Cloud storage allows companies of all kinds to move away from costly and complex on-premise storage infrastructure.
By using the Cloud, companies can scale their digital storage capacity as needed, thus reducing capital expenditure and enabling greater flexibility.
As businesses increasingly adopt Cloud solutions, the market has moved from Single-Cloud environments to the now rather popular Multi-Cloud strategy.
Multi-Cloud storage allows organisations to distribute data and workloads across multiple Cloud providers, and with the rise of hybrid Multi-Cloud storage, businesses are in a better position than ever before to integrate on-premise infrastructure, even if it is limited, with multiple Cloud environments, enjoying the best of both worlds.
Making the Most of On-Premise and Cloud Application Locations
Hybrid Multi-Cloud storage gives businesses exactly what they need to optimise their IT environments through the well-thought-out and strategic placing of data and applications across both on-premises and multiple Cloud platforms.
Certain types of data may need to remain on-premise to meet regulatory requirements, especially in industries like finance and healthcare. With a hybrid Multi-Cloud model, businesses can ensure that their most sensitive data remains within the required jurisdiction while at the same time still taking advantage of the Cloud for less sensitive workloads.
Different workloads also have different performance requirements. Apps that take a while to load and use should remain on-premise to ensure optimal performance, while those less critical applications can be moved to the Cloud, to free up on-premise resources.
Finally, there’s the financial side of things.
A hybrid Multi-Cloud lets businesses balance their costs by using on-premise infrastructure for predictable workloads and Cloud services for occasional use. This flexibility ensures that resources are used efficiently without overprovisioning (meaning, using more resources than necessary).
The Biggest Benefits of Hybrid Multi-Cloud Storage
Using a system set up in this way comes with loads of helpful benefits that will enhance the way that companies can do business.
To start with,businesses can avoid vendor lock-in by using multiple Cloud providers. This means they can choose the best services from each provider and switch providers if needed.
Businesses can also improve resilience by spreading data and applications across multiple Clouds and on-premise systems. If one Cloud provider experiences downtime, operations can continue uninterrupted on another platform.
And then there is the fact that a hybrid Multi-Cloud approach enables businesses to scale their storage needs up or down depending on demand. This scalability is particularly beneficial for businesses experiencing rapid growth or seasonal spikes in activity.
Potential Pitfalls
While the benefits are clear, businesses must also be aware of the potential pitfalls associated with hybrid Multi-Cloud storage.
Managing a hybrid Multi-Cloud environment can be complex so IT teams must have the expertise to manage multiple platforms, ensure compatibility, and maintain security across different environments. For some companies, it can be best to work with an outsourced IT company to be sure the system is properly run.
With data spread across multiple environments, security also becomes more challenging. Businesses need to implement strict security measures to protect data both in transit and data at rest.
While hybrid Multi-Cloud can save money, this approach can also lead to numerous unexpected expenses if not managed carefully. Businesses need to monitor and control costs across all platforms to avoid budget overruns.
Technologies to Build a Hybrid Multi-Cloud Environment
Building a successful hybrid Multi-Cloud environment requires the right technologies. These are just a few that you can consider:
- Cloud Management Platforms (CMPs) – CMPs let businesses manage and monitor multiple Cloud environments from a single interface, thus simplifying operations and reducing the complexity.
- Software-Defined Storage (SDS) – SDS solutions separate storage hardware from software, allowing for more flexible and scalable storage management across on-premise and Cloud environments.
- Automation and Orchestration Tools – Automation tools streamline the deployment and management of applications across hybrid Multi-Cloud environments, thus reducing manual effort as well as errors.
Ready to change the way you store your company data? At 24/7 IT Services, we specialise in reliable Cloud storage solutions of all kinds, while we also provide IT Security and Managed IT Support, among other services. Contact us today for more information.
