Using ArcGIS on cloud platforms has been popular for years. The use of cloud platforms and has been growing rapidly for over a decade. Many Esri customers use one or more of the patterns discussed below to quickly deploy secure GIS solutions at scale.
Cloud usage patterns
Cloud computing services fall into three main categories: infrastructure as a service (IaaS), software as a service (SaaS), and platform as a service (PaaS).
With IaaS, you run traditional software, but the hardware infrastructure—the physical servers and networking equipment on your premises—is replaced by virtual machines and virtual networking provisioned and configured using the administrative interfaces of the cloud platform of your choice. With SaaS, everything is hosted and managed by the software vendor. Once the software is running in the cloud, additional cloud-native features are provided by the cloud platform. Common features include storage and database options that are specific to running in the cloud. This type of functionality is referred to as PaaS and provides building blocks to run highly scalable and highly resilient software deployments.
The decision to run software within the organization (ArcGIS Enterprise using an IaaS model) or have a vendor provide the software as a service (such as ArcGIS Online, Esri Managed Cloud Services, or Esri Managed Cloud Services Advanced Plus using a SaaS model) depends on the requirements of the organization.
For many organizations, it's not an either-or choice, as they implement both methods to get the benefits of both. For organizations that choose one or the other, the decision is often driven by functional requirements (capabilities available in one model but not the other) as well as externally imposed requirements around security (rules and regulations that impact where data resides, who manages and has access to their data, and so on). The following image shows how these deployment responsibilities are delegated:
Esri supports working securely in the cloud in three distinct ways:
- ArcGIS cloud images
- Esri Managed Cloud Services Advanced Plus
- ArcGIS Online
ArcGIS cloud Images
You can build ArcGIS Enterprise software using IaaS. Use specialized deployment tools to make it easier to install and configure the software on specific cloud platforms. You can also create your own machine images to host Esri software in cloud environments. With either option, security is granularly configurable to meet your security needs. Consider Esri best practices for configuring secure ArcGIS Server and Portal for ArcGIS environments as well as your organization's needs and policies when designing your ArcGIS Enterprise site security.
Esri Managed Cloud Services Advanced Plus
You can work with Esri to securely deploy ArcGIS Enterprise in the cloud by engaging with Esri Managed Cloud Services to design and host a solution that fits your needs. The Esri Managed Cloud Services Advanced Plus offering is compliant with FedRAMP Moderate requirements and provides ArcGIS securely in the cloud. Esri Managed Cloud Services Advanced Plus consists of a secure deployment of ArcGIS Enterprise in the cloud and is offered under Managed Services. Esri Managed Cloud Services Advanced Plus can be used as a stand-alone solution or to supplement existing implementations of ArcGIS Online using a hybrid approach. This enables customers to meet stricter security requirements while continuing to operate entirely in the cloud.
ArcGIS Online
ArcGIS Online is a cloud-based SaaS mapping and analysis solution. Use it to make maps, analyze data, and share and collaborate. Get access to workflow-specific apps, maps, and data from around the globe, and tools for being mobile in the field. Your data and maps are stored in a secure and private infrastructure and can be configured to meet your mapping and IT requirements.