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19 January 2021
- Cloud Computing
Cloud computing solutions are already popular all around the world. We use the cloud for private purposes and in business. You can rent a part of the public cloud infrastructure or order a dedicated, private cloud that will fit your particular needs. Both those solutions have their advantages and disadvantages. Imagine having the best of both worlds – let us tell you more about hybrid cloud.
Hybrid Cloud is getting popular, as it offers more than standard cloud solutions. Imagine that you could get scalability, flexibility and data security at an affordable price! What industries can benefit from using a Hybrid Cloud and what are the main advantages of these services? Take a few minutes to read this article and find out more about it.
What is Hybrid Cloud?
Surely you can guess from the introduction that a hybrid cloud is an environment that combines what’s best in public and private cloud services. Normally using one of those, you can process data only in the public or a private cloud, but if you decide to store data in a hybrid cloud, you can share data and applications between them. Depending on whom you talk to, you may hear that ‘hybrid cloud’ can be used also for two or more private clouds or two or more public clouds. In this case, hybrid simply means the use of two cloud infrastructures.
The most accurate definition for hybrid cloud architecture was formulated by The National Institute of Standards, according to which hybrid cloud architecture is a combination of two or more different infrastructures (so public, private or community clouds) that are connected by standardized technology, which makes exchanging data possible and ensures application portability.
No matter the type of setup, all hybrid cloud architectures have some common traits:
- There is no separate management for each cloud, but one, overarching tool for managing hybrid cloud infrastructure. This is easier than running clouds separately.
- You can synchronize your company’s data in public and private infrastructure.
- Legacy infrastructure and clouds (public and private) connect with each other through the Internet.
Imagine that you can fulfil your basic tasks without having to process sensitive data in a public cloud and at the same time process important data safely in a private cloud. If you’re planning on adopting cloud-based solutions or are already benefiting from them, but think that your current solution is not ideal, you should certainly learn about the advantages of a hybrid cloud.
Public, private and hybrid cloud – how do they differ?
Probably you are using, have used or have at least heard about the cloud, but let’s take a moment to point out the most important differences between public, private and hybrid clouds. After all, understanding their advantages and disadvantages is the key to making the best choice for your business.
Public cloud – advantages and disadvantages
This is usually chosen by small companies that don’t process a great deal of sensitive data. Using a public cloud is, in short, renting a part of some distributed data center’s infrastructure. It is cheaper and more efficient than an on-premises data center.
One of the biggest advantages of a public cloud is the scalability of this solution – so important for startups and medium sized companies which plan to grow really fast. Reducing the costs of maintaining a private data center is often the main reason to choose a public cloud. Keeping an on-premises data center is inefficient and expensive. The most obvious advantage of using cloud-based solutions is access to data everywhere and anytime through the Internet.
But there are also disadvantages, as storing data on a public cloud means little control over data security and little knowledge about where your data actually is, and, of course, as your needs grow, so does the cost of using the space on a public cloud.
Private cloud – advantages and disadvantages
When you need dedicated solutions for your enterprise, you should decide on a private cloud (or a hybrid cloud – as we’re just about to explain). You can still hire experts to manage it for you or do it by yourself. You gain improved security, because only your employees can access the data stored in the private cloud. In this way, you will also reduce the total costs of running your business.
If you use a private cloud, you have more control and you can customize your systems, to make your cloud more suitable for your company. Though it does come with higher costs and more responsibility as well, especially if you decide to maintain it with your own experts.
Is hybrid cloud the best choice?
This solution allows applications and components to communicate regardless of differences between architectures. All the workloads, private and public clouds and on-premises data centers are linked together. Does that sound good to you? It means that:
- You can store and use any kind of app in your hybrid cloud or process any data safely.
- There is no problem customizing any of the tools you use in the cloud.
- All data are safe, but also easily accessible and under control.
- Your systems are fully scalable.
- You can get extra IT resources on short notice and at low costs.
You may wonder if such a solution can be safe. Properly designed, integrated and managed, a hybrid cloud is as secure as a traditional on-premises data center. Choosing a hybrid cloud will give you a whole range of options for your business, and notably, such a great solution is affordable, so even startups and medium sized companies can benefit from it.
Hybrid Cloud application for business
Hybrid cloud solutions are getting more popular in many industries and not only – the US government already uses this. Access to a public cloud being a part of hybrid cloud infrastructure enables government agencies to use new applications more quickly and cheaply compared to on-premises data centers. The government can also work more effectively by placing workloads on suitable platforms.
Education is changing very fast – especially now – and schools require more modern tools. A hybrid Cloud makes it possible to eliminate traditional, expensive textbooks. This technology splendidly improves communication between students and teachers. Teachers can use new platforms, applications and techniques to make studying easier and more fun by launching innovative courses and providing learning materials without significant expense.
Lately, healthcare is also adopting new IT solutions. Security is of high importance for hospitals and clinics, which can face the risk of hackers attacking in order to steal sensitive information about patients. The ability to share data easily and quickly is one of the most important things in their work and a hybrid cloud enables it, as well as giving many other possibilities to improve day to day work.
A hybrid cloud can offer everything that’s needed for financial companies with a high level of security for sensitive data and the flexibility to expand already existing infrastructure. Releasing new products or services is possible without huge expense if you decide to use a hybrid cloud.
It would take hours to detail all of the advantages of using a hybrid cloud in the retail industry. Access to the newest applications allows many brands to provide the best customer experience, manage their shops, improve services and analyze the market.
Why choose hybrid cloud infrastructure instead of public or private cloud?
Hybrid cloud is used by modern, successful companies. Indeed, the market is now changing really dynamically, as all businesses try to stay up to date and undergo digital transformation. It is essential for every company to adopt tech solutions in order to improve their efficiency, reduce costs and increase profits. This can be done by adopting hybrid cloud infrastructure, because it will allow you to select, change or combine clouds to suit your current needs anytime.
You already know that hybrid cloud architecture offers many advantages, but are you still wondering if it is the right cloud-based solution for your business? Just consider the wide range of industries where hybrid clouds are used.
Hybrid Cloud infrastructure provides companies with greater flexibility and many data deployment options not available to those using standard cloud-based solutions. If you run a large business and you’re planning to expand it, you should certainly contact us to learn more.
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