Whether you operate as a SaaS business or an eCommerce platform, the value of using cloud computing is growing by the day. According to published reports, the cloud computing market is poised to grow by 18% through 2023, with 68% of cloud businesses built on open-source cloud platforms. Based on recent statistics, 77% of business executives look at technological business architecture as essential for success on the market in 2021, cloud computing included.
Cloud computing is becoming more affordable and versatile, prompting businesses to consider their options. When it comes to choosing a cloud environment to base a business on, there are two which we can debate: multi-cloud and hybrid environments. Both are viable options, but have drastically different implementation methods and perks to go along with them.
Understanding the Groundwork of Multi-Cloud and Hybrid Environments
To get a better overview of what multi-cloud and hybrid environments represent in practice, we need to break each down into its base components. This will allow us to discuss their intricacies in greater detail while understanding what makes them such viable cloud environments.
A multi-cloud environment represents a combination of two or more cloud environments, in-house or outsourced. This is done to accommodate for various back-end and front-end services, and each cloud can operate autonomously. A common use for multi-cloud environments is to link a private cloud to multiple public cloud environments to boost the overall service’s performance.
A hybrid cloud environment is a “hybrid” of one or multiple public cloud environments conjoined with private clouds. Its role is to enhance existing business’ hardware performance to make the front-end services as smooth as possible for final users. For example, hosting an SQL database on a private cloud while using a public cloud for your eCommerce is considered a hybrid environment.
While these two methodologies may seem similar on paper, the main difference lies in the nature of cloud assets they use. Multi-cloud environments can function without private clouds being present in the network, while a hybrid environment always contains in-house hardware and resources.
The Perks of Using Either Multi-Cloud or Hybrid Cloud
The choice between the two cloud environments should always come down to your business's specific needs. Depending on the scale of your business and the industry in which you operate, there are benefits to using one or the other cloud environment.
Using a Multi-Cloud Environment
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Ability to scale your operations by adding and subtracting cloud resources over time
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Reduced risks of going offline due to multiple cloud environments being present at once
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Better compliance with providers’ regulations in terms of storing sensitive stakeholder data
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Ability to implement the latest innovations and services through scaling without going offline
While a multi-cloud may seem like a logical choice at first, it will require you to have a dedicated IT professional or team in-house. Managing multiple cloud environments and maintaining their operational capacities is a full-time job. Similarly, safekeeping your data can be challenging due to multiple attack vectors being present for cybersecurity risks. However, if you can secure an IT expert to be on your premises at all times, this is a non-issue.
Using a Hybrid Cloud Environment
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Better security of your and your clients’ data thanks to the private cloud being present in the network
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Simpler and easier to manage cloud network compared to multi-cloud environments
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Streamlined control of available resources thanks to reliance on in-house hardware
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Accelerated project development turnaround due to local cloud resources being present
Small-scale businesses should opt for a hybrid cloud environment nine times out of 10 due to its simpler and more manageable network. This is especially true if you have an abundance of user data on your premises and want to protect it as good as possible. A hybrid environment serves to balance in-house and external resources to even out computing needs, making it a solid choice for most businesses.
Making the Right Choice for your Business
To make the most out of either multi-cloud or hybrid environments, your business needs a solid foundation regarding its cloud strategy. In 2021, many businesses have already shifted toward cloud-based computing to enhance their computing capabilities and to stay competitive on the open market. Waiting any longer to shift from exclusively in-house hardware to the cloud will cost your business more than you are willing to pay. You can consider following several simple steps to ascertain your business's current situation and choose the best cloud environment.
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Audit your Business’ Infrastructure
You need a good overview of how your business functions today to make it work better tomorrow. This is where a hardware audit comes into play. If you don’t have an IT expert on your premises, consider reaching out to IT consultants instead of opting for DIY auditing. Map out your network infrastructure and its pros and cons before thinking about either multi-cloud or hybrid cloud computing.
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Design an Optimal Workflow
To make the most of your upcoming transition to cloud computing, you should also create a blueprint for an optimal workflow within your business. The purpose of designing a workflow blueprint is to detect processing bottlenecks, identify the main issues within your existing workflow, and find alternative solutions. Knowing the faults within your system will enable you to create a much better cloud adoption process.
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Choose Deployment Scenarios Fit for your Business
A deployment scenario fit for your business and products/services will be necessary to make good use of cloud computing. We can identify three deployment vectors associated with cloud computing: IaaS, SaaS, and PaaS. Each has its pros and cons depending on the type of business you run, so choosing the right one is important.
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Settle for your Tooling and Management Strategies
Assembling your cloud management tool stack is the final step in ensuring that your cloud-based computing strategy is successful. Depending on whether you choose a multi-cloud or hybrid cloud environment, your service providers may already have tool kits available for use. In that case, you should onboard your IT specialist and let them use existing, verified tools instead of choosing your own. These serve to ensure solid performance between different cloud platforms, their maintenance, as well as safety from cybersecurity risks.
In Conclusion
As time goes on, more and more businesses, services, and platforms will shift toward cloud computing. Choosing the right environment between multi-cloud and hybrid cloud options is still an important question to ask yourself before committing. If you are unsure whether you can support a multi-cloud environment from a resource and manpower perspective, a hybrid cloud is a solid choice. At the end of the day, what matters is “how” you utilize your available resources to stay ahead of the competition.