Hybrid cloud is a popular approach to cloud computing and cloud storage services, such as backups. It allows data to be stored off-site with the cloud provider, but it also allows data to be stored locally.
Public cloud provision allows organizations to adopt enterprise-class technologies for their environment, at an affordable price, but security, availability, compliance, performance, portability, and longevity in the cloud provider’s market may be some concerns.
Of course, retaining everything on site eliminates many of these concerns, or at least places them in the hands of the organization, but this will often be more expensive to implement and operate.
The hybrid cloud offers the best of both worlds by combining on-site data storage with the provision of public cloud storage.
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In-Store and Public Cloud Storage
The question that arises, however, is how to best combine in-store storage and public cloud storage to meet the needs of the organization.
In summary, with the hybrid cloud, what data goes where? Aviatrix can help you to find out.
It is really a case of data classification and risk. When a company’s applications and data move from internal platforms to a public cloud, the organization will essentially be renting services along with other clients, and entrusting the provider and its staff with the responsibility for data security, the service activity time, confidentiality, compliance and transition.
Problems in any of these areas can have a catastrophic effect. Therefore, before considering migrating data to public cloud storage, organizations need to fully understand the potential impact on the business, and the loss of revenue that can occur from hosting data off-site, in the public cloud.
What If?
Even if the above is of little relevance, organizations that wish to move to public cloud offerings must still proceed with caution. What happens if the cloud provider goes bankrupt? What if the relationship with the supplier becomes toxic? What happens if they decide they no longer want to provide services in the cloud?
These considerations determine that the data or services of an organization that are critical to the business, or sensitive in a sense of security or compliance, must be retained on site. Meanwhile, the most basic or tactical services, such as data archiving, backup, e-mail, collaboration and recovery of workspace, can be moved to a public cloud.
Having said all this, the continued maturation of the public cloud services offering is beginning to question this principle, and the more progressive organizations are adopting a “first cloud” approach to the implementation of applications.