It’s easier than ever for businesses to leverage the hybrid cloud for a secure, accessible, and cost-effective IT storage and management solution.
In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, businesses are increasingly recognising the numerous advantages of cloud computing.
However, concerns such as speed, security, compliance, and data portability have hindered adoption for some.
While both public and private cloud environments have their own merits, a third option has grown in prominence over the past few years: the hybrid cloud.
Let us delve into the concept of a hybrid cloud, explore its benefits, and provide insights on how YourShortlist can help you find the ideal partner to successfully deploy a new cloud solution for your business.
Understanding the Hybrid Cloud
Hybrid cloud is a type of cloud infrastructure that combines several advantages of both private and public clouds within a single framework.
It enables businesses to seamlessly integrate their cloud-based storage and software platforms, optimising efficiency across business processes.
Hybrid models can be implemented through collaboration between separate cloud providers, comprehensive hybrid packages from individual providers, or the integration of public cloud services into an existing private cloud infrastructure.
By adopting a hybrid approach, organisations can strategically store data across multiple locations depending on specific needs.
Whether on on-site servers, in private clouds, or in public clouds, a company will typically choose hosting locations based on performance requirements, cost considerations, regulatory compliance, and risk assessments.
This approach empowers businesses to leverage the various benefits of private cloud, public cloud, and on-premises storage while safeguarding critical data.
Benefits of Hybrid Cloud Storage
Hybrid cloud storage offers several key advantages:
- Scalability: Public clouds provide unparalleled scalability, allowing businesses to tap into vast resources from a larger cloud infrastructure. Within a hybrid structure, offloading non-sensitive functions to the public cloud allows businesses to benefit from scalability while avoiding potential risks and burdens associated with public cloud storage.
- Cost Efficiency: Public clouds offer economies of scale and centralised management, resulting in improved cost efficiency. A hybrid approach on the other hand enables businesses to access savings across multiple functions while ensuring the security of sensitive processes.
- Security: The private cloud component of the hybrid model delivers robust security for sensitive operations and aids in compliance with data handling and storage regulations. This is often assisted through the help of a cloud services provider. Hybrid solutions also offer the best of both worlds when it comes to cloud backup and disaster recovery solutions.
- Flexibility: Hybrid clouds provide businesses with a combination of secure resources and cost-effective private resources, allowing for versatile operational approaches. This can be especially beneficial for medium-sized, rapid-growth companies that require scalable, secure cloud solutions without the intensive resource requirement of managing their own private cloud or on-site server.
Implementing a Successful Hybrid Cloud
Setting up a successful cloud infrastructure requires careful planning and consideration. Here are some key steps to implementing an effective hybrid infrastructure:
- Assess Your Needs: Conduct a comprehensive assessment prior to procurement in order to understand the specific requirements of your organisation. Determine which applications can be handled by a service provider and identify potential workload reductions for your IT department.
- Building or Leasing: Decide whether to build your own cloud environment or lease private cloud space from a third-party provider. Leasing can alleviate the burden of managing a single-tenant cloud environment.
- Seek Expert Assistance: Evaluate if your organisation has the necessary expertise to implement a hybrid cloud or if you require assistance from cloud consultants and specialists. This is especially important for organisations transitioning to the cloud for the first time or migrating from an existing cloud environment.
- Application Analysis: Examine the sensitivity and importance of the data or applications you plan to migrate to your new cloud environment. Consider different configurations of the hybrid solution to strike the right balance between the benefits of public and private clouds. Ensure the system’s cybersecurity capabilities align with your organisation’s needs and future requirements.
How YourShortlist Can Help
Navigating the multitude of cloud services available can be overwhelming and time-consuming. Let us help you find the ideal cloud solution to drive your business forward!
YourShortlist offers expert guidance on the global technology market and provides personalised buying advice. We help you save valuable time and resources on procurement so you can quickly match and engage with the right providers.
Our team can assist in identifying the right cloud service for your specific needs and provide a curated shortlist of potential hybrid cloud vendors.
Provide your details on our contact page to get in touch and benefit from our non-chargeable consulting services.