# Best Hybrid Cloud Storage Solutions for Small Business *By [Rachana Hasyagar](https://research.g2.com/insights/author/rachana-hasyagar)* Products classified in the overall Hybrid Cloud Storage Solutions category are similar in many regards and help companies of all sizes solve their business problems. However, small business features, pricing, setup, and installation differ from businesses of other sizes, which is why we match buyers to the right Small Business Hybrid Cloud Storage Solutions to fit their needs. Compare product ratings based on reviews from enterprise users or connect with one of G2's buying advisors to find the right solutions within the Small Business Hybrid Cloud Storage Solutions category. In addition to qualifying for inclusion in the Hybrid Cloud Storage Solutions category, to qualify for inclusion in the Small Business Hybrid Cloud Storage Solutions category, a product must have at least 10 reviews left by a reviewer from a small business. ## How Many Hybrid Cloud Storage Solutions Products Does G2 Track? **Total Products under this Category:** 77 ### Category Stats (Jun 2026) - **Average Rating**: 4.36/5 The average rating of products in this category, based on all submitted ratings - **New Reviews This Quarter**: 17 - **Buyer Segments**: Small-Business 37% │ Mid-Market 37% │ Enterprise 26% Represents the distribution of reviewers across all products in this category. - **Top Trending Product**: Google Cloud Storage (+0.02%) - Among all products in this category, Google Cloud Storage recorded the largest rating increase compared to last month *Last updated: June 18, 2026* ## How Does G2 Rank Hybrid Cloud Storage Solutions Products? **Why You Can Trust G2's Software Rankings:** - 30 Analysts and Data Experts - 1,900+ Authentic Reviews - 77+ Products - Unbiased Rankings G2's software rankings are built on verified user reviews, rigorous moderation, and a consistent research methodology maintained by a team of analysts and data experts. Each product is measured using the same transparent criteria, with no paid placement or vendor influence. While reviews reflect real user experiences, which can be subjective, they offer valuable insight into how software performs in the hands of professionals. Together, these inputs power the G2 Score, a standardized way to compare tools within every category. --- **Sponsored** ### Truffle Truffle is a candidate screening platform that combines resume screening, one-way video interviews, and talent assessments in one workflow. It is built for in-house recruiters and TA leads on lean hiring teams at companies of 100-1,000 employees hiring year-round for high-volume, low-resume-signal roles. Truffle replaces the first-round phone screen with structured async screening. AI transcribes every response, scores candidates against criteria you define, and surfaces match scores, AI summaries, and 30-second Candidate Shorts so you review a candidate in seconds instead of scheduling a 15-minute call. The principle behind every feature: AI surfaces information. Humans make hiring decisions. WHY CANDIDATE SCREENING BROKE Easy-apply and AI-generated resumes mean every job posting gets hundreds of candidates who all look the same on paper. Recruiters cannot muscle through volume the way they used to. Phone screens do not scale to hundreds of applications per role. The signals recruiters relied on for decades, like resumes, cover letters, and even assessment answers, are now compromised by AI tools any candidate can use. The industry's answer has been to hand more decisions to AI. Let algorithms score, rank, and decide who moves forward. But recruiters do not trust AI to pick for them, and they should not. Their value is judgment. Truffle's approach is different. The way out is not better AI decisions. It is giving recruiters the evidence to make faster human ones. WHAT TRUFFLE DOES Truffle gives you three layers of evidence to separate real candidates from noise. Each layer captures a signal the others cannot, and each is harder to fake than the last. Resume screening: Upload your role criteria once. AI parses every resume and ranks applicants against your requirements. Qualification gaps surface clearly. No keyword filtering. One-way video interviews: Candidates record on their own time, on any device, no app download required. AI transcribes every answer, scores responses against the criteria you set, and surfaces 30-second Candidate Shorts of the most relevant moments. Talent assessments: Three types out of the box. Personality (validated Big Five / IPIP based), Situational Judgment Tests built around your team's real scenarios, or Environment Fit. Lightweight enough that a recruiter with 26 open roles will actually use them. Use one capability on its own, stack two, or use all three. Truffle does not force a sequence. The screening process is yours to design. When you stack the layers, the evidence compounds. Resumes show credentials. Interviews reveal communication and presence on camera, something no chatbot can replicate. Assessments prove capability and temperament under real conditions. Each is