Staying competitive and innovative is important to the success and cloud technology allows you to access files faster, interpret complicated data more easily, and touts enhanced security benefits. Cloud technology allows workers to easily access workplace systems, platforms, and files from anywhere while providing safe and secure storage. The cloud also allows companies to slim down hefty IT budgets.
Still, relying on a sole cloud system is no longer a smart option for many enterprises and organizations. While one solution may have made sense in the past, companies today must take advantage of the vast variety of offerings including public, private, multi, and hybrid cloud management systems.
Cost efficiency, flexibility, resilience, and speed are some of the factors that must go into deciding which cloud environment to use. Hybrid cloud management is becoming increasingly popular, due to its ability to give enterprises hybrid cloud security and the opportunity to customize data storage according to specific needs, combining both the public and private realms.
Public vs. private clouds
Before understanding the importance of cloud management and security, it is important to understand the difference between public and private cloud computing.
Public clouds
A public cloud is run by a cloud provider, giving service to multiple customers simultaneously. The public cloud sits on a remote server that is managed by the provider. Access to the cloud is through the internet. The benefits of using a public cloud are cost efficiency by outsourcing hybrid cloud management security and lower maintenance and usage costs. Another benefit is security. Public clouds typically have high-level security which is often difficult for smaller businesses to achieve in a private cloud. Public cloud security concerns can be an issue for some organizations, although the security protocols are typically incredibly strict.
Private clouds
A private cloud is exclusively used by one company or enterprise. Some private clouds are run by third-party vendors while others are internally managed. When using a private cloud, organizations typically receive most of the benefits of the public cloud but have the ability to customize to their needs including setting security standards and using a hybrid cloud security solution. However, the cloud must be run by the company’s IT department on-premise, which often bears high costs.
The most common hybrid cloud example is to use public cloud with private cloud services and on-premises infrastructure. Hybrid models are meant to allow an organization to mix and match environments and to choose what works best for the specific applications and data.
Hybrid cloud management (HCM) refers to the management of an organization’s infrastructure deployments and services — either on-premises or off-premises. Hybrid cloud management helps organizations design, deploy and manage IT infrastructure and services across clouds, data centers, containers, virtual machines (VMs), and hardware platforms.
Benefits of Hybrid Cloud Management
Cost
Hybrid cloud management allows companies to cut down on the burdensome costs of running a private cloud exclusively. A private cloud requires manpower, equipment, and capital in order to be successful. When enterprises combine their private cloud with a public cloud, they are able to control and cut back on costs.
The connection between the public and private cloud space allows enterprises to choose which cloud to use when a new need arises, even a temporary one. When using a private cloud-only, these changes can have substantial costs that may make their use prohibitive.
Flexibility and agility
Agility is one of the leading benefits of cloud management. Hybrid cloud management gives companies flexibility in their cloud, allowing for expansion and scalability. When the need arises for new or expanded cloud space, enterprises can turn to the public cloud for an immediate solution (when in the case of a private-only cloud, this process takes longer and uses significant resources).
Cloud management solutions give enterprises the opportunity to shift, change, and grow at a pace that is essentially impossible in a private cloud-only usage situation.
Hybrid Cloud Security and Compliance
Hybrid cloud security is a top concern for all enterprises using the cloud. In certain instances, companies may be drawn to the private cloud set-up in order to have exclusive control and access to data. However, with the benefits of the public cloud, it is a mistake in many cases to rely on the private cloud solely for security purposes.
Hybrid cloud management gives enterprises the ability to keep the most sensitive data on-premise while using the public space for appropriate purposes. Hybrid cloud management oversight is achieved by using both private and public systems, tapping into the security setups of the public clouds.
A hybrid solution also allows enterprises to remain compliant with national or international regulations by choosing where to store each type of data in order to remain as secure as possible.
Summary
Hybrid cloud management solutions simplify compliance by using a single tool to manage workloads and file transfers across environments. Additionally, supporting policy-driven governance with auditing and revision capabilities provides transparency and control over integrated on-prem/off-prem resources.
With powerful hybrid cloud management tools, businesses can maximize their virtual and cloud investments without sacrificing on-premises control.
