Today many organizations are exploring the cloud to store and manage their data. With wide range options available – private, public and hybrid – Choosing an apt model of cloud computing are challenging. Where public cloud has the advantage of scale and flexibility, the private cloud offers better control and security. With pros and cons that fall somewhere in between the private and public Cloud is a hybrid cloud. Hybrid is the way ahead to maximize the cloud benefit.
In order to understand what will be the future trends in hybrid clouding, Forrester Consulting conducted a survey worldwide and compile a report. The research integrates insights from director-level and above IT decision-makers. Although most of the results were expected, a couple of surprises stood out.
Benefits of converting to hybrid clouds: In the survey, Forrester found that 38% of 1,000-plus North American and European enterprise infrastructure technology decision-makers said that they are building private clouds, with 32% procuring public cloud services and the remainder planning to implement some form of cloud technology in the next 12 months. 59% of respondent said that they were adopting a hybrid cloud model. They stated three main benefits of hybrid cloud:
1) improved data management,
2) better IT infrastructure management and flexibility,
3) Finest security and compliance.
Due to the complexity involved in deploying the hybrid cloud, this result may be surprising. Although deployment is a difficult process, end the result makes it worth. Companies experienced that by compling private and public cloud with their traditional infrastructure, they are getting the best and most cost effective solutions.
Type of cloud model depends on the type of workloads: We often wonder which cloud model will be perfect for what kind of workload. Forrester found the expected result for this. Mobile apps and Internet of Things were deployed in public clouds, whereas contact centers and web business applicants were deployed in private cloud. And sensitive, mission critical applications are still deployed on premises.
Hybrid cloud has lots of moving parts: According to the survey conducted it shows that the complexity of a multiple cloud environment is the only colossal challenge faced by companies. Approximately 70% of the companies said that security and management complexity were challenging.
The seamless transformation between clouds should be provided: No company wants to move their workloads at once. Instead, they want to constantly shuffle between cloud platforms. The report concluded that the most valuable migration capabilities included being able to migrate the workloads based on their best-fit and dynamic relocation of workloads based on excess capacity.
Need for valuable features like consistency and integration, costing is not a factor: According to the survey, while searching for cloud vendors and platforms, companies are not sticking to the cost factor. This may come as surprise to few people because while shifting to the cloud, low cost is the stated as the reason. However, according to the survey, the cost is just one factor among many while deciding where to place their workloads. Companies also look for management and security tools (that work across private, public and traditional IT environment), integration with existing IT management tools and cost management capabilities.
Consulting a third party is top priority: Along with using software and platforms from third parties, many companies are working with third-party vendors for implementation, on going management/support, strategy and planning.
When it comes to cloud computing, requirements differs. That`s why many companies are migrating to the hybrid cloud. Increased flexibility and speed, combined with decreased cost are key benefits of migrating to the hybrid cloud.