harder to game than the last. AI FEATURES INCLUDED ON EVERY PLAN AI Match: Match scores against your role criteria with reasoning shown for every score. You see exactly why each candidate scored the way they did, criterion by criterion. The AI applies your standard. The standard is yours to set. AI summaries: Executive-style overviews of every candidate. Strengths, gaps, and alignment with role criteria highlighted. Designed to orient a reviewer in 30 seconds. Candidate Shorts: AI identifies the three most relevant moments from each interview and compiles them into a 30-second highlight reel with context on why each moment was selected. Full interview transcripts: Every video response is transcribed, searchable, and exportable. AI Check (Beta): Flags response patterns that suggest AI assistance, surfacing as a context signal you can use to ask better follow-up questions. Never an automatic disqualification. AI-suggested interview questions: Tailored to the role and seniority level. You review, edit, and approve every question before launch. AI assists configuration, not evaluation. THE WORKFLOW Day 0: Define your role criteria. Truffle generates suggested interview questions. You review and approve. Day 1: Share one Position Link. Candidates complete resumes, one-way interviews, and assessments on their own time, in any order, on any device. Day 2: AI surfaces a ranked shortlist with match scores, summaries, and Candidate Shorts for every candidate. Hiring managers comment and score in the same view. Day 3: You watch the Shorts that matter, read the summaries, and pick who to interview live. No first-round phone screens required. Hundreds of applicants to a shortlist in minutes instead of weeks. SPECS - 150 candidate screenings per month on Self-Serve - Custom volumes available on the Custom plan - Unlimited open positions on every plan - Unlimited team members and reviewers on every plan - Multi-reviewer scoring and threaded comments - Side-by-side candidate comparison view - Custom branding on the candidate-facing portal - Custom evaluation criteria per role with weighting - Bulk candidate review and bulk actions - Position Link: one shareable link per role - Mobile-first candidate experience tested on iOS and Android - Browser-based, no candidate downloads - Email candidate communications with custom templates - Candidate experience analytics: completion rate, time to complete, drop-off INTEGRATIONS - ATS: Greenhouse, Lever, Ashby, Workable, BambooHR - API access on the Custom plan - Zapier (5,000+ apps) - CSV export of candidate data - Webhook events on candidate progress SECURITY AND COMPLIANCE - GDPR-aware data handling for global hiring teams - Encrypted data in transit - Role-based access controls - Audit trail of reviewer actions and scoring - Extended data retention to 24+ months on the Custom plan - SSO / SAML on the Custom plan (coming soon) - Customer data segregated per workspace - Standard data export and deletion controls PRICING Self-Serve plan: $149 per month, billed monthly. Or $99 per month with annual billing, a 33% saving. Includes 150 candidate screenings per month, every AI feature, unlimited positions, and unlimited team members. Custom plan: Tailored candidate volume, API access, priority support, dedicated onboarding, extended data retention, and SSO/SAML. Built for teams hiring above 150 candidates per month or with stricter integration and compliance requirements. Free trial: 7 days. Full feature access. No credit card required. No contracts. Cancel anytime. What you do not pay extra for: per-seat charges, per-position charges, AI add-ons, standard branding, or live chat support. Truffle is flat-rate. Every plan includes every AI feature. Setup takes 10 minutes. No implementation team. No IT ticket. No mandatory training. BEST FOR - In-house recruiters and TA leads on 1-5 person teams - Companies of 100-1,000 employees hiring year-round - High-volume, low-resume-signal roles where every posting gets hundreds of applications - Teams replacing the first-round phone screen with structured async screening - Recruiting leaders consolidating a video tool, assessment tool, and phone-screen process into one workflow Common use cases: customer service and support hiring at volume, sales and BDR/SDR pipelines, operations and warehouse roles, engineering first-round screens, and seasonal high-volume retail or hospitality hiring. HOW TRUFFLE COMPARES Truffle vs HireVue: HireVue requires enterprise contact-sales pricing and long implementation. Truffle is transparent at $149/mo, self-serve, with 10-minute setup. HireVue alternative for teams that want enterprise-grade screening without the enterprise contract. Truffle vs Spark Hire: Spark Hire starts at $299/mo with AI features on higher tiers. Truffle is roughly half the cost with AI Match, summaries, and Candidate Shorts on every plan. Spark Hire alternative for teams that want AI-driven screening, not just video collection. Truffle vs Willo: Willo's pricing ranges $279-409/mo with AI features on higher tiers. Truffle includes AI Match and Candidate Shorts on every plan. Willo