understand the pros and cons of each.

What is a Public Network?

A public network is an open, shared internet infrastructure that connects various users and devices worldwide. It allows businesses and individuals to access online resources and applications through commonly available internet connections.

H2: Public vs. Private internet: Pros and Cons

Let's talk security

Internet

Exposing business traffic to the internet could make the network susceptible to Denial of Service (DOS) and Distributed Denial of Service (DDOS) attacks against routers and links that you don’t control. Traffic can be end-to-end encrypted via Virtual Private Networks (VPN), but these may be limited in terms of bandwidth or packet size, slowing down the network, rendering the internet unsuitable for large volumes of information.

Many applications, especially in the B2C or public sector, simply have to be exposed to the internet in order for their users to access them. If this is the case for you, look into Web Application Firewall services which can help keep you protected from internet-borne threats.

Private

Connecting to the cloud via a direct connection limits the available points of access, because the network is private. This method of connectivity reduces data exposure and opportunity for a security breach while data is in transit. You decide who can be on the network and what they can access. The source, destination and the routes between are all controlled by you or your network provider, per your instructions.

This control can, in some cases, be a barrier to interoperability. Policies generally deny by default which means applications and users may not be able to connect without your intervention. For larger organisations, this means you’ll need dedicated resources for ongoing management, or employ a Managed Service Provider (MSP).

Cost considerations

Internet

Using the Internet as backbone is one of the cheapest and easiest ways to connect to the cloud. You can use existing links that your business has in place, making setup simple. For low to medium priority traffic, the Internet is often totally sufficient and cost effective.

However, be aware of data egress costs from cloud environments to the internet. Whilst providers will charge you nothing for ingress, egress can cost around $0.08–$0.12 per GB. If you’re sending a lot of data out to the internet, this can stack up!

Private

Direct connections are generally more expensive to initially deploy, after all, you’re getting a private circuit. However, if you’re moving large quantities of data out of the cloud it might be the way to go. 

Compared to the internet, cloud providers offer much lower egress charges for dedicated connections like ExpressRoute (Azure), Direct Connect (AWS) and Cloud Interconnect (GCP). Costs depend on region, but could be more like $0.02 per GB, a fraction of the cost.

If you have a mission critical workload generating a ton of traffic - it’s worth simulating some cost comparisons. You might be surprised by the results!

Performance

Internet

Public internet is a shared network, which can get congested. When this happens, the network will make a ‘best effort’ to use an alternative route from A to B. This might include more hops and increase latency, or cause the connection to be unstable, resulting in lost packets. For non-essential traffic, a couple of milliseconds delay and a spotty connection might not be an issue.

It should be said that there are different variations of internet connectivity. Whilst basic services could throttle your connection, others provide direct internet access or ‘private internet’ services that are very flexible, reliable, and allow you to scale up and down bandwidths relatively easily. It’s worth looking around at the options.

Private

Unlike the internet, private networks come with an SLA and support, guaranteeing a quality of service and availability for the business. Upload and download speeds are often far better than public internet, as everything end-end is within the control of the provider.

Direct links can also work with a wider range of network topologies, supporting cloud to cloud routing, which public internet isn’t suited to. This makes private connectivity more versatile. On the other hand, telco providers can be inflexible. It may be tricky to adjust the bandwidth of a dedicated link once it has been deployed, forcing you to over provision up front.

Customisation

Internet

The public internet generally provides limited customisation options, as the infrastructure is shared and the routing, bandwidth, and access controls are outside your direct management. However, you can add some flexibility through VPNs and firewalls, which offer basic control over security and data routing. Additionally, ‘private internet’ services may allow more options for configuring bandwidth, but the flexibility remains less extensive than that of private networks.

Private

Private networks offer high customisation potential, allowing businesses to design their network routing, security policies, and bandwidth allocation according to their exact needs. This level of control can optimise performance, enhance security, and ensure that specific workloads receive the necessary resources. Customisation is also beneficial for compliance, allowing organisations to align network setups with regulatory and industry standards, making private connectivity a great choice for businesses with specialised requirements.

Coverage and Control

Internet

Public internet is accessible almost anywhere, providing wide geographic coverage with minimal setup, but it lacks granular control. As a shared resource, routing and data flow are largely managed by the ISPs, which can impact both reliability and performance, especially during peak usage times. This can make it challenging to ensure consistent quality of service, particularly for organisations with multiple locations or global traffic needs.

Private

Private networks give businesses complete control over data flow and network architecture, enabling consistent, stable connections even across different regions. You control access points, security layers, and routing paths, reducing risk and enhancing reliability. Private networks also allow for custom SLAs, ensuring consistent coverage and performance that meet specific business needs—ideal for enterprises with mission-critical applications requiring uninterrupted service across multiple locations.

Summary

When assessing your options, think about what other variables might be important to your particular situation. Reliability, scalability, customer support may also factor into your thinking. It doesn’t need to be an either/or decision - a blend of connectivity methods in a single ecosystem is completely feasible and doesn’t have to cost the earth.

Why Cloud Gateway?

Cloud Gateway was founded to deal with the technical and commercial bottlenecks that stifle digital transformation. We are bringing networking and secure connectivity into the digital age through cultural, commercial and technical innovation. 

We work alongside you to design, build and deploy a bespoke solution that meets your needs right now, whilst laying a digital foundation for future transformation plans.

If you’d like to discuss this further with Cloud Gateway, we can be contacted here.