Hybrid Cloud refers to a cloud computing model that integrates at least one private cloud and one public cloud, working together to deliver a flexible range of cloud computing services. This approach extends infrastructure and operations uniformly, creating a single operating model that manages application workloads across both environments. It enables seamless migration of workloads between private and public clouds as business needs change.
Hybrid cloud solutions provide a unified pool of resources that support modern application strategies and digital transformation efforts. Most organizations have adopted hybrid cloud infrastructure to reduce risk, lower overall IT and cloud costs, facilitate cloud migration without refactoring, consolidate data centers, and handle seasonal spikes in demand for compute and storage resources.
How does hybrid cloud work?
Hybrid clouds combine public and private clouds into a unified entity where data and application workloads can move seamlessly between platforms and share data. This is achieved through virtualization of data and workloads, network function virtualization (NFV) or VPNs, and connectivity to one or more cloud providers.
There are many benefits to consider with hybrid cloud:
- Workload migration: Quickly migrate workloads without refactoring, using familiar tools and processes, while accessing cloud-native services from the new cloud environment.
- Facilitate application modernization: Create and deploy microservices and container-based applications while continuing to operate virtual machine-based workloads on the same cloud platform.
- Enhance scalability: Leverage the instant agility and scale of public cloud providers in near-real time using familiar tools and processes.
- Enforce security and compliance mandates: Link security policies to each application, ensuring consistent adoption wherever workloads are deployed and managed.
- Reduce IT workload: Offer self-service to developers and line-of-business (LOB) application owners in on-site and public cloud environments, reducing IT staff’s mundane tasks related to spinning up new VMs or containers.
- Increase flexibility: Provide options for where and when workloads and data are deployed, speeding up IT response to changing needs for organizations with diverse application requirements and digital business initiatives.
- Reduce complexity: Simplify operations with a single operating model across environments to optimize the mix of capital and operating expenses, reduce operating and security risk, and improve operating efficiency while avoiding silos and skills gaps.
- Support existing and new applications: Use a single hybrid platform that works with VM and containerized workloads.
- Increase cloud utility: Improve on-premises cloud capabilities and shift from siloed infrastructure-oriented operations to a service-based model that delivers consistent services regardless of where applications are deployed.
What is hybrid cloud architecture?
Hybrid architecture blends public and private cloud resources with tools that allow for unified management and orchestration. This setup enables workloads and data to transition seamlessly between the two environments based on the organization’s business needs. It also supports functions like cloud bursting, where workloads typically hosted on-premises or in a private cloud are supplemented by public cloud infrastructure to handle spikes in demand.
What are hybrid cloud platforms?
Hybrid cloud platforms revolve around hybrid cloud management tools, ensuring that public and private cloud elements work together to achieve business goals. Some popular hybrid orchestration models include:
- Customer managed: Private cloud solutions can be deployed in on-premises and edge environments, often as hyperconverged infrastructure, with key portions increasingly available as SaaS offerings.
- Vendor managed: Vendors can deploy and manage hybrid solutions in data centers and edge environments as a fully hosted hardware and software solution.
- Partner managed: Hybrid cloud solutions are provided by various cloud and hosted infrastructure providers, offering consistent infrastructure and operations compatible with on-site private cloud solutions.
- Cloud provider-managed: Hyperscale cloud providers offer a standard cloud service portfolio and solutions based on consistent infrastructure and operations compatible with private cloud solutions.
What is the difference between hybrid cloud vs. multi-cloud?
A hybrid cloud integrates both public and private cloud elements, aiming for consistent infrastructure and operations across them. A multi-cloud environment includes more than one public cloud provider, regardless of whether it is hybrid. Therefore, cloud architecture can be hybrid without being multi-cloud, multi-cloud without being hybrid, or both hybrid and multi-cloud.
IT organizations may use hybrid cloud as part of a broader multi-cloud strategy that encompasses different environments. In a multi-cloud setup, IT organizations often require additional management tools and processes beyond those of a hybrid cloud to ensure consistent operations. Effective multi-cloud management ensures visibility and control over costs, security, and compliance across any combination of hybrid and multi-cloud environments.
What are hybrid cloud challenges?
The challenge for organizations pursuing hybrid cloud is to find an operating model that simplifies operations, reduces management complexity, enhances flexibility through interoperability, and meets the requirements of diverse application architectures and digital business objectives.
A hybrid cloud solution is most effective when a single set of management tools, skills, and workflows can extend seamlessly across consistent infrastructure common to on-site, public cloud, and hosted environments.
A single operating model addresses the following challenges:
- Migration without refactoring: Migrating applications from dissimilar environments typically requires time-consuming and costly refactoring. Consistent infrastructure enables fast, low-cost migration to the cloud and easy migration back on-site if needs change.
- VM and container workloads: IT organizations need to support both containerized cloud-native applications and existing virtual machines. A hybrid cloud management foundation should allow integrated management of both new and existing applications.
- Consistent security and policies: Many security policies are tied to the underlying infrastructure. In a hybrid cloud, it is crucial to tie security and compliance policies to the workload, ensuring policies are enforced consistently regardless of where workloads are deployed.
- Siloed tools and processes: Using different tools and processes to manage applications and infrastructure in various environments can create new functional silos and require specialized skills, hindering cloud goals. A hybrid cloud should extend existing IT tools and processes from the data center to the cloud, optimizing operational efficiency and avoiding the need for additional training or hiring.
FAQ’s
What is hybrid cloud?
Hybrid cloud integrates private and public clouds to manage application workloads across both environments, allowing seamless migration as business needs evolve.
How does hybrid cloud work?
Hybrid clouds combine public and private clouds, enabling data and workloads to move between them using virtualization, NFV, VPNs, and connectivity to cloud providers.
What is hybrid cloud architecture?
Hybrid architecture blends public and private clouds with unified management tools, facilitating seamless transitions of workloads and data based on business needs. It supports functions like cloudbursting for handling demand spikes.
Conclusion
Hybrid cloud solutions combine the strengths of private and public clouds, offering organizations flexibility, scalability, and cost-efficiency. By integrating these platforms, businesses can optimize operations, maintain control over data, and adapt to evolving business demands. Embracing hybrid cloud supports digital transformation and positions organizations for future innovation and growth in today’s interconnected landscape.