alternative for teams that need intelligence in their screening, not just recording. Truffle vs Hireflix: Hireflix starts at $150/mo for video interviews only. Truffle adds resume screening and talent assessments at the same price. Hireflix alternative for teams that want video plus assessments plus resume screening together. Truffle vs VidCruiter: VidCruiter is custom-priced and contact-sales only. Truffle is self-serve with transparent pricing. VidCruiter alternative for teams that want to evaluate the product before talking to anyone. Truffle vs Jobma: Jobma is custom pricing and feature-gated. Truffle is flat-rate with every feature included. Jobma alternative for teams that want predictable pricing. Truffle vs TestGorilla: TestGorilla focuses on assessments and charges per position on lower tiers. Truffle includes assessments alongside video and resume screening at one flat rate with unlimited positions. TestGorilla alternative for teams that want assessments combined with video screening. Truffle vs phone screens: A 15-minute phone screen does not scale to hundreds of applicants. Truffle delivers what the phone screen was meant to (does this person seem real, qualified, and worth a real conversation) without the calendar coordination. Truffle vs ATS-built-in screening: ATS screening filters on keywords. Truffle scores candidates against the criteria you actually define and shows you how each candidate communicates and thinks. THE PRINCIPLE Every other AI hiring tool tries to replace your judgment. Truffle gives you the evidence to use it faster. The AI is not making the call. It is compressing the time between "I do not know this person" and "I know exactly who to talk to next." AI surfaces information. Humans make hiring decisions. Truffle is built for recruiters and TA leads who want their judgment back. [Visit website](https://www.g2.com/external_clickthroughs/record?secure%5Bad_program%5D=ppc&secure%5Bad_slot%5D=category_product_list&secure%5Bcategory_id%5D=1428&secure%5Bdisplayable_resource_id%5D=261&secure%5Bdisplayable_resource_type%5D=Category&secure%5Bmedium%5D=sponsored&secure%5Bplacement_reason%5D=retargeted_product&secure%5Bplacement_resource_ids%5D%5B%5D=1409959&secure%5Bprioritized%5D=false&secure%5Bproduct_id%5D=1409959&secure%5Bresource_id%5D=1428&secure%5Bresource_type%5D=Category&secure%5Bsource_type%5D=category_page&secure%5Bsource_url%5D=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.g2.com%2Fcategories%2Fhybrid-cloud-storage-solutions%2Fsmall-business&secure%5Btoken%5D=9aaeb38f688f73e0b6a874a68a7b0d198a3ff6a57833d1954fbaedc65ffcddae&secure%5Burl%5D=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hiretruffle.com%2F&secure%5Burl_type%5D=company_website) --- ## What Are the Top-Rated Hybrid Cloud Storage Solutions Products in 2026? ### 1. [Google Cloud Storage](https://www.g2.com/products/google-cloud-storage/reviews) Cloud Storage is a managed service for storing unstructured data, like videos and documents. It is most commonly used for data lakes for analytics, storing AI data, or web hosting. With Cloud Storage you can store any amount of data, and retrieve it as often as you like. New customers can use $300 in free credits to try Cloud Storage. All customers get 5 GiB of US regional storage free per month, not charged against your credits. If you’re a consumer or business looking for file sharing, check out Workspace products like Google Drive (https://workspace.google.com/products/drive/). If you’re looking for photo storage, use Google Photos (www.google.com/photos) **Average Rating:** 4.6/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 564 **How Do G2 Users Rate Google Cloud Storage?** - **Low Latency:** 9.2/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10) - **Ease of Use:** 9.1/10 (Category avg: 8.8/10) - **High Availability:** 9.4/10 (Category avg: 8.8/10) - **Monitoring Tool:** 9.0/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10) **Who Is the Company Behind Google Cloud Storage?** - **Seller:** [Google](https://www.g2.com/sellers/google) - **Year Founded:** 1998 - **HQ Location:** Mountain View, CA - **Twitter:** @google (31,901,456 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/1441/ (341,888 employees on LinkedIn®) - **Ownership:** NASDAQ:GOOG **Who Uses This Product?** - **Who Uses This:** Software Engineer, CTO - **Top Industries:** Information Technology and Services, Computer Software - **Company Size:** 45% Small-Business, 29% Enterprise #### What Are Google Cloud Storage's Pros and Cons? **Pros:** - Cloud Storage (35 reviews) - Ease of Use (33 reviews) - Security (22 reviews) - Scalability (20 reviews) - Features (16 reviews) **Cons:** - Expensive (16 reviews) - Storage Limitations (12 reviews) - Complexity (11 reviews) - Cost Issues (9 reviews) - Learning Difficulty (9 reviews) ### 2. [Azure Storage Explorer](https://www.g2.com/products/azure-storage-explorer/reviews) Azure Storage Explorer Preview is a standalone app that allows you to easily work with Azure Storage data - from any platform, anywhere. It creates and manages blobs, tables, queues, generate SAS keys, and more. **Average Rating:** 4.5/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 58 **How Do G2 Users Rate Azure Storage Explorer?