Based on Cisco’s 2022 Global Hybrid Cloud Trends Report, which surveyed 2500 IT decision-makers in 13 countries, 82% of IT leaders have adopted the hybrid cloud. However, the same survey also found that when deploying a hybrid cloud, the top 3 challenges are:

1. Security (37%)
2. Increased operational complexity and cost management (33%)
3. Compliance and privacy (31%)

What are Some Hybrid Cloud Best Practices?

To address the challenges mentioned in the previous section, businesses can implement a set of best practices to optimize their hybrid cloud deployment and mitigate potential risks. These are some of those best practices: 

Evaluate your needs and requirements

Evaluating your company’s needs and requirements ensures that your hybrid cloud deployment is tailored to your specific needs while avoiding unnecessary costs. This involves assessing storage needs, computing power, and network bandwidth. However, it’s important to note that this evaluation is an ongoing process. Regularly tracking resource usage and evolving needs allows you to optimize resource utilization and prevent unexpected costs. 

Additionally, consult with your provider to see if they allow you to pay only for what you use, or provide bundled service packages that can help you save money and avoid overspending. 

Check the hybrid cloud provider’s SLA

A provider’s Service Level Agreement outlines the provider’s guarantees regarding uptime, performance, availability, support, and security. Thus, before choosing a hybrid cloud provider, make sure that you review and understand their SLAs. By making sure that the SLA aligns with your organization’s requirements, you can minimize the risk of downtime and ensure business continuity.  

Implementing security measures

Security is a crucial best practice for hybrid cloud usage as you want to make sure all private information related to your business is kept confidential. Implementing security measures in your cloud environment can be done through encryption strategies, managing access controls, and regularly patching and updating your systems. Moreover, you should also continuously monitor your systems for potential security threats and make disaster recovery plans for your business, so that you can respond to any security issues quickly. It’s recommended to consult with your provider to see if they can help you with implementing these security measures so you don’t have to manage all that on your own.  

Who should use a hybrid cloud?

Small medium businesses (SMBs) 

Hybrid cloud is the perfect solution for small-medium businesses as it allows them to store their sensitive data securely in a private cloud while still utilizing the public cloud for scalable and cost-efficient resources. This ensures that the business has optimal website performance and delivers an excellent and secure customer experience. 

Software developers

Hybrid cloud provides software developers with an affordable and flexible platform to build, test, and deploy applications quickly and efficiently. Developers can still keep their sensitive data on the private cloud while using budget-friendly resources from the public cloud for development and testing needs. 

Regulatory-driven businesses

Hybrid cloud allow businesses that have strict compliance requirements to maintain control over sensitive information by safely storing them in the private cloud while still enjoying the scalability and cost benefits of public cloud services. This is so they can comply with regulatory standards and ensure data privacy and security, while still saving some costs.  

Media and entertainment industry

Businesses in the media and entertainment industry has to deal with large files that require big-sized storage. This includes high-resolution video, images, and graphics. Using the this type of cloud can help them store and process those data cost-effectively. They can also use the public cloud resources for their content distribution and streaming while safely storing their valuable assets and information on the private cloud. This helps them to ensure a smooth content delivery while maintaining the protection of intellectual property. 

Educational institutions and research organizations

Hybrid cloud can help educational institutions and research organizations as they allow them to keep their students and research data secure on the private cloud while taking advantage of the public cloud for hosting online courses and learning platforms. This way, they can enjoy easy and convenient access to resources, while still keeping their sensitive data private.  

Overall, a hybrid cloud is a perfect solution for organizations or individuals who want flexibility, scalability, affordability, and secure data management by combining private and public cloud environments to meet their specific needs.

Click here to learn more about how Hybrid Cloud works. 

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IAM Key Components

IAM involves several key components, including authentication, authorization, and user provisioning and de-provisioning. Authentication is the process of verifying the identity of a user or device that is requesting access to a cloud resource. This can be achieved through various methods, such as passwords, security tokens, and biometric factors like fingerprints or facial recognition. By verifying the user’s identity, organizations can ensure that only authorized users have access to their cloud resources.

