Multi-Cloud and Hybrid Cloud: When Should Each Be Used?

Cloud doesn’t need to be all or nothing. Get the best out of all IT options with hybrid and multi-cloud

During the past decade, cloud computing has brought many benefits to organisations looking to streamline their IT and develop new products. Cloud has also given rise to many new buzzwords, including “multi-cloud” and “hybrid cloud”.

In this blog we’ll be looking at the differences between multi and hybrid cloud, and explore how organisations can benefit from a range of options beyond single cloud delivery.

On-premises, cloud, hybrid or multi?

There are many options for IT service delivery, because IT is mission-critical and in most cases cannot simply be switched from one platform to another quickly. 

The idea of having all IT resources on a single cloud platform is not realistic, nor desired, in many organisations. For example, a company might use a cloud-based software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform such as Salesforce.com to meet its CRM requirements, store its central data resources on Amazon’s AWS, and run analytics tasks on Google Cloud.

At the same time, some core applications might remain within the company’s own data centre and connect with a hybrid cloud service provider. 

As a result of this trend, many organisations are finding they now have to manage a disparate mix of platforms and applications. Here’s where hybrid and multi-cloud solutions can be of value.

• Hybrid cloud. In a ‘hybrid’ cloud architecture, resources from a number of cloud providers are linked together and integrated with in-house infrastructure. Embracing a hybrid cloud hosting service strategy can result in some enticing benefits for an organisation, including flexibility and scalability. Your application can benefit from cloud services as needed in a hybrid architecture. As an example, your e-commerce application might need additional capacity during peak periods and therefore benefit from a hybrid architecture. 

• Multi-cloud. In a multi-cloud architecture, different services and capabilities can be chosen from a range and combined as required. A decision might be taken to run some applications on Amazon while placing others on Microsoft’s Azure, for example. Corporate email might be outsourced to Google’s Gmail service, while a data warehouse could be entrusted to a cloud operator such as Snowflake. An effective use of multi-cloud typically includes backups and DR – there is no need to depend on one provider if you have multiple options.

Whatever the application, taking a diverse approach brings the advantage of reduced risk. When all resources are placed on a single cloud, any disruption to that platform can have a significant impact on operations. By spreading workloads across multiple cloud platforms, the risk of widespread disruption can be minimised. 

This also translates to improved levels of security and the potential for cost reductions by “shopping around”. It’s possible, for example, to source storage capacity from one cloud provider and compute resources from another. With cloud adoption, a virtual IT infrastructure can be created in the most cost-effective way possible.

Many clouds make management vital

Whether your application is taking advantage of hybrid or multi-cloud, infrastructure and management of the platforms and data is critical. And this is a very different task from managing on-premises systems or even a single cloud provider, as data and applications in multiple locations need to be managed as a cohesive whole. 

Good management, combined with leading hybrid cloud consulting services, can deliver the ability to dial resources up and down as requirements do, and to change the mix whenever required. 

As cloud-based architecture becomes more complex, the task of managing it also rises. For this reason, more organisations are turning to automation tools to help. These automation tools can monitor all components within the infrastructure and make changes where required. For example, workloads can be shifted between clouds at times of peak demand, or additional resources can be sourced as needed. 

Multi + MSP: Your cloud, your way

As the cloud market matures and options increase, having a multi-cloud strategy will enable your organisation to use cloud on your terms. 

With the right MSP support partner, you’ll gain the huge benefit of being able to use the best cloud for the application, factoring in key considerations such as performance, security and location. 

For many organisations, being able to migrate to cloud like-for-like is not an option. For example, console access and other beneficial features of Tecala’s Cloud can be compromised in the public cloud. As a solution, customers can migrate first to our cloud to gain all the benefits of our technology, and enhance the service later with a hybrid cloud integration platform. 

Other benefits of engaging with an MSP include: 

• More control and management over existing cloud services. If an existing solution has become too complex, overly costly or inflexible, an MSP can help get the right level of service to align with the budget. 
• Better management. If your cloud environment is too hard to manage, upgrade or innovate with, an MSP will get you the right people with the right skills.  

• Modernisation. If a customer wants to ‘modernise their cloud’ they can without their IT team needing to go through a re-education or re-tooling process, and benefit from hybrid cloud managed services. 
• Constant evolution. MSPs constantly evolve to provide the client with the best solution as the products and industry evolve, so in-house teams don’t have to. 

Tecala allows you to build ‘Your Cloud, Your Way’, so it will be fast, stable, secure, and able to seamlessly respond to your changing business needs with multi-cloud service management. 

Built on the most innovative technology platforms from the world’s leading vendors, we deliver you the highest-performing cloud with leading multi-cloud managed services. And because we’re continually optimising, adjusting and monitoring your cloud services to meet your changing business needs, you’ll enjoy complete freedom, flexibility and control – and most importantly: continually optimised performance.