Hybrid cloud: definition, key benefits, applications

Hybrid cloud benefits

A hybrid cloud presents a modern and convenient approach to organizing enterprise operations. On-premises infrastructure has serious limitations in terms of capacity and elasticity, but not all companies are ready to fully switch to the cloud. In this case, a hybrid cloud solution strikes a balance between the two options. Here are some of its benefits.

Scalability

Expanding the capacity of a local data center can be daunting, as it involves significant funds for machine purchases and time to integrate them into the IT system. In addition, it may not be cost-effective if scaling down is necessary in the future.

If the public cloud isn’t an option for you due to security concerns, consider a hybrid cloud infrastructure. By delegating non-mission-critical operations to the cloud, you can reduce the load on the private cloud, thus optimizing performance and efficiency. This approach also enables more flexibility in responding to changes in demand.

Security and control

Although modern cloud service providers offer strong security measures, storing data on-premises remains the optimal way to safeguard data. However, this doesn’t mean you should dismiss the possibility of utilizing the public cloud altogether. Opting for a hybrid cloud approach can provide the best of both worlds, offering the security benefits of a private cloud while leveraging the power of a public cloud.

In addition to enhancing hybrid cloud security, you gain greater control over your data. You can customize the private side of the cloud to match your organization’s needs and allocate assets according to your preferences.

Cost-efficiency

For enterprises considering migrating to the cloud, cost is usually a key factor. Once again, the hybrid cloud is an excellent solution. It eliminates the need to invest in data center infrastructure, including equipment and personnel for maintenance, to accommodate spikes in demand.

Unlike a multi-cloud system, a hybrid cloud can help reduce the cost of migrating digital assets between different clouds, as some providers charge an additional fee for data migration.

Continuity

Opting for a hybrid cloud solution enables companies to mitigate the risks associated with downtime. In the event of a failure, business operations can proceed as usual with minimal downtime and disruption. A hybrid cloud also allows organizations to back up their core data in the cloud while giving them the flexibility to expand their capacity during periods of increased demand. This strategy helps mitigate the risk of overwhelming private servers.

Agility

Scalability and agility play critical roles in cloud adoption, allowing companies to gain a competitive edge. Setting up a hybrid cloud enables an organization to quickly respond to evolving customer needs. They can handle large workloads and data sets when needed, while also making informed decisions about resource allocation based on cost and performance considerations.

Compliance

Using a hybrid cloud facilitates compliance with strict industry regulations and standards that are subject to change over time. By managing sensitive operations within the private cloud and seamlessly transferring data to and from public cloud data centers when required, companies can effectively maintain regulatory compliance.

Public cloud / private cloud / hybrid cloud

Hybrid cloud limitations

Hybrid cloud solutions, while offering numerous advantages, also come with some limitations. A hybrid cloud is demanding to build and maintain. The main complexity associated with hybrid cloud solutions involves compatibility, security, and troubleshooting issues.

First, since different services often use various technologies and platforms, enterprises must architect their on-premises cloud with compatibility and integrity in mind to enable effective integration with the public cloud.

Second, although safety is one benefit of a hybrid solution, hybrid clouds are less secure than public clouds. Misuse or a successful attack on the public cloud infrastructure can put the system at risk. For this reason, for domains dealing extensively with personal data, such as banks and insurance companies, the hybrid cloud is not an option due to stringent legal requirements.

Third, if a problem arises, the approach to troubleshooting differs between private systems and public clouds depending on the location of the issues. Efficient resolution may require the expertise of highly skilled administrators and cloud engineers.

In addition, setting up and maintaining a hybrid cloud can be expensive, as organizations must invest in both on-premises hardware and cloud services, which can strain budgets.

Hybrid cloud scenarios

If a hybrid cloud is the best fit for you, below are some possible ways you can leverage it to maximize business benefits.

Cloud migration

Immediate transition to the cloud is nearly impossible. A hybrid cloud approach serves as an essential intermediate step in on-premises-to-cloud migration. Such migrations often require substantial time, especially for extensive projects, during which all project components must remain accessible to users. This is where a hybrid cloud can play a vital role.

Disaster recovery

According to Statista, disaster recovery is one of the most popular hybrid cloud applications. In this scenario, organizations maintain their critical data and applications on-premises while using the cloud for data backup and disaster recovery purposes. In case of a cyberattack, hardware breakdown, or other catastrophe, a company can quickly and seamlessly move its operations to a public cloud infrastructure.

Cloud bursting

Organizations with fluctuating workloads use the cloud to handle spikes in demand. Whenever on-premises resources reach capacity, excess workloads are shifted to external third-party cloud services to ensure consistent performance.

Edge computing

Edge computing is an increasingly popular solution for addressing latency issues. Gartner predicts that by 2025, 75% of data will be processed at the edge. Organizations may use on-premises edge devices for data processing and then send aggregated or analyzed data to the cloud for further analysis and storage.

Workloads management and compliance adherence

Enterprises utilizing hybrid cloud infrastructure can use easily scalable public clouds for their dynamic workloads while keeping less volatile and more sensitive data in the on-premises data center. Therefore, organizations with strict data sovereignty, particularly in the finance and healthcare sectors, can store personal and financial information in the private cloud to meet regulatory requirements while still leveraging cloud resources.

Software development

Developers and testers can rely on their private cloud for security and control of the production environment, as well as other operational needs, while simultaneously leveraging the flexibility, scalability, and cost-efficiency of public clouds such as Google Cloud, Azure, or AWS. Hybrid clouds allow the development team to efficiently utilize cloud resources based on project needs, create different testing environments, replicate user experiences from different locations, and access a wide range of tools and services—all while ensuring data security.