The cloud has revolutionized the way businesses operate, providing unprecedented scalability, cost savings, and flexibility. But with so many options available, it can be difficult to know which cloud approach is right for your organization. Should you choose hybrid cloud, multi-cloud, or something else?
In this blog post, we’ll explore the differences between hybrid cloud and multi-cloud, and how Teridion’s cloud networking solutions can help you maximize both approaches. We’ll discuss the features, benefits, and challenges of each so you can find the best solution for your needs.
Choosing the right solution: Hybrid cloud vs multi-cloud
Cloud computing is quickly becoming the go-to choice for organizations of all sizes that are looking to reduce IT costs and increase scale. Cloud computing involves the delivery of computing services over the internet, including storage, servers, databases, software, and networking. It can be used to provide a range of services from Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) applications to Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) platforms.
When it comes to leveraging cloud computing technologies and services from multiple providers, two different approaches have emerged: hybrid cloud and multi-cloud. Both hybrid cloud and multi-cloud architectures offer advantages over traditional on-premises solutions but differ in their approach.
At their core, hybrid clouds and multi-cloud implementations involve combining resources from multiple cloud service providers into a single architecture for maximum flexibility and control. The difference between them lies in how they use these resources: while a hybrid cloud combines resources from both public and private clouds within a single environment, a multi-cloud architecture leverages resources from multiple public clouds separately and manages them as one system.
What is multi-cloud?
Multi-cloud is a cloud computing strategy in which an organization uses multiple cloud service providers for its various needs. This approach allows companies to get the most benefit from different cloud services providers with differentiated features and capabilities, such as storage, computing power, or security measures. Using multiple clouds lets organizations optimize performance, cost, and functionality.
Additionally, a multi-cloud setup allows businesses to safeguard redundancy and reliability by having backup systems in place in case a vendor suffers an outage or other issue. By not being tied down to just one vendor, organizations have more flexibility to change their technology stack or scale up services without needing to completely overhaul their architecture. Furthermore, because data is spread across multiple cloud providers, chances of data loss are reduced as well.
Finally, adopting a multi-cloud approach enables organizations to use specialized cloud services that may be offered by some vendors but not others. This could include specific types of machine learning and analytics tools or enhanced security measures that are necessary for certain applications and workloads.
By leveraging the capabilities of several vendors through a multi-cloud strategy, businesses can gain access to more resources while ensuring better performance than if they were using just one provider’s services.
What is a hybrid cloud?
A hybrid cloud is a computing environment that combines the use of both private and public cloud infrastructure. This setup allows organizations to get the scalability and cost-effectiveness of the public cloud, while still having control over sensitive data and applications on their own private cloud. The hybrid cloud approach is particularly attractive for businesses that need to ensure compliance with regulations such as HIPAA or FERPA.
In a hybrid cloud setup, an organization can move workloads back and forth between its own dedicated data center infrastructure and offsite public cloud environments such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud Platform (GCP), or Microsoft Azure with ease. This makes it easier for organizations to use existing investments in hardware alongside newer cloud technologies when needed while providing more control over where data is stored than a purely public or private deployment would allow.
Hybrid cloud vs multi-cloud: What are the key differences?
The main difference between hybrid cloud and multi-cloud lies in their respective architectures. Hybrid cloud combines public cloud infrastructure with private on-premise or private third-party resources. Multi-cloud involves public cloud providers only and uses multiple distinct public cloud providers for different purposes. This means that a hybrid cloud approach allows customers to integrate and manage resources across different cloud environments, while a multi-cloud approach emphasizes using multiple vendors to obtain additional services or to optimize performance.
When it comes to pricing, a hybrid cloud model often leads to increased expenses for a company, particularly if the private cloud infrastructure is on their premises because this involves acquiring, overseeing, and maintaining the necessary resources. In contrast, using public cloud services cuts the need for upfront financial commitments. As a result, opting for multi-cloud solutions that rely on public cloud resources proves to be a more economically viable choice for both deployment and ongoing maintenance. Leveraging the substantial purchasing power of public cloud vendors grants multi-cloud users access to cutting-edge technology at a more affordable cost.
Data storage is another key area where there are differences between these two approaches. Hybrid clouds allow customers to store data both in public and private services, which provides better control over sensitive information. While multi-cloud models can’t provide this level of control, they excel in other areas of data storage, including infinite storage space, added protection against outages, stronger backup and disaster recovery possibilities, and other issues affecting single vendors.
