July 26, 2023
According to Flexera’s 2023 State of the Cloud Report, 72% of organizations surveyed utilize a hybrid cloud model to conduct business operations. While the hybrid cloud model presents numerous advantages, it also comes with challenges. A managed services provider (MSP) can be a valuable partner in successfully implementing or managing a hybrid cloud model. Their expertise, support, and proactive approach enable organizations to harness the full potential of the hybrid cloud while mitigating challenges and ensuring a secure, scalable, and cost-effective IT infrastructure.
One of the primary advantages of a hybrid cloud model is the unparalleled flexibility it offers. Organizations can leverage a combination of public and private clouds, tailoring their infrastructure to meet specific needs. This combination enables businesses to scale their resources up or down based on fluctuating demands, ensuring optimal performance during peak periods without wasting resources during off-peak times. By leveraging a managed services provider, IT directors gain confidence knowing these services are performed without taxing their full-time staff.
While public clouds offer numerous benefits, some businesses hesitate to fully migrate due to security concerns. The hybrid cloud approach allows organizations to retain sensitive data and critical applications on their private cloud, ensuring a higher level of control and compliance. MSPs have the technical expertise and experience to properly segregate data for a more customized security strategy, meeting industry-specific regulations and bolstering overall data protection.
Cost optimization is a key consideration for any IT director. A hybrid cloud model allows organizations to balance cost and performance by optimizing resource utilization. Non-sensitive workloads can be hosted on the public cloud, taking advantage of its pay-as-you-go pricing model. Meanwhile, sensitive workloads can remain on the private cloud, avoiding unnecessary costs associated with public cloud storage. MSPs help businesses optimize their cloud costs by analyzing usage patterns, identifying potential cost-saving opportunities, and recommending suitable pricing models. Choosing a pricing model that reflects your usage ensures that the organization only pays for the resources it consumes, leading to more efficient budget management.
One of the primary challenges in adopting a hybrid cloud model is the complexity of integrating diverse cloud environments. Ensuring seamless interoperability between environments can be intricate. Integrating applications, data, and workloads across different platforms requires meticulous planning and implementation to avoid disruptions and ensure optimal performance. An MSP can work closely with the organization to assess its unique needs and requirements. Based on this assessment, the MSP can design a comprehensive hybrid cloud strategy outlining which workloads best suit public or private clouds.
Effective data management and security pose significant challenges in a hybrid cloud environment. Managed service providers must navigate the intricacies of handling data across private and public clouds while adhering to stringent security standards. Data movement between the clouds can introduce vulnerabilities if not appropriately managed, leading to data breaches or non-compliance with industry regulations. Your MSP should be well-versed in implementing robust security measures and developing comprehensive security strategies safeguarding data across the hybrid infrastructure. They can also conduct regular audits ensuring compliance with industry regulations and data protection standards.
Dealing with multiple cloud vendors in a hybrid model can present challenges regarding vendor management and Service Level Agreement (SLA) alignment. Each cloud provider may offer different service levels and support agreements, making it essential to negotiate and coordinate SLAs that align with the organization’s specific requirements. MSPs act as intermediaries between the organization and cloud providers, managing vendor relationships and ensuring that Service Level Agreements (SLAs) align with the organization’s requirements and expectations.
Optimizing performance and efficiently allocating resources are critical challenges in a hybrid cloud environment. Balancing workloads between private and public clouds to meet dynamic demand fluctuations requires constant monitoring and adaptability. Failure to effectively manage resource allocation can lead to underutilization or overutilization of cloud resources, impacting service quality and cost-effectiveness. MSPs help organizations optimize their hybrid cloud performance by monitoring resource utilization and identifying areas for improvement. They can dynamically allocate resources between public and private clouds to meet fluctuating demand and ensure cost-effectiveness.
Make sure you’re getting the most out of your cloud and managed services budget. Schedule a call with Dewpoint’s experts today and see how managed services can partner in achieving your goals.