Not expensive, not limited, not incompatible: the modern private cloud —with solutions like Proxmox or VMware— is more alive than ever and ready for any business challenge.
Since Amazon launched AWS in 2006, the term “cloud” has been almost taken hostage by public cloud giants. However, the rise of hybrid architectures, hyperconvergence, and the need for digital sovereignty has brought attention back to a more customizable and controllable model: the private cloud. Nonetheless, many misconceptions still persist that need clarification.
Let’s debunk five of the most repeated myths about private clouds with real data and solutions like Proxmox VE, VMware vSphere, Nutanix, and Red Hat OpenStack, among others.
1. Private cloud is neither agile nor scalable
FALSE. This myth arises from comparing it to the agility of public cloud, where resources can be spun up almost instantly. However, with a modern architecture based on hyper-converged infrastructure (HCI), a private cloud can be equally agile and much more cost-efficient in the medium term.
Solutions like Proxmox, VMware vSAN, or Nutanix AOS allow for easy horizontal scaling and automate resource provisioning similarly to any public cloud.
Verdict: myth. The key is choosing a modern architecture.
2. Managing a private cloud is expensive and complex
FALSE. Automation and orchestration have also reached the on-premise world. With tools like Terraform, Ansible, Proxmox Backup Server, or VMware Aria, it is possible to apply policies, deploy services, and monitor environments with very little manual intervention.
According to data from IDC, organizations that invest in private cloud with a strategic focus can:
- Reduce their TCO by 62%,
- Achieve a 477% ROI in 5 years,
- And attain an average payback period of just 9 months.
Verdict: myth. Automation changes everything.
3. Private cloud is only for small and medium-sized enterprises
FALSE. Large companies also opt for private cloud, especially when handling predictable, sensitive, or regulated workloads (such as in healthcare, banking, or public administration).
The private cloud allows for complete control over infrastructure, customized security policies, and avoids hidden costs of the public cloud. Moreover, many workloads (up to 75%, according to some studies) do not need to scale unpredictably, making the private cloud a more efficient option.
Verdict: myth. Size doesn’t matter; strategy does.
4. If I want a private cloud, I have to build it from scratch
FALSE (with nuances). It is true that you can set up your own private environment with open-source solutions like Proxmox VE or OpenStack, but there are also turnkey options from providers like VMware, Nutanix, or HPE GreenLake, which deliver fully managed, production-ready environments compatible with pay-as-you-go models.
These options allow for saving time, reducing errors, and starting advanced automation from day one.
Verdict: myth. There are managed and flexible alternatives.
5. If I have a private cloud, I can’t use a public or hybrid cloud
FALSE. In fact, 85% of companies prefer a hybrid or multicloud model. The key is that your private environment is designed to interoperate with other environments, whether for workload migration, cloud backup, or burst computing.
Platforms like VMware Cloud Director, Red Hat OpenShift, or even Proxmox with PBS + ZFS + Ceph allow seamless integrations with external services, and tools like Cloud-init, Velero, Kasten K10, or Rancher simplify that mobility.
Verdict: myth. Hybrid cloud starts at home.
Conclusion: the private cloud has matured (a lot)
We are not in 2006 anymore. Today, a well-designed private cloud can offer the agility, efficiency, and control that many organizations need, without relying on third parties, avoiding cost shocks, and with the potential to grow into hybrid or multicloud environments if the business requires it.
Whether with Proxmox, VMware, Nutanix, OpenStack, or any other platform, the private cloud is a robust and strategic option, especially in a world where data, digital sovereignty, and energy efficiency matter more than ever.
What about you? Do you still believe in these myths?