The cloud has transformed the manner in which companies work by providing seamless access to computer data and resources. However, it has decreased control over security, visibility, and cost, posing questions to the companies about cloud-only strategies.
As businesses adopt hybrid cloud networking modules, it offers considerable benefits. Due to the unreliability of a single cloud deployment, hybrid clouds are often used. Hybrid networking solutions are a blend of on-premises infrastructure and cloud environments.
The Hybrid Cloud Edge: The Best of Both Worlds
There are numerous benefits to hybrid cloud networking.
- Cost management- A hybrid cloud network controls expenses by enabling flexible task distribution between on-premises resources and the cloud. Splitting up storage across public clouds for dynamic data and on-premise servers for important data enables businesses to control their storage expenses.
- Data control- A hybrid cloud gives ownership more control over the data. An organization is able to scale its IT infrastructure as and when demand increases. Unlike a public cloud, where the onus of control is with a third-party provider, organizations with hybrid cloud networking can customize the private side of cloud storage as it suits their needs.
- Security- An organization with a hybrid model can obtain the best of both worlds. There is the security of the private cloud, along with the usability options of the public cloud. The majority of hybrid cloud providers provide encryption options for secure data transit.
Automatic security measures are standard in public clouds. Private clouds, on the other hand, provide customised security for protecting an organisation’s sensitive data.
The solid foundation for a successful hybrid cloud strategy
If a company decides to go for hybrid networking solutions, there is a need to identify the security posture, workload segregation, budget, and availability requirements. They will be able to help in designing their hybrid cloud setup. Below are the ways in which an organization can plan a successful hybrid cloud strategy.
Understanding business requirements
With a hybrid cloud setup, companies need to decide where the workload is to be placed on-premises or hybrid module. But to do this, the business needs to identify its requirements and choose the right environment.
An example is that some processes may be business-critical, others could be resource-intensive, and with a few compliance requirements, it may be tough. Digging deep into the workload requirements allows organisations to identify what combination of private, public, and on-premises clouds works out to be the best. The three main factors to consider are
- The workload that is to be supported by the hybrid cloud
- Data security and compliance
- Traffic volumes
Taking all these factors into consideration, companies need to distribute the workloads.
Choice of cloud providers
Reviewing and comparing merchants that comply with requirements like reliability, support, and security can help in the selection of suitable vendors. An example is that there are a few vendors who extend support to hybrid network solutions, whereas others are keen on a public cloud setup. Some may provide better performance tracking, whereas others may provide cost management options.
Security is to be prioritized
Any hybrid cloud infrastructure is incomplete without security. It is necessary to provide security across the entire cloud environment, and the data is encrypted in a state of rest or transit. There is bound to be a lot of data transfer between on-premises and public cloud platforms. Companies need to ensure that encryption, security protocols, and other security measures are in place to ensure data transfer. Below are a few tools that can help in the security enhancement of a hybrid cloud model.
- Network security software- This tool that provides intruder detection, firewalls, and prevention systems. Even a VPN can play an important role in this hybrid cloud environment.
- Identity and access management (IAM) software- The tool is able to manage user identity and permissions, which makes them easily accessible to the users.
- Disaster recovery software- In the event of an outage, disaster recovery tools can restore critical data.
Evaluate government policies
It is essential to develop a strong policy network so that the data stored is easily accessible to authorised users. This keeps them away from unauthorised individuals.
Connectivity and scalability
Network connectivity between the public and on-premises has to be robust, ensuring seamless transformation of information across the environment. The environment needs to be scalable to handle fluctuating loads.
Cost optimization
The cost risks for the public are also prevalent. Companies need to have robust cost management tools and strategies in place to ensure they have superior visibility into their contracts. There is a need to analyse pricing models and usage patterns, which may help optimise costs in the long run.
Companies prefer IT services, so the part of the process where the data has to be migrated first to third-party providers can be eliminated.
Cashing in on the power of hybrid cloud deployment
Challenges within the cloud environment have motivated companies to explore new avenues. Though attractive from certain quarters, on-premises does not work out. A complete cloud solution, on the other hand, has visibility, security, and compliance issues. Hybrid cloud networking is a balance between on-premises and public clouds. However, it is not a silver spoon that will address all the problems.
Companies first need to understand what sort of value they expect from their IT infrastructure. Then it comes to the question of how to set up the IT environment in order to achieve their goals. Companies need to align between diverse cloud vendors, manage resources effectively, establish strong security procedures, maintain strong connections, and optimize costs.