Public Cloud
Public Cloud refers to the use of IT infrastructure via the internet – flexible, scalable, but often complex and with data privacy concerns.
For developers, it's a playground of endless possibilities.
For businesses: a question of responsibility, compliance, and cost control.
For us: a tool – powerful, but not always the best solution.
What is Public Cloud?
In a Public Cloud setup, computing power, storage, and services are provided by a vendor – usually based on a pay-as-you-go model.
Key characteristics:
- Access via the public internet
- Resources managed via portals, APIs, or CLI
- Usage-based billing
- Shared infrastructure with multi-tenancy
Examples:
Advantages of Public Cloud
- Rapid scaling – new systems available in minutes
- Global availability – data centers around the world
- Broad ecosystem – hundreds of services for every use case
- Self-service – full control for developers
Challenges and Risks
- Data privacy: Many providers are US-based – GDPR and data sovereignty must be actively addressed.
- Complexity: Networks, security, IAM – everything needs proper configuration.
- Cost control: Many small services can add up – often hard to predict.
- Vendor lock-in: Proprietary tools can make migration difficult.
Public Cloud is powerful – but also demanding.
It requires know-how, monitoring, and accountability.
How RiKuWe Approaches It
We use Public Cloud only when it fits the project – for example, when:
- global availability is essential
- a specific service (e.g., text recognition, transcription, AI) only makes sense in the cloud
- clients already use existing cloud infrastructure
By default, we prefer European providers – or operate infrastructure directly on-premises.
Our toolchain (e.g., GitOps, CI/CD, monitoring) is cloud-independent – whether it's AWS, Hetzner, or your own infrastructure.
Alternatives
Summary
Public Cloud is a tool – not a goal in itself.
It offers great potential, but also comes with challenges.
For many projects, a focused, well-managed setup is the better choice.
At RiKuWe, we think in terms of responsibility – not “instances per hour”.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Public Cloud always the best choice?
Not necessarily. It’s ideal for some projects – but for others, it may be overkill or problematic in terms of data privacy. We assess this on a case-by-case basis.
Can RiKuWe operate infrastructure in the Public Cloud?
Yes. We are cloud-agnostic – and can run infrastructure in AWS, Azure, or GCP if requested. Our toolchain remains the same – documented, versioned, and transparent.
What’s the difference between Public and Private Cloud?
Public Cloud is shared and accessed over the internet. Private Cloud is dedicated infrastructure – typically offering more control and better compliance.
What does Public Cloud cost?
That depends heavily on usage and setup. Many small services can add up to unexpectedly high costs – good planning is essential.
Is RiKuWe cheaper than Public Cloud?
Not necessarily in terms of raw resources – but often more economical in total cost due to support, clearly defined packages, and reduced internal overhead.