** - **Low Latency:** 8.5/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10) - **Ease of Use:** 9.0/10 (Category avg: 8.8/10) - **High Availability:** 8.8/10 (Category avg: 8.8/10) - **Monitoring Tool:** 8.2/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10) **Who Is the Company Behind Azure Storage Explorer?** - **Seller:** [Microsoft](https://www.g2.com/sellers/microsoft) - **Year Founded:** 1975 - **HQ Location:** Redmond, Washington - **Twitter:** @microsoft (13,091,954 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/microsoft/ (231,632 employees on LinkedIn®) - **Ownership:** MSFT **Who Uses This Product?** - **Top Industries:** Information Technology and Services, Computer Software - **Company Size:** 46% Enterprise, 28% Small-Business #### What Are Azure Storage Explorer's Pros and Cons? **Pros:** - Ease of Use (2 reviews) - Cloud Storage (1 reviews) - Cost Efficiency (1 reviews) - Customer Support (1 reviews) - Flexibility (1 reviews) **Cons:** - Complexity (1 reviews) - Complexity Issues (1 reviews) - Expensive (1 reviews) - Time-Consumption (1 reviews) ### 3. [AWS Storage Gateway](https://www.g2.com/products/aws-storage-gateway/reviews) AWS Storage Gateway is a service that connect an on-premises software appliance with cloud-based storage to provide seamless and secure integration between an organizations on-premises IT environment and AWS's storage infrastructure. **Average Rating:** 4.5/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 59 **How Do G2 Users Rate AWS Storage Gateway?** - **Low Latency:** 8.5/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10) - **Ease of Use:** 8.6/10 (Category avg: 8.8/10) - **High Availability:** 8.1/10 (Category avg: 8.8/10) - **Monitoring Tool:** 7.9/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10) **Who Is the Company Behind AWS Storage Gateway?** - **Seller:** [Amazon Web Services (AWS)](https://www.g2.com/sellers/amazon-web-services-aws-3e93cc28-2e9b-4961-b258-c6ce0feec7dd) - **Year Founded:** 2006 - **HQ Location:** Seattle, WA - **Twitter:** @awscloud (2,231,239 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/amazon-web-services/ (156,424 employees on LinkedIn®) - **Ownership:** NASDAQ: AMZN **Who Uses This Product?** - **Top Industries:** Information Technology and Services, Computer Software - **Company Size:** 35% Enterprise, 32% Small-Business ### 4. [ExpanDrive](https://www.g2.com/products/expandrive/reviews) ExpanDrive ends the frustration of juggling multiple cloud accounts and clunky sync tools. In today’s world, files are scattered across Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, Box, SharePoint, S3, and even legacy servers. Each has its own app or web portal, forcing you to waste time downloading, syncing, and duplicating files. The result? Chaos, wasted disk space, and slower workflows. ExpanDrive solves this by mounting your cloud storage directly on your desktop. Every service — from Google Drive and Dropbox to S3, SharePoint, and SFTP — appears as a drive in Finder or Explorer. No more switching apps or logging into portals. Your files simply show up where you expect them, ready to open, edit, and save from any application. Unlike traditional sync clients, ExpanDrive doesn’t force you to download everything or clog your hard drive. Instead, it streams files on demand while letting you choose specific items to cache for offline use. Behind the scenes, ExpanDrive’s fast transfer engine ensures reliability with large files, complex folders, and long-running operations. Security comes standard, with encrypted connections and trusted authentication like OAuth and SSH keys. Whether you’re a freelancer managing client projects, a small business streamlining collaboration, or an IT pro mounting servers, ExpanDrive adapts to your workflow. And with its freemium model, anyone can get started for free — then upgrade for background sync, advanced transfers, and team features. ExpanDrive brings simplicity, freedom, and speed to cloud storage. One interface. Every provider. Zero chaos. **Average Rating:** 4.0/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 86 **How Do G2 Users Rate ExpanDrive?** - **Low Latency:** 10.0/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10) - **Ease of Use:** 9.0/10 (Category avg: 8.8/10) - **High Availability:** 8.3/10 (Category avg: 8.8/10) - **Monitoring Tool:** 10.0/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10) **Who Is the Company Behind ExpanDrive?** - **Seller:** [Files.com](https://www.g2.com/sellers/files-com) - **Company Website:** https://www.files.com/ - **Year Founded:** 2008 - **HQ Location:** Scottsdale, Arizona - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/filesdotcom/ (77 employees on LinkedIn®) **Who Uses This Product?