VPC

Virtual Private Cloud

In plain language

A private, walled-off section of a cloud provider's data centre that only your business can use.

The metaphor

Like a locked floor in a shared office tower with its own entrance and lift key.

Going deeper

How it works

The cloud provider shares hardware between many customers.
Each customer gets a virtual section with its own addresses and rules.
Traffic in and out passes through settings you control.
Misconfigured settings expose servers by accident.

What can go wrong (example scenario)

A small software firm launched a test server in its cloud account with the default settings. The server was reachable from the whole internet until a scan flagged it.

In practice

A company runs its accounting server in its private cloud section.
A firewall setting allows only the office address to connect.
A security review finds a storage area open to the public.

A question owners ask

Does a small office need one?

Only when running its own servers in a public cloud. Most small offices use ready-made services instead.

Related terms

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