What is a hybrid cloud?
A hybrid cloud combines public and private clouds so people can use resources, storage, and services from different environments. In a hybrid cloud, some applications and data are hosted in a public cloud, while others are hosted in a private cloud or on-premises data center.
Hybrid cloud solutions offer users the means to build more flexible configurations tailored to their unique requirements. Many businesses turn to hybrid cloud platforms to cut costs, reduce risk, and bolster their current capabilities to support digital transformation initiatives. They’re a popular solution for organizations that need to move data gradually and strategically.
With hybrid cloud storage software, businesses can use their on-premise infrastructure while benefiting from the increased flexibility and adaptability of cloud environments.
How does hybrid cloud work?
Hybrid clouds combine the assets of two or more distinct computing environments. To quickly share, move, and synchronize information, hybrid cloud architectures need integration, orchestration, and coordination.
Strong hybrid cloud networking is essential for successful hybrid cloud deployment. Application programming interfaces (APIs), virtual private networks (VPN), local area networks (LANs), and wide area networks (WANs) are frequently used to connect different environments. Like other cloud computing architectures, hybrid cloud platforms abstract and aggregate resources through virtualization, containerization, and software-defined networking and storage technologies.
Businesses can assign resources and enable on-demand provisioning to various environments in hybrid cloud deployment.
Benefits of hybrid cloud
A hybrid cloud is a powerful tool for organizations to balance the benefits of public and private cloud computing environments. By using a hybrid cloud, businesses leverage the scalability, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness of the public cloud for certain workloads as they control the sensitive data in the private cloud. Some of the benefits of a hybrid cloud include:
- Efficient application governance. Businesses can choose where the application runs and where computing takes place using a hybrid approach. For regulated applications, this guarantees compliance and improves privacy.
- Decreased latency and enhanced performance. A hybrid cloud solution can occasionally be advantageous for distributed apps in distant locations. Hybrid computing occurs close to the end users for applications with low latency needs.
- Operational flexibility. With hybrid computing, companies can work in the setting that suits them the most. Using containers when building applications makes it easier to switch between public and private clouds.
- Increased return on investment (ROI). Users increase their cloud computing capacity without raising their data center costs by integrating a public cloud provider into the current on-premises infrastructure.
- Security. A hybrid cloud allows organizations to control their most sensitive data and applications, keeping them behind a firewall and under their own management and security protocols.
Hybrid cloud use cases
Organizations use hybrid clouds to optimize computing resources, improve performance, and reduce costs. Some of the most common uses of hybrid cloud computing include:
- Cloud bursting. Companies use the public cloud to handle sudden spikes in demand for computing resources. For example, during a seasonal sales spike, a retail store can use the public cloud to handle the increased demand for its e-commerce website while maintaining core business systems in the private cloud.
- Disaster recovery. Companies fall back on public clouds as a backup and recovery site for their critical functions. If there’s a failure in the private cloud, switching to the public cloud keeps operations without interruption.
- Data storage. Businesses simultaneously store regular data in the public cloud and sensitive data in the private cloud. This allows the organization to take advantage of the cost-effectiveness of the public cloud for non-sensitive information while maintaining robust control and security over sensitive data.
- Development and testing. Engineers use the public cloud for developing and testing new applications as they keep core business systems in the private cloud. This lets developers quickly come up with new environments and try out new applications without affecting core business operations.
- Compliance. Organizations keep non-sensitive workloads on the public cloud and keep sensitive workloads in the private cloud to meet compliance requirements such as Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) or General Data Protection Regulation and (GDPR).
Hybrid cloud vs. public cloud
It’s common to confuse a hybrid cloud with a public cloud.
A hybrid cloud is a form of blended computing in which applications are executed using a combination of storage, computing, and services across environments. Since not many people today rely solely on a single public cloud, hybrid cloud computing strategies are common.
A public cloud is a cloud computing model that uses online delivery of IT services. To meet the expanding needs of businesses of all sizes and industry sectors, the public cloud provides a wide range of solutions and computing resources. This makes it the most widely used model of cloud computing services. It has exceptional elasticity and scalability, along with a reasonable subscription-based price tier.
Learn more about the public cloud and discover the advantage that it adds to your cloud infrastructure.
Sagar Joshi
Sagar Joshi is a former content marketing specialist at G2 in India. He is an engineer with a keen interest in data analytics and cybersecurity. He writes about topics related to them. You can find him reading books, learning a new language, or playing pool in his free time.
