Hybrid cloud: the future-proof approach to data

Today, cloud services are used by most businesses to support their day-to-day operations. However, many of these companies will actively look for a better way to configure and leverage cloud technology after rushing to migrate workloads during the pandemic. With this in mind, it’s no surprise that hybrid cloud is rapidly gaining popularity; More than half (53%) of respondents services are now using the hybrid infrastructure, according to research by global cloud-driven software company NetApp. This is just the beginning, as more and more organizations see the benefits of a hybrid approach.

Simply put, a hybrid cloud refers to any solution that provides public cloud services in conjunction with a private storage infrastructure, allowing businesses to run applications in a combination of different environments. There are also hybrid cloud solutions called multi-clouds that rely on the use of multiple public clouds.

So why are IT executives struggling to adopt hybrid cloud offerings? And is the change really worth it? Here’s what you need to know.

1. Agility

With the ability for companies to select storage – both on-premises and from local cloud providers or hyperscalers – to meet the performance requirements of specific workloads, hybrid cloud offers the best of both worlds.

This is perhaps the most important advantage of hybrid cloud. IT teams can plan for any eventuality thanks to the solution’s inherent flexibility. For example, using the public cloud, IT teams can easily purchase additional capacity when sudden, unprecedented spikes in demand occur. Meanwhile, more long-term static workloads can be stored on-premises. This approach allows companies to keep their cloud infrastructure strong and secure without running out of capacity or purchasing expensive overcapacity that is rarely used.

2. Vendor lock in

Every CIO’s nightmare: vendor lock-in. Businesses that become dependent on a single public cloud provider can face high exit costs, IT operations interruptions and a lack of relevant skills within the company. This can lead to them being “stuck” with an inferior supplier, potentially at the expense of service quality, product availability and cost.

With hybrid cloud, this is no longer a concern. IT teams can independently develop and fine-tune cloud solutions based on evolving needs, whether they occur suddenly, such as during the pandemic, or gradually, over time.

3. Cost-effectiveness

Rising salaries, rising demands, supply chain disruption and rising energy costs are all slicing IT budgets and putting pressure on CIOs, so it’s no wonder they’re seizing the opportunity to cut costs by moving to hybrid cloud.

Hybrid cloud is cost-effective because it allows organizations to take advantage of the speed and scalability of public clouds for short-term unpredictable workloads. In turn, to handle more workloads in the long run, they can use cheaper on-premises storage solutions, such as object storage or tape.

4. Data Sovereignty

Companies around the world are increasingly concerned about data sovereignty – the principle that data is subject to the laws and governance structures of the country in which it is processed. Companies using public cloud providers, especially hyperscalers, need to keep this in mind.

Let’s take a look at an EU company using a US based cloud service provider. In this case, the Clarifying Lawful Overseas Use of Data (CLOUD) Act governs all data processed by the US cloud service provider. Under this law, US authorities can request that EU company data be handed over to them, even if the data is stored outside the US. Such requests are not uncommon. U.S. law enforcement has issued a total of 101 warrants to Microsoft alone, seeking consumer data stored outside the U.S. in the first six months of 2021.

It’s easy to see how this can get complicated. The best way to manage this tricky compliance landscape is to adopt a hybrid multi-cloud strategy. In hybrid cloud, personal data can be stored on-premises or with regional cloud service providers within specific boundaries. Meanwhile, businesses can take advantage of major public cloud providers for other purposes such as testing, development, data analytics, and more.

5. Growing interest in “as service”

As ‘as a service’ offerings become more common, we are seeing a dramatic shift in how the cloud is used by businesses. An increasingly common trend is that companies are integrating IaaS (cloud infrastructure available as a service), PaaS (software platforms offered over the internet as a service), and SaaS (software as a cloud service) in a hybrid cloud environment. As a result, companies don’t have to run their own data centers and IT leaders are free to customize solutions as they see fit.

A future-proof digital strategy

After the pandemic, companies have begun to prioritize implementing digital solutions that can withstand turbulence and unpredictable market conditions. In other words, it has become extremely important to develop a digital strategy that not only works well for their business, but also helps their business become more agile and run better.

That is why more and more companies are opting for a hybrid cloud approach. Ultimately, the frequently changing needs of organizations with only on-premises storage or a single cloud provider cannot be met in the long run. Today, choosing a hybrid cloud solution tailored to meet complex performance, cost and compliance needs has become an essential part of a future-proof business for many – and developing a hybrid strategy will remain a primary focus for years to come. CIOs .

By Massimo Bandinelli, Aruba Enterprise Marketing Manager,