While choosing a social media platform service provider, look for reliability performance, security, operational capabilities, strong hosting abilities, compatibility with existing IT infrastructure and value-based pricing.

FORBES: InfosysVoice: Choosing an enterprise-class, business-ready social media platform

In hybrid form, a private cloud can include data stored on premise or off, with a private Platform-as-a-Service middleware layer managing application data and enforcing data security.

FORBES: The Data Protection And Security Case For Private Clouds