One notable edge of adopting a hybrid cloud infrastructure is the ability for organizations to exert control over physical access to their private cloud hardware. This is particularly relevant in industries subject to stringent regulatory frameworks. In contrast, in the realm of multi-cloud solutions, companies have diminished authority over individuals with access to the underlying physical infrastructure, although these resources are typically safeguarded by multiple layers of robust security protocols.
Ultimately, choosing between hybrid cloud vs multi-cloud solutions is a question of business needs. Hybrid clouds provide greater control for customers who need to keep certain applications or data within their own premises for security purposes while still utilizing the power and cost savings of public services. They are suitable for those looking for tighter integration among various systems. Multi-cloud offers more flexibility, agility, and redundancy with access to specialized services and customization from multiple providers.
Can a hybrid cloud be a multi-cloud?
It is indeed possible for a hybrid cloud to incorporate multiple cloud service providers, which is often called a “multi-cloud architecture”. This approach can provide organizations with an even greater level of flexibility and security than just using a single provider. By employing multiple cloud services, businesses can maximize the unique offerings of different vendors while also ensuring reliability and redundancy in the event of an outage or other issue.
Organizations that choose to adopt this approach can utilize different cloud service providers for specific workloads or applications within their hybrid infrastructure. For example, they may choose to use one provider for their web hosting needs, another for storage solutions, and a third for database services. Conversely, a multi-cloud configuration cannot be classified as a hybrid cloud since it lacks the incorporation of a private cloud resource.
Teridion: Get the most from your hybrid cloud or multi-cloud deployment
Teridion is an AI-powered network as a service platform that specializes in the performance, reliability, and security of cloud-based environments. Our patented technology provides organizations with an enhanced experience when deploying any cloud-based architecture.
As a cloud-native solution, Teridion allows businesses to accelerate to the cloud seamlessly. We connect hundreds of points of presence and 25 cloud service providers such as Amazon, Azure, and Google, through our agile network architecture. Our solutions improve connectivity and application performance across hybrid cloud and multi-cloud architectures by optimizing traffic routing, reducing latency, and providing easy integration across multiple cloud service providers.
Additionally, our focus on security through encryption and secure connections improves data protection. We offer comprehensive solutions for optimizing network performance in distributed computing environments including remote and hybrid work setups, so businesses can keep their data safe while still taking advantage of the scalability of the public cloud.
Teridion’s experienced team is available to consult with organizations on how to best optimize their specific hybrid cloud or multi-cloud infrastructure with its offerings. By leveraging our expertise in this field, businesses can ensure that they are getting the most out of their investments in these technologies. Explore Teridion’s offerings to find out how we can help your organization increase efficiency while maintaining security requirements.
How to choose the right cloud option for your business
Assess current infrastructure: When considering the decision to use a hybrid or multi-cloud solution, it is important to first assess your current infrastructure. Take stock of the hardware, software, and cloud services already in place and identify any gaps or areas that may require improvement. This will help you determine if a hybrid or multi-cloud solution is the best fit for your current IT environment.
Evaluate business goals: It is also important to consider the business goals that will be impacted by your choice of cloud solution. Are you looking to reduce costs, increase data security, or improve scalability? Understanding the overall objectives of the business will help you determine if a hybrid or multi-cloud solution is the best option to meet those goals.
Analyze available cloud options: Once you have identified your business objectives, it is time to analyze the available cloud options. Research different providers and services to determine which ones are the best fit for your organization. Evaluate features such as pricing, scalability, security, customer support, and ease of integration.
To recap, the most important thing to consider when deciding between a hybrid cloud or multi-cloud option is the specific business requirements. Depending on the size of the organization, the types of applications and workloads that need to be supported, as well as the specific security and compliance requirements, different cloud options may be more appropriate. An organization that requires a high degree of scalability and flexibility is likely to benefit from a multi-cloud option. This is because a multi-cloud approach allows the organization to access different cloud providers and choose the best solutions for their needs. Multi-cloud is also more cost-effective because it doesn’t require upfront capital expenditures or maintenance.
On the other hand, if an organization requires a high degree of control and security, a hybrid cloud option is typically the more appropriate choice. This is because a hybrid cloud allows an organization to privately maintain some of its infrastructure on-premise and still get the scalability and flexibility of public cloud services for data and applications that don’t demand strict regulation or compliance measures.
By following these steps and considerations, you can be sure that you are making an informed decision regarding choosing between a hybrid or multi-cloud solution.