12-27-21 | Blog Post
Cloud-based solutions have become an important part of IT for organizations as they ditch traditional server rooms for virtualized IT infrastructure. But many companies still need the security that comes with an on-site data center. Now, they’re looking at hybrid cloud technologies seeking to maximize the benefits of both the public and private cloud.
A hybrid cloud integrates public and private cloud environments through a common operating system that allows them to share resources.
With the hybrid cloud model, a company can take advantage of the scalability and cost-effectiveness of the public cloud while leveraging the control and security of a private cloud environment.
A properly implemented hybrid-cloud solution provides optimal access to remote workers via the public cloud while ensuring that core and sensitive data remain secure in the private cloud environment.
With the use of Virtual Desktops, there’s no need to worry about data loss because of failed hard drives or device theft as images reside in the cloud and can be accessed remotely from any end-point device.
A hybrid cloud environment gives companies the ability to optimize performance and efficiency to meet changing business needs. Increasing computing power or adding infrastructure components, is just a click away. There’s no need to purchase, ship, receive, set up, and test new infrastructure.
This is especially beneficial to smaller companies who can scale to develop new products and services and access powerful analytical tools they may not otherwise be able to afford.
The hybrid cloud is an excellent solution for companies that need to scale to meet demand while ensuring more security and control over their data.
Instead of storing all data in a private cloud or on-site environment, companies can store core business-critical and sensitive data within the private cloud while hosting less sensitive data in an inexpensive public cloud environment.
With a pay-as-you-go subscription model, companies can data and applications as needed while paying only for the public cloud resources used.
In some industries, compliance and regulatory requirements prohibit storing certain types of data in the cloud. A hybrid cloud environment allows companies to retain control over mission-critical data and applications in the secure private cloud environment while spreading less sensitive workloads across the public cloud.
The private cloud environment can be customized to fit specific compliance regulations allowing you to choose where to store data based on compliance, policy, or security requirements.
Businesses want peace of mind that in the event of a disaster, they can continue serving customers and recover normal business operations in as little time as possible.
The hybrid cloud enables organizations to back up and secure business-critical data and applications to quickly recover from a failure, cyberattack, or natural disaster. If a disaster occurs, a business can switch to a fully remote model deploying virtual desktop solutions to remote workers and continue servicing customers without interruption.
By distributing services across the public and private cloud environment, companies can leverage maximum reliability to reduce potential downtime.
True hybrid cloud architecture integrates several public and private cloud environments using a common operating system. This solution is more suited to enterprises with high-volume workloads and distributed systems that can benefit from the speed and high-performance levels a true hybrid cloud solution provides.
An alternative method involves hosting a private cloud environment with a dedicated operating system that connects through the internet or a direct connection to the cloud service provider. Though not a purely hybrid solution, this setup is more than enough to meet the needs of most businesses.
To determine where you will locate your workloads you’ll need to consider your application, accessibility, and compliance requirements. Do you need to balance user-friendliness with security needs? Do compliance requirements prohibit you from hosting certain types of data in the public cloud?
Also, consider that some legacy applications may not fully integrate with the cloud and may need workarounds. Before you build your hybrid cloud environment, consider where you want to locate your workloads. This ensures that the environments and the applications in them can integrate and run as smoothly as possible.
The cloud platform that you choose should handle your existing and your future business needs. Is a one-size-fits-all solution enough for your business, or do you need a more customized solution?
Building a hybrid cloud solution on a platform that can’t scale for future growth could turn into an enormous waste of time and money. Other factors to consider when choosing a cloud platform include cost, flexibility, redundancy, infrastructure, and security.
While current versions of public cloud solutions are more secure than their predecessors, they don’t offer the same level of protection as a private cloud environment. You’ll need to consider how these two environments will interact when designing your hybrid cloud strategy.
Will critical business data need to move between both environments? How will sensitive data be protected while in-transit? Cyber attacks are on the rise and security is an area where you do not want to compromise.
The hybrid cloud operating system you choose will depend on the specific needs of your organization, but basically, you’ll want to choose one that simplifies the management of the complex hybrid environment. Most cloud operating systems come with centralized interfaces that make it easy for IT support to automate tasks, allocate resources, and monitor the entire hybrid cloud environment with minimal training.
The operating system will allow you to monitor and manage the entire hybrid environment through a centralized interface that simplifies the combined environments. These tools have a short learning curve. Users can be trained to manage applications and data with limited training.
Hybrid-cloud solutions offer several significant benefits for your business, but choosing the right solution can be complex. At Otava, our cloud experts can help you design a hybrid cloud solution that’s right for you. Contact us today.
