What distinguishes a public cloud from a private cloud?

A public cloud is characterized by its ownership and operation by third-party providers who offer resources, services, and infrastructure to multiple organizations and users over the internet. This environment allows for scalability, as resources can be easily adjusted based on demand, and it can accommodate a large number of users and applications. The resources in a public cloud—such as servers, storage, and services—are shared among various clients, which allows for cost efficiency and flexibility.

The distinction between public and private clouds lies in their accessibility and management. While a public cloud is available and accessible to anyone with an internet connection and is managed by external providers, a private cloud is typically utilized by a single organization, offering greater control over data, security, and compliance.

Understanding this concept helps differentiate it from the other options related to clouds, which highlight misunderstandings about cloud types. For example, a private cloud being accessible over the internet or hosted only on public servers does not represent the core distinction between public and private clouds, as these scenarios do not capture the essence of ownership and exclusivity that define private clouds.