With multi-cloud and hybrid cloud, operations must choose the best for their practical solution. Source: Shutterstock

With multi-cloud and hybrid cloud, operations must choose the best for their practical solution. Source: Shutterstock

Hybrid cloud and multi-cloud: Choosing the right type matters

THE ABUNDANT resources of cloud computing platforms and services have made the famous technology solution very adaptable and flexible for a variety of operations.

Choosing the right one must remain a priority to avoid costly employment, inefficient workflow, limited solution options, and unnecessary operational maintenance.

Managing and streamlining data as well as employing enough computing power to run operations online – or on the cloud – has become key to business efficiency. Enabled by various advancements in features and functionality, cloud computing is now extended to hybrid cloud and multi-cloud environments.

With multi-cloud and hybrid cloud, it’s all about the infrastructure or the management services that best suit operations. Cloud solutions are supposed to solve existing problems as well as add value to the operation and business module. If done wrong, it could potentially be very costly.

Before jumping ahead, it’s important to emphasize that public clouds are cloud computing services or platforms that are hosted, managed, and maintained by the provider of the infrastructure.

Operations also pay for usage as they go, and can adjust the capacity as needed, saving operating and maintenance costs.

If you are running an operation that requires mass storage space for ‘cold’ or passive data, and also needs computing power commodity then, hybrid cloud — a combination of private and public clouds, a scalable and flexible solution — is the right choice for you.

Hybrid cloud works best for operations running projects of different timeframes and doesn’t have a fixed capacity requirement. Projects with deadlines can be hosted on public clouds as they are more flexible.

Whereas, long-term data that are generally inactive in nature but still need to be hosted, can occupy private clouds. Long term computing solutions commitments are better on a private cloud or premise-based infrastructure as they are cheaper, easier to manage, and more secure.

Despite being a cost-effective solution due to its flexible nature, there are some considerations to be accounted for such as maintenance efforts to configure both public and private platforms. Some time investment is definitely necessary for research and development when building your own private cloud infrastructure.

On the other hand, if you’re running an operation that aims to innovate and maintain different types of functionality at a time, then multi-cloud is the option for you. A combination of multiple public clouds, most businesses are employing this type of solution as they prefer not to be bound by the features offered by one provider.

Operations that wish to benefit from an extensive feature of cloud solutions can choose to host themselves on multiple public platforms. For example, you can choose to utilize the computing power from provider A, but use storage space from provider B.

This is great for operations that do no store passive data and constantly need a flexible cloud environment to host various types of projects while not being limited to a vendor’s features. This ensures continuity of workflow, readily-available alternative solutions sources, as well as avoids vendor lock-in.

However, the issue here is with security as it relies on public platforms. Not to mention, the complicated structures require more management and skillful configuration to avoid expenditure and immature disruptions.

Recent innovation efforts have resulted in an array of operational tools development and technology solutions.

As the call to go digital gets louder than ever – especially since it is revealed that the internet economy is set to grow to US$300 billion – more operations are looking to redefine their brands with cloud solutions.

The goal here is, to choose the right one.