Hybrid Cloud
Services

The term “hybrid cloud” refers to an infrastructure that is a combination of on-premise server infrastructure and different public and private cloud-based solutions. Not all applications are “cloud-ready” or suited for the cloud platform and must, therefore, be maintained in an on-premise infrastructure.

We refer to a mixture of cloud and on-premise infrastructure as a “hybrid cloud”. A public and private hybrid cloud solution allows organisations to get the best of both worlds, choosing the best solution according to each application or system.

What is a private cloud?

Cloud computing on the private cloud means that the cloud environment is used exclusively by your business or organisation.

Private cloud solutions are used by companies that need to keep information completely secure, like financial institutions, hospitals, or other institutions needing additional security and compliance. The private cloud may be hosted at your place of business, or at a data centre held by a third party.

Your individual cloud strategy will always maintain that the private cloud will be on a private network, and the software and technology will be unique to your business. Cloud computing this way increases security for your business without having to add additional resources to secure your assets.

What is the public cloud?

The public cloud is held by a third-party vendor and with this type of cloud, all software, resources, and applications are managed by the public cloud providers. Access to your account and account management is all done through a web browser. Development environment, office applications, web-based email and storage are all done through the public cloud.

The public cloud is held by a third-party vendor and with this type of cloud, all software, resources, and applications are managed by the public cloud providers. Access to your account and account management is all done through a web browser. Development environment, office applications, web-based email and storage are all done through the public cloud.

Speak to our team of cloud experts at TechBrain about which hybrid cloud service providers best suit your business needs. As a reseller of cloud service providers, we can offer hybrid cloud computing services in Perth, Melbourne, Sydney and other major cities in Australia.

Both public and private cloud storage have their own set of advantages and disadvantages. Which type of cloud hosting is right for your organisation will hang off a number of factors. These include the types of data you work with, what your industry regulations are, how large your business is, and what level of security you need to ensure.

It’s easy to assume that a hybrid cloud strategy will solve all your problems – but it’s important to realise that it does add an additional layer of complexity. Here are some of the main hybrid cloud benefits and drawbacks.

Positives:

• The combined benefit of migrating to both private and public infrastructures
• This includes increased efficiency and the flexibility to meet disparate needs
• Building a hybrid cloud with private infrastructure that’s directly accessible greatly reduces access time and latency in comparison to a public cloud service
• Flexibility in designs
• Particularly valuable for dynamic or versatile workloads and applications
• Easy access to powerful public cloud infrastructure when additional computing resources are needed in real-time

Negatives:

• Integration of applications and security can attract a higher management overhead
• Dilution of knowledge – multiple cloud providers can result in loss of control over systems knowledge
• The security risk is typically increased as credentials may not be integrated or synchronised
• Systems can be “detached” if poorly implemented with outage as a possibility
• Complex licensing model that can be cumbersome to manage and can potentially introduce duplicate costs

Cost Ramifications:

• Can opt for the best value solution based on each application or data set
• Can typically become more expensive if the integration with existing systems is not properly handled
• Can increase the complexity of the design and therefore increase operational costs

If you are considering a hybrid cloud service solution for your organisation in Australia please call us for a no-obligation discussion on your options around cloud applications, hybrid and on-premise.

We can undertake an analysis of the costs associated with each alternative and, with consideration to your operational needs, security risks, and longer term business objectives, make recommendations that will save you time and money.

Remember that if you’re not certain what cloud applications you need, or which type of cloud model is right for you, we’re here to help!

Schedule a free consultation, and we’ll be happy to assist you in making the best cloud storage choice for your organisation. In the meantime, check out some of the most common questions we receive around hybrid cloud hosting below.