Authorization is the process of granting or denying access to a specific cloud resource based on the user’s identity and access privileges. Access privileges are typically assigned based on the user’s role or job function within the organization. For example, a user with administrative privileges would have access to more sensitive data and systems than a user with a basic user role.

Added Layer of Security

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is becoming increasingly popular as an added layer of security for the authentication process. MFA requires users to provide more than one form of authentication, such as a password and a security token, to verify their identity. This helps to prevent unauthorized access by ensuring that a potential attacker would need to possess more than just one factor of authentication to gain access to cloud resources.

Role-based access control (RBAC) is a model for managing access to cloud resources based on the user’s role or job function within the organization. RBAC allows organizations to manage access to resources more efficiently and securely by limiting access to only those users who require it to perform their job duties. This reduces the risk of data breaches and other security incidents that may occur due to unauthorized access.

User provisioning and de-provisioning are crucial components of IAM that ensure that users are provided with the necessary access privileges when they join an organization, and those privileges are removed when they leave the organization. This helps to prevent former employees from retaining access to sensitive data and systems after they have left the organization.

Conclusion

Ultimately, IAM is a critical aspect of cloud security that allows organizations to manage the digital identities of their users and control their access to cloud resources. By implementing IAM frameworks, organizations can reduce the risk of data breaches and other security incidents that may occur due to unauthorized access to cloud resources. IAM provides organizations with greater control over their cloud resources, ensuring that only authorized users have access to sensitive data and systems. As more and more organizations move their operations to the cloud, IAM will become increasingly important in ensuring the security of cloud-based data and systems.

Let’s start the conversation today! Click here to discuss how Wowrack can enhance your organizations security.

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Private Cloud

To see the difference between cloud solutions, we must have a basis at first. So, let’s take a look at the private cloud.

Private cloud only allows one user or tenant to use the cloud environment. A special connection is often necessary in accessing the private cloud. This allows the “private” element of the setup by not sharing anything with other customers or users of the vendor.

This setup allows the user of the private cloud to easily customize and scale the setup according to the user’s need.

While the idea of “private” might highly interest you, not all kinds of businesses need to use this setup. The following are the kind of workloads that are ideal in using a private cloud:

• Sensitive data
• A business that requires strong security for its IT workload and infrastructure
• Enterprise that demand high performance and customizable IT infrastructures
• Company that requires a complex and customizable data center
• Highly regulated industries and government agencies

Before using this solution, it is better to know the pros and cons of using the private cloud.

Pros:

• Flexibility: As the space of the cloud is only meant for one tenant or user, it is easy to transform the cloud based on the ever-changing need of your business.
• Higher Security: Users who require strict regulation regarding the safety and security of their data can easily apply protocols, measures, or configurations within the cloud as necessitated.
• Scalability Without Tradeoff: Users can easily scale the private cloud without sacrificing the security of the system and reduction in performance.
• Efficient in Performance: Private cloud is always known for high reliability and performance.

Cons:

• Higher Price: The privilege of being “private” does not always come cheap, as private clouds always tend to cost more than public clouds.
• Difficulty for Mobile User: Private cloud sometimes require special arrangement such as VPN to be able to connect into the cloud. Thus, mobile devices may have none to limited access within the cloud.
• Planned Scalability: While the private cloud can be scaled like any other cloud solution, the private cloud cannot be scaled at the spur of the moment and require planning.

Public Cloud

A public cloud is a cloud computing model in which the space within the cloud is shared between the customers.

This form of cloud computing is the most popular one out of the three that we will be discussing today. The public cloud could offer a wide arrange of choices for the growing need for IT solutions and computing resources.

The use of the public cloud could range from a small service such as email, apps, or storage. An enterprise-grade infrastructure environment can also be supported by public cloud..

You can look at the pros and cons that need to be considered before using this cloud service.

Pros:

• Affordability: Flexible pricing options are available based on the specification that you use makes it easily affordable to use.
• Business Focus: As the third-party vendor taking care of the necessary infrastructure and maintenance, user can put their focus straight into their business.
• Easy to Scale: Public cloud is very easy to scale and can be done at a moment’s notice, allowing it to be adaptable against a spike in the network.

