A hybrid cloud is a combination of on-premises data centers with one or more public or private clouds, orchestrated as a unified, distributed computing environment. Hybrid clouds exist in many forms and are sometimes referred to as cloud hybrid configurations. When multiple public cloud providers are integrated into a hybrid environment, it is referred to as a hybrid multi-cloud infrastructure.
When the cloud was first conceived, it was distinctly separate from on-premises data centers. You either worked solely with on-premises equipment or accessed online applications, such as Google apps, Amazon Web Services, or Salesforce, through a browser. Due to the flexibility and easy scalability of the cloud, it wasn't long before organizations developed standalone cloud-based applications alongside their existing on-premises data centers. The need for system integration led to the development of virtual platforms that acted as a bridge between on-premises servers and the cloud. The use of these platforms to create secure, well-integrated environments is known as a hybrid cloud infrastructure.
Common terms associated with the hybrid cloud include:
The hybrid cloud comprises a collection of on-premises data centers with private or public clouds, and operating as a single environment using a cloud management platform. This platform typically automates processes such as resource management, services, governance, and security. Users can interconnect hybrid cloud components in several ways:
The three primary architectural features of a hybrid cloud infrastructure includes on-premises data centers, a private cloud and a public cloud.
Organizations use hybrid cloud computing for many different purposes. Typical applications include:
The hybrid cloud consists of several layers. The hybrid cloud infrastructure layer sits at the bottom and consists of on-premises data centers and one or more public or private cloud infrastructures. A hybrid cloud platform sits above that and spans the on-premises environment and cloud resources. Next is the hybrid cloud software layer, where applications run. The final layer is an observation layer that acts as a window to provide an overview of all applications running in the hybrid cloud.
A hybrid cloud is an excellent way for companies to optimize workload resources and easily scale operations. Specific benefits of hybrid cloud include:
Despite many benefits, the hybrid cloud may not be the best solution. Factors you should consider when deciding whether it’s right for your business or enterprise include:
Before making the switch to a hybrid cloud, it’s important to research your options and plan your strategy carefully. Any hybrid cloud strategy should consider your business needs, capabilities, and resources. Follow these steps to set up your hybrid cloud environment:
Assess business needs: Identify current limitations and determine how a hybrid strategy can help. Evaluate your current workloads and their dependencies. Identify the workloads you can migrate and those you can’t, keeping in mind any plans to retire or replace legacy systems.
Choose the right cloud providers: Carefully choose your cloud providers. Compare technologies, features, costs, scalability, security controls, and reputation. Look at data migration costs and interoperability between your services.
Choose a hybrid cloud platform: A hybrid cloud platform is a software layer that facilitates hybrid cloud services. Many public cloud providers offer hybrid platforms that link their public platforms with private data centers, such as Google Anthos or AWS Outposts.
Create a migration plan: Plan when and how to move apps to the cloud. Set a comprehensive timeline. Allow time for testing, checking, and app optimization before going live.
Monitor, evaluate, and adjust: Continuously audit app performance, checking for vulnerabilities. Rebalance and reconfigure workloads to optimize performance. Create a governance policy that enforces consistency and standardization while maintaining flexibility.
Develop a hybrid cloud backup strategy: Create a comprehensive hybrid cloud backup plan. Establish sophisticated backup policies that ensure reliable backups and disaster recovery processes, regardless of where or how you store your data. Choose vendor platforms that offer the widest possible range of backup, replication, and recovery solutions consistent with your current and future hybrid cloud partners.
The hybrid cloud is increasingly attractive for companies that need the benefits of scalability, data security and high system availability. Business use cases for the hybrid cloud include:
While growth in the public cloud seems to be declining, the hybrid cloud is still growing strongly. Although public clouds are highly scalable and readily accessible, large-scale use can become expensive. The hybrid cloud eliminates this problem, and the effectiveness of this approach is seen in industry forecasts that predict the hybrid cloud market will triple in size to $262 billion by 2027.
The adoption of standardized architectures, such as Kubernetes and containers that run across multiple clouds, simplifies hybrid cloud development and facilitates workload portability. Edge computing is fast becoming part and parcel of hybrid computing with its ability to reduce latency, operate with reduced bandwidth, and increase resiliency.
The hybrid cloud provides greater resilience and stability, although the operation of on-premises data centers together with private and public clouds significantly increases system complexity. Data is more widely distributed, and managing replication, backups, and disaster recovery strategies is more difficult. You need a hybrid cloud backup solution that controls, protects, and manages your data no matter where it is. Veeam provides a variety of backup and recovery solutions to suit all workloads.
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