The Cloud.
It’s been a popular buzzword for several years now as companies have increasingly shifted data, applications, and operating systems to virtual servers usually stored off-premises. There are many advantages to using a cloud solution, but the surprising news for some is that not all clouds are created equally. There are multiple options available for cloud solutions.
Understanding the advantages of each option and why you might want to use one over the other helps to make the right decision for your business.
What Cloud Options Are Available?
Cloud, multi-cloud, and hybrid options offer different types of solutions. Here’s a closer look at each.
Cloud storage involves keeping files of all types stored online, as opposed to keeping them on your computer’s hard drive, an external hard drive or thumb drive. Cloud storage allows you to keep large amounts of data accessible and secure with files uploaded to remote servers. Public cloud solutions are multitenant services, usually offered on a subscription basis. Popular public commercial cloud solutions include Google Drive and Dropbox, where subscribers are given a finite amount of data for a fixed price.
Data are stored in data centers, with storage spread across multiple locations in multiple regions.
Private cloud solutions, by contrast, are in-house storage options on dedicated internal servers protected by an organization’s firewalls. Private cloud options are like their public counterparts in that both provide easy, secure access to data files. They are typically used by businesses that need customized storage solutions, need more control of their data, or are subject to regulatory or data security requirements.
Multicloud solutions are used by businesses that deploy multiple cloud solutions, either public, private, hybrid, or a mix of all. Often, companies require a multi-cloud solution due to specific requirements or access needs.
Hybrid cloud solutions are a mix of private and public cloud solutions. With hybrid and multi-cloud solutions, there is an overlay of integration management tools needed to ensure that different platforms can intersect while providing the proper security protocols.
Hybrid solutions may be useful for companies that have a mix of data. For example, a business may store structured data and that information most frequently used on a private, on-premises cloud while keeping unstructured or infrequently used data in a public solution. Hybrid clouds also are helpful to businesses that need to adapt to seasonal variances in demand.
Hybrid solutions may be necessary for data that needs to be kept more securely or is subject to strict regulatory requirements. Some government contractors, for example, need to restrict access to private cloud solutions per contract.
How Do We Determine the Right Cloud Solution?
Many