Cons:

• Lack of Security: Unlike the private cloud, the public cloud is used by multiple tenants within the same cloud. This reduces the amount of security and protocol that can be used in the environment.
• Lack of Cost Control: Generally, the TCO or total cost ownership can skyrocket when using the public cloud for large-scale usage.
• Low Technical Control: The public cloud is a poor choice if certain compliances are required to be met. This is due to little to no control and visibility of the infrastructure.

Hybrid Cloud

Lastly, we have hybrid cloud as the last form of cloud computing model. This form of cloud computing is a unique one. In a sense that it combines elements of the private and public cloud into one.

You can find some of the common set up used by hybrid cloud:

• Businesses use private cloud environments for their day-to-day operation and IT needs while employing public cloud in case of a spike in network traffic, or
• Enterprise use public cloud as the common workspace and private cloud as a place to store sensitive data or information.

Other than combining two cloud solutions, the user of hybrid cloud could also choose to be homogeneous or heterogeneous.

Homogeneous refers to the use of cloud solutions from the same cloud provider. Meanwhile, heterogenous refers to the use of cloud solutions from two different cloud providers.

Combining two cloud solutions caused a whole new pros and cons that you need to consider. Thus, you might find the difference between cloud solutions in the hybrid cloud as a mix of private and public cloud.

Pros:

• Scale with Security: Hybrid cloud combination between two clouds allows this system to be able to scale without sacrificing security as the private cloud could.
• Cost Control: With the division of tasks that is possible with a hybrid cloud, businesses can choose which cloud to be scaled based on the workload.
• Reliability: The distribution of workload across two different cloud – or even services – allow businesses to have maximum reliability and data retention.

Cons:

• Complexity: Combining both public and private cloud adds another layer of complexity. This is true both in the operation and management of the cloud environment.
• Higher Price: Using both public and private clouds can be overwhelming and hard to track. Thus without proper management, the cost of the service could balloon.

Wowrack Cloud Infrastructure

Understanding the difference between cloud solutions is the first step in using a cloud environment. Wowrack offers all forms of cloud solutions from public, private, to a hybrid cloud. All of which, you can choose depending on your workload needs.

With data centers located all around the world and reliably certified by such as ISO 27001 and SOC 2 Type II/SSAE 18, Wowrack to assure your data availability and security to the highest standard.

So, are you ready to drive your workload to the cloud? Let’s start with us today!

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Architecture

Public cloud solutions create a virtualized environment that shares computing resources and also isolates data. Additionally, they have the ability to rapidly transmit data and use multiple data centers.

With a public cloud solution, all you have to do is sign up for an account. A public cloud is different from a private cloud in that it is used by many different organizations. A private cloud, on the other hand, is an extension of a single company’s data system and only serves them. Companies with more sensitive data and who have compliancy needs often will favor private environments instead of multi-tenant public cloud solutions.

Pros of Public Cloud Solutions

One of the major advantages of the public cloud is ease of use and near instant deployment. The public cloud is a way for enterprises to scale IT resources. The company doesn’t have to maintain as many infrastructure components or development resources in-house. This makes it a good solution for businesses who prefer to focus on the work at hand and not worry about in-house physical infrastructure deployment.

The pay-per-usage option is also beneficial to many enterprises and allows for a more flexible financial model. With its utility based model, a public cloud can be great for small businesses and start-ups. However for larger deployments, public cloud tends to be more expensive than a private environment. Additionally, a public cloud solution provides scalability, allowing it to grow with your needs as your business expands.

Cons of Public Cloud Solutions

However, not every company finds that public cloud storage is right for them. For one, some companies have found it difficult to track cloud usage, and sometimes this causes them to end up paying for more resources than they actually have a use for. Cloud storage is also not always the best option for companies with strict regulatory requirements. The multi-tenant nature of the public cloud is not ideal for companies that must adhere to specific compliance.

Public cloud solutions create an easily accessed platform for businesses owners and enterprises. A public cloud solution gives you a more flexible financial model and can be great for new companies and businesses. If you are looking for the right cloud hosting for your business, turn to Wowrack’s cloud solutions. We offer public, private, and hybrid cloud hosting, so there’s a solution for every type of company.

Contact us today, or read more about our public cloud solutions services.

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