The 5 Attributes of Private Cloud
This post started out as a response to the Wikibon post on “True Private Clouds.” The Wikibon team is defining what a Private Cloud looks like from a product perspective. I’m defining what a Private Cloud looks like from an enterprise IT team’s perspective. Instead of writing a response to the Wikibon post, I thought I’d cut to the chase and offer thoughts directly.
Characteristics of a Private Cloud
– Built on a hybrid infrastructure
A hybrid infrastructure is the physical layer of the infrastructure that is dynamically provisioned or de-provisioned based on the use case. Today it may serve as nodes for Network Function Virtualization and tomorrow it may be Docker Container hosts.
– Software Defined Infrastructure
In addition to the hybrid nature of the infrastructure, it’s also software defined. The configuration state of the infrastructure is managed by an intelligent software stack. IE transitioning from NFV to Docker Container is managed by a software controller.
– Service Catalog
A defined service catalog is available. Examples of catalog items are t-shirt sized VM, Containers via an image repository, and WordPress instances.
– API Accessible
Any service provided by the Private Cloud is consumable via API. Any option in provisioning a catalog item should be configurable via API.
– Dedicated Resources
Guaranteed organizational level physical segregation.
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Keith Townsend is a seasoned technology leader and Chief Technology Advisor at Futurum Group, specializing in IT infrastructure, cloud technologies, and AI. With expertise spanning cloud, virtualization, networking, and storage, Keith has been a trusted partner in transforming IT operations across industries, including pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, government, software, and financial services.
Keith’s career highlights include leading global initiatives to consolidate multiple data centers, unify disparate IT operations, and modernize mission-critical platforms for “three-letter” federal agencies. His ability to align complex technology solutions with business objectives has made him a sought-after advisor for organizations navigating digital transformation.
A recognized voice in the industry, Keith combines his deep infrastructure knowledge with AI expertise to help enterprises integrate machine learning and AI-driven solutions into their IT strategies. His leadership has extended to designing scalable architectures that support advanced analytics and automation, empowering businesses to unlock new efficiencies and capabilities.
Whether guiding data center modernization, deploying AI solutions, or advising on cloud strategies, Keith brings a unique blend of technical depth and strategic insight to every project.
