What is a virtual private cloud (VPC)?
A virtual private cloud (VPC) is a logically isolated area where you can deploy resources that you defined in a virtual network. It is a secure, and isolated private cloud and you can host it in a public cloud. Just like an ordinary private cloud, you can store the data, host websites, and do everything in a virtual private cloud, but it is remotely hosted by a public cloud provider like AWS, Microsoft, and Google.
For better understanding, imagine a public cloud as a hotel, and a virtual private cloud as a “reserved” table in that hotel. Even though that hotel is fully booked, a reserved table can only be accessed by the client who made that reservation. In summary, having a virtual private cloud is like having your own private space, no one can enter your space without your permission.
In virtual private cloud, you can fully control and manage your virtual networking environment like you can select your IP address range, subnets creations, route tables and the network gateways configuration, etc. You can customize your virtual private cloud easily. For example, you can create a public subnet for web servers in order to access the Internet, and also a private subnet for backend systems like databases, or application servers.
A virtual private cloud provides secure data transmission between a client and a public cloud provider just like a virtual private network (VPN) provides secure data transmission in the public Internet. Each client’s data is isolated from other client’s data, both in transit and inside the public cloud provider’s network. By the use of security policies like private IP addressing, encryption, tunneling, or providing a different VLAN to each customer, this isolation can be done. If you are a virtual private cloud user then, you can define and manage the network components, IP addresses, subnets, network gateways, and also access control policies.
What are the advantages of using a VPC?
There are many advantages of using a virtual private cloud. Few of them are listed below:
Agility: You can have full control of your VPC and you can deploy and scale the resources at any time.
Security: Virtual private clouds are logically isolated area although it is hosted in public cloud. Hence, your data, and applications are completely isolated from other VPC users. You can only access your resources, unless you grant access to others. Due to the logical isolation, VPC environment becomes more secure.
Affordability: As VPCs are hosted in the cloud, you can save your capital on hardwares, labor, and other cloud resources. The public cloud provider will maintain and repair all the servers and software to keep in good condition. Hence, it is cost-effective.
Availability: A virtual private cloud offers risk-tolerant availability zone structures and redundancy to reduce downtime and keep operations and applications functioning at all times.