** - **Top Industries:** Information Technology and Services, Computer Software - **Company Size:** 72% Small-Business, 16% Enterprise #### What Are ExpanDrive's Pros and Cons? **Pros:** - Ease of Use (4 reviews) - Easy Access (3 reviews) - Cloud Storage (2 reviews) - Convenience (1 reviews) - Intuitive (1 reviews) **Cons:** - Poor Customer Support (3 reviews) - Syncing Issues (2 reviews) - Document (1 reviews) - Inconvenience (1 reviews) - Integration Difficulty (1 reviews) ### 5. [Google Hybrid Cloud](https://www.g2.com/products/google-hybrid-cloud/reviews) Adapt your existing technology to a hybrid cloud designed with flexibility and scale in mind. **Average Rating:** 4.3/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 45 **How Do G2 Users Rate Google Hybrid Cloud?** - **Low Latency:** 8.7/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10) - **Ease of Use:** 8.5/10 (Category avg: 8.8/10) - **High Availability:** 8.9/10 (Category avg: 8.8/10) - **Monitoring Tool:** 8.4/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10) **Who Is the Company Behind Google Hybrid Cloud?** - **Seller:** [Google](https://www.g2.com/sellers/google) - **Year Founded:** 1998 - **HQ Location:** Mountain View, CA - **Twitter:** @google (31,901,456 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/1441/ (341,888 employees on LinkedIn®) - **Ownership:** NASDAQ:GOOG **Who Uses This Product?** - **Top Industries:** Information Technology and Services, Computer Software - **Company Size:** 45% Small-Business, 36% Enterprise ### 6. [NetApp ONTAP Data Management Software](https://www.g2.com/products/netapp-ontap-data-management-software/reviews) Simplify your data infrastructure—from the edge to the core to the cloud—with the industry's leading enterprise data management software. **Average Rating:** 4.4/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 79 **How Do G2 Users Rate NetApp ONTAP Data Management Software?** - **Ease of Use:** 8.6/10 (Category avg: 8.8/10) - **High Availability:** 10.0/10 (Category avg: 8.8/10) **Who Is the Company Behind NetApp ONTAP Data Management Software?** - **Seller:** [NetApp](https://www.g2.com/sellers/netapp) - **Year Founded:** 1992 - **HQ Location:** Sunnyvale, California - **Twitter:** @NetApp (118,051 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/2105/ (12,682 employees on LinkedIn®) - **Ownership:** NASDAQ **Who Uses This Product?** - **Top Industries:** Information Technology and Services, Banking - **Company Size:** 46% Enterprise, 39% Mid-Market #### What Are NetApp ONTAP Data Management Software's Pros and Cons? **Pros:** - Data Security (7 reviews) - Reliability (7 reviews) - Data Management (5 reviews) - Cloud Services (4 reviews) - Protection (3 reviews) **Cons:** - Expensive (8 reviews) - Complexity (4 reviews) - Complexity Issues (3 reviews) - Complex Setup (3 reviews) - Integration Issues (3 reviews) ### 7. [Kdan Cloud](https://www.g2.com/products/kdan-cloud/reviews) Kdan Cloud not only enhances your experience in Creativity 365 and Document 365 suites, it also serves as a stand-alone cloud solution. Manage and organize your personal or shared files, and access them in Kdan Cloud anytime from anywhere. FEATURES • Organize your documents, PDF files, animations, videos, and other projects in Creativity 365 and Document 365 app suites • Backup files and other projects in the Creativity 365 or Document 365 app series to Kdan Cloud with just one tap • Share documents and projects in PDF Reader, Markup, Pocket Scanner, NoteLedge, Animation Desk, and Write-on Video with others via links • View PDF documents on the go • Export PDF to Markup app for advanced document editing features • View annotations extracted from PDF documents • View records of what has been shared and modified • Link Dropbox and Google Drive account to Kdan Cloud • Search by file type or special formats including native file formats of Pocket Scanner, NoteLedge, Animation Desk, Write-on Video, along with other general file formats like PDF, text, image, and video • Access your files on your iPad, iPhone, and web browser • Upload files to secure online storage with TSL/SSL and RES encryption • Share files and folders with password protection • Access offline files and folders • Request files from your contacts • Create team lists for group projects • Set up shared folders for team collaboration ABOUT CREATIVITY 365 Creativity 365 is a holistic content creation suite featuring 5 apps, including Animation Desk, Write-on Video, NoteLedge, Markup, and Pocket Scanner. With the Creativity 365 subscription, you will get an all-access pass to premium features in the suite across smartphones, tablets, and desktop devices, along with 1TB of Kdan Cloud storage, and credits for file conversion. Free trials are available. ABOUT DOCUMENT 365 Document 365 is a comprehensive, cross-device document solution aimed at improving your productivity. It includes Kdan's best PDF Reader mobile and desktop apps, along with document converting and online faxing services. With document 365, you can leverage your productivity every day. Free trials are available. **Average Rating:** 3.9/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 12 **How Do G2 Users Rate Kdan Cloud?