Why hybrid cloud is important to the business?
The Reasons Why Hybrid Cloud Is Important to the Business
Cloud computing has grown in popularity in recent years because it offers a range of benefits not available to users of on-premises software. However, despite its benefits, this computing model is not ideal for all business scenarios, and according to statistics published by job search website Zippia, 40% of 96% of companies using at least one cloud solution still prefer to store their corporate data on-premises. There are enough factors holding companies back from a full migration to the cloud.
Is it possible to leverage the strengths of both types of software deployment? This article will show you why a hybrid cloud infrastructure can be an optimal enterprise solution.
Hybrid Cloud Benefits of On-Premise Solutions
While an on-premises solution lacks the flexibility of private and public cloud infrastructure and comes with significant hardware costs and maintenance expenses, certain advantages of the on-premises deployment model are particularly valuable to businesses. The majority of them are provided by a hybrid cloud infrastructure.
Reduced Latency
Hybrid software offers organizations greater access control over their software. Because such applications do not depend on the quality of the Internet connection to the same extent as cloud platforms, enterprises in areas with limited bandwidth do not have to face potential downtime and associated costs if the Internet connection is interrupted there.
Many hybrid solutions allow companies to store and process data locally to protect business operations from Internet disconnection. A hybrid cloud environment also allows companies to install some applications on-premises and set up local network services for collaboration tools that can operate completely offline.
In addition, many hybrid software programs support offline synchronization, which updates all data stored in the cloud once Internet access is restored.
Moreover, local storage can provide faster access to data, especially when managed by edge computing and using distributed file systems that allow data to be stored on-site at multiple locations. Some hybrid infrastructures are also equipped with data replication and caching mechanisms to further accelerate data retrieval.
Greater Data Security
On the one hand, cloud infrastructures, especially those offered by leading IT companies, rely on ever-improving state-of-the-art security measures. These are often much more advanced than the security tools used to protect on-premise data center infrastructure. Still, any cloud software carries a higher risk of falling victim to a hacker attack.
Considering these risks, some organizations choose not to migrate to the cloud for security reasons, especially if they operate in certain industries, for example, the medical sector, which has particularly stringent requirements for data storage. Some organizations are not allowed to store their data offsite at all.
Again, hybrid infrastructures can be a solution to this problem. In most cases, they offer flexibility and control to organizations, allowing them to choose the form of data storage they want, selecting local servers for sensitive data as well as business-critical workloads and external storage for other data.
Greater Possibilities for Customization
While the poorer integration capabilities typical of on-premise software are always seen as a disadvantage of such an infrastructure, it offers greater opportunities for customization. This feature is also available to users of a hybrid cloud model. The higher level of customization options applies both to the applications running on the company's own servers or infrastructure and to the applications using private cloud servers.
7 Characteristics of Cloud Computing Available to the Users of Hybrid Solutions
A hybrid cloud deployment model allows users to benefit from the key advantages of native cloud infrastructure. What is cloud native development and what are its benefits for companies?
Cloud native development refers to the entire process of building and deployment of applications optimized specifically for cloud environments, including the design and development phases. It is based on the principles of microservices architecture, containerization, automation, and orchestration, and promotes software scalability while the entire development and deployment process follows DevOps practices.
Low Initial Investment
Working with a cloud provider can significantly reduce the initial investment. Resigning from maintenance of hardware associated with an on-premise infrastructure brings significant savings.
Further Payment Flexibility
Depending on the exact configuration of your hybrid cloud deployment model, it can be particularly cost-effective. For instance, dynamically adjusting licensing costs based on the amount of consumed resources or the number of users and their access to software features helps organizations avoid overpaying for unused resources.
Greater Scalability
In addition to the benefits of on-premise software, hybrid solutions offer great scalability, which is provided by native cloud applications with the ability to dynamically adapt to changing resource requirements.
High Reliability and Avaliability
The flexibility described above means not only savings but also the ability to access more resources without experiencing downtime. Disruptions in work caused by insufficient resources can have particularly serious implications, especially for business-critical processes.
Backup systems available for cloud software help with disaster recovery, while easy access to the cloud from mobile devices can make cloud software available almost anywhere.
Robust Performance
Dynamic scalability and improved reliability are key to robust performance, which is easier to optimize with hybrid solutions, which, as discussed earlier, ensure greater reliability of software.
Enhanced Integration and Collaboration
Hybrid cloud software products enable easier integration with private and public cloud services, whether it is a third-party service or an application built by the same developer. Timely collaboration and smooth updates are other cloud benefits of hybrid infrastructures.
Simplified Maintenance
A cloud-based infrastructure does not require the same extensive maintenance as on-premise systems, especially when provided by a third-party vendor.
Private Cloud and Public Cloud Benefits of Hybrid Infrastructures
In addition to the benefits of cloud and on-premise solutions, a hybrid deployment model also combines the strengths of private and public cloud infrastructures.
A hybrid model provides organizations with greater control over data and security, typical of private cloud software. Combined with greater customization capabilities, this feature allows enterprises to implement their own security measures and protocols to ensure regulatory compliance.
In addition, a hybrid infrastructure enables the integration of legacy systems that are not typically compatible with public cloud environments.
The powerful scalability and flexibility of public clouds based on extensive global infrastructures support the robust performance of hybrid software products. Together with powerful disaster recovery capabilities and a wide range of publicly available services and features for further integration with other software products, the benefits of the hybrid infrastructure cloud model can further enhance business’s effectiveness.
Conclusions - Implementing Hybrid Cloud Right
One of the key benefits of a hybrid cloud infrastructure is the ability to leverage cloud resources and take advantage of the flexibility of the combination of public and private cloud solutions while maintaining business continuity with on-premises infrastructure.
Due to its complexity, a hybrid cloud deployment model requires particularly thorough and accurate planning to ensure that an organization's unique computing needs are met and data and applications are optimally utilized.