** - **Low Latency:** 5.0/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10) - **Ease of Use:** 9.4/10 (Category avg: 8.8/10) - **High Availability:** 6.7/10 (Category avg: 8.8/10) - **Monitoring Tool:** 4.2/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10) **Who Is the Company Behind Kdan Cloud?** - **Seller:** [KDAN](https://www.g2.com/sellers/kdan) - **Year Founded:** 2009 - **HQ Location:** Irvine, California - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/2103738/ (237 employees on LinkedIn®) **Who Uses This Product?** - **Company Size:** 100% Small-Business ## What Is Hybrid Cloud Storage Solutions? [Storage Management Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/storage-management) ## What Software Categories Are Similar to Hybrid Cloud Storage Solutions? - [Object Storage Solutions](https://www.g2.com/categories/object-storage-solutions) - [Block Storage Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/block-storage) - [Cloud File Storage Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/cloud-file-storage) --- ## How Do You Choose the Right Hybrid Cloud Storage Solutions? ### What You Should Know About Hybrid Cloud Storage Solutions ### What are Hybrid Cloud Storage Solutions? Hybrid cloud storage solutions connect data storage operations between on-premises storage (private storage) and public cloud (shared storage). By integrating workload between these two environments, companies can store their sensitive data in their IT infrastructure to meet compliance and security requirements. Other less sensitive data can be transferred to public cloud data centers. Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) providers will store these data at a low price and scale based on need. This hybrid approach is very flexible as it allows users to scale their operations based on cloud computing and storage demand.  Common connection methods for hybrid cloud storage include virtual private network (VPN), wide area network (WAN), and hybrid cloud application programming interface (API). The most widely used option is VPN. This type of network offers a private and secure connection like a private internal network. Another type of network is the WAN which sends traffic over multiple connection types. WAN is the most flexible connection method because it accepts traffic from personal computers and the Internet of Things (IoT). The last type of network option is a dedicated network from cloud providers. Vendors can create their API to incorporate a dedicated bandwidth and low latency connection. Organizations can use all three connection methods or just one, depending on their needs. One challenge companies face is designing a compatible hybrid cloud architecture that runs smoothly. A complex hybrid cloud environment needs to connect hundreds of different pieces of hardware to multiple public clouds across the globe. Companies need to plan out for compatibility to make sure that all hardware and software integrate with ease. Hybrid cloud solutions provide visibility into complex environments so that companies know how to allocate their resources. A correct hybrid setup should automatically manage this process so that the workload operations on both environments are seamless and efficient. ### What are the Common Features of Hybrid Cloud Storage Solutions? The following are some core features within hybrid cloud storage software that can help users in setting up their hybrid cloud operation: **System integration:** Hybrid cloud storage solutions synchronize on-premises and public cloud infrastructure. The goal is that data should flow seamlessly across multiple environments. However, there are always technical differences between onsite hardware and third-party cloud. Hybrid cloud solutions bridge these differences by synchronizing different big data. These solutions integrate data from multiple sources so that users can manage workload operations in multiple cloud environments. **Encrypted connection:** Network connections are the most important part of a hybrid cloud design. Company infrastructure and data centers connect either through a private network or public internet. Hybrid cloud solutions usually offer VPN and API connections. A cloud VPN allows employees to securely access company applications and data in the cloud through providers’ websites or applications. Unlike traditional VPNs, a cloud VPN doesn’t require infrastructure. It’s globally accessible and easy to deploy. API connection is a dedicated network from cloud providers. They incorporate a dedicated bandwidth and low latency connection. However, API connectivity varies by vendor, so users should demo all vendors’ API connections before purchasing.  **Central management:** Hybrid cloud can be complicated to manage because it integrates numerous private clouds and public clouds. These cloud solutions all have different API and service-level agreement (SLA) requirements. Therefore, a central cloud management tool is critical in a multi-cloud environment. These tools oversee all cloud operations in a single dashboard so users do not have to manage each cloud separately. ### What are the Benefits of Hybrid Cloud Storage Solutions? **Data compliance:** Hybrid cloud storage solutions allow users to keep sensitive data on-site without sacrificing scalability. Rather than relying on all aspects of third-party cloud infrastructure, companies can separate their data between what they want others to see and what they need to keep to themselves. Since hybrid cloud connections and on-site data remain private, this also fits many compliance requirements. **High scalability:** Hybrid cloud storage is a cost-effective solution because it is similar to public cloud storage services. These cloud storage solutions are highly scalable because they can rapidly allocate cloud resources up and down based on computing demand. This helps companies to use public cloud computing for high-performance workloads and keep clients happy by providing a hassle-free online experience.  **Flexible cost:** Companies only pay for the extra resources when they need to compute more data. They will also save on cloud infrastructure investment and optimize costs by working with a cloud provider. **No vendor lock-in:** Without a full commitment to public cloud, companies can migrate their public cloud data to their private server when needed. This reduces the dependency on a single public cloud provider. Multiple public cloud options are also available once hybrid cloud architecture is set up. With the correct hybrid configuration, companies should be prepared to quickly switch from one cloud provider to another when a better rate or service is available. **Business continuity:** Many businesses are utilizing hybrid cloud storage as disaster recovery. Cloud backup software will replicate data in case of an unexpected disaster. For organizations that require data protection, they will benefit from a mix of on-premises and public cloud solutions to meet their SLAs in case one solution goes down. ### Who Uses Hybrid Cloud Storage Solutions? **IT teams:** Most companies would have their IT teams set up the hybrid cloud design. Depending on the size of the company, the design complexity can range from a couple of IT developers to dozens of IT professionals. ### What are the Alternatives to Hybrid Cloud Storage Solutions? Alternatives to hybrid cloud storage software can replace this type of software, either partially or completely: [Infrastructure as a service (IaaS)](https://www.g2.com/categories/infrastructure-as-a-service-iaas): IaaS describes the various ways in which third-party vendors provide cloud-driven, cloud-hosted infrastructure to businesses. IaaS vendors provide public cloud storage, which is the base layer of hybrid cloud storage. Users would need to set up their public cloud before connecting to hybrid. If the users don’t need to work with private cloud storage, then they can use public cloud storage without a hybrid cloud setup. [Virtual private cloud (VPC)](https://www.g2.com/categories/virtual-private-cloud-vpc): VPC is a public cloud environment that a host isolates as part of its resources for a specific user. Since a VPC is part of a public cloud, it shares the same cloud infrastructure as the public cloud, but only the user can access it. Therefore, VPC is a safer storage environment than the public cloud. Users can consider VPC storage if they don’t have on-premises storage requirements. #### Software Related to Hybrid Cloud Storage Solutions Related solutions that can be used together with hybrid cloud storage tools include: [IoT edge platforms](https://www.g2.com/categories/iot-edge-platforms) **:** IoT edge platforms help facilitate localized computer processing on IoT devices. These devices constantly analyze streams of data, including information about networks, actions, and anything else the device is connected to or interacting with. Hybrid cloud architecture establishes IoT Edge connection by linking local hardware and cloud servers.  ### Challenges with Hybrid Cloud Storage Solutions **Integration:** Hybrid cloud storage can be difficult to set up if companies are using different vendors for hybrid cloud storage and public cloud storage. Many top IaaS cloud providers offer hybrid cloud solutions that are native to their cloud environment. However, bundled cloud storage services will result in vendor lock-in. Therefore, many customers don't use hybrid solutions from their IaaS providers. However, they need to hire additional staff who understand different vendor technologies to integrate both hybrid cloud and public cloud systems. **Load balancing:** Load balancing is a network management method that distributes global and local network traffic among different servers. When one cloud is receiving much more load than another cloud, it drives up costs and reduces performance. By redistributing the loads to the underutilized cloud, this situation can be avoided. In hybrid cloud and multi-cloud environments, users need to efficiently distribute resources across different cloud infrastructures. Companies might need to buy a platform-agnostic, multi-cloud [load balancing software](https://www.g2.com/categories/load-balancing) that can distribute traffic regardless of the underlying infrastructure and the cloud services being used. **Compliance:** Part of the reason why a company may go for a hybrid cloud instead of a public cloud is because of data compliance issues. Sensitive data are kept on-premises and data that requires heavy computing resources are stored in the public cloud. IT teams need to learn how to keep sensitive data secured and separated from public cloud data. Companies shouldn’t assume that their cloud developer already knows this process. They need to be trained on how to keep compliance to avoid a future data leak. ### How to Buy Hybrid Cloud Storage Solutions #### Requirements Gathering (RFI/RFP) for Hybrid Cloud Storage Solutions Hybrid cloud storage solutions can differ significantly depending on use case and vendor selection. Whether a company is looking for its first hybrid cloud storage software tool or looking to replace an existing one, g2.com can help buyers find the best tool. The effectiveness of hybrid cloud solutions depends on how well the business integrates them into its environment. Infrastructure and use case requirements are critical to a successful hybrid approach. Infrastructure requirements should cover application integration, network connectivity, security, accessibility, scalability, hardware consumption, and so on. Companies need to build a hybrid cloud solution based on their infrastructure, not the other way around. If they don’t consider these requirements, they would have to buy additional software to integrate with the hybrid cloud architecture, which would waste time and money.  Use case requirements should cover specific goals of the hybrid cloud setup: business continuity, edge connectivity, data compliance, and others. No cloud solution can do it all so businesses should prioritize which business goal is the most important first. A clear and focused business use case makes the development process faster and easier. Once the initial implementation is successful, then businesses can think about growing their hybrid cloud capability into other areas. #### Compare Hybrid Cloud Storage Solutions **Create a long list** There are hundreds of IaaS providers that offer hybrid cloud tools. Companies should start with software that fits their infrastructure requirements. For companies that already have public cloud storage, they can first also start by looking into their cloud provider’s hybrid cloud offering for comparison. Based on these requirements, companies should select 5-10 vendors for initial use case assessment. **Create a short list** For those solutions that meet the infrastructure criteria, buyers can try to apply vendor pricing to their use case. How much would a fully functioning hybrid setup cost based on the estimated workload? This should give buyers a budget of how much the solution will cost and filter out the ones out of the price range. **Conduct demos** System integration is the most important consideration. Businesses need to demo the solution in their environment. It doesn’t matter how well the hybrid cloud solution performs in the vendor's controlled environment since hybrid architecture is highly customizable. This is also a chance to see how easy it is to manage the whole system. Users should be able to manage multiple hybrid cloud infrastructures by using a centralized dashboard. The last thing any IT team wants to do is to fix a complex bug through different cloud management tools. After the business ensures that the hybrid solution will run smoothly in their system, they can select the best solution based on price and quality of service. #### Selection of Hybrid Cloud Storage Solutions **Choose a selection team** The IT team, purchasing team, and other teams who will be using the hybrid cloud tools should be included in the selection process. The IT team provides technical expertise. The purchasing team needs to ensure that the vendor contract aligns with other software vendor contracts. For example, there is no reason to buy a hybrid cloud software specifically for an application that will expire in a month. Users of the hybrid cloud tools can participate in product demo for questions and feedback. **Negotiation** Since every hybrid cloud architecture is different, pricing is highly customizable and comes down to negotiation. Many vendors offer complete storage platforms, including hybrid cloud storage. Companies can choose what part of the service they need for the best pricing or buy the whole solution for a discounted price. **Final decision** The CTO and IT managers should be the final decision-makers. They need to consider the ease of implementation for the business use case. Selecting a complex hybrid solution that no one knows how to implement is suboptimal. It is important to perform a trial run if possible with a small selection of IT professionals or developers. This will help to ensure that the selected solution integrates well with an IT administrator’s systems setup or a developer’s day-to-day work. If the tool is well-liked and well-utilized, the buyer can take that as a sign that their selection is the right one. If not, a reevaluation of the options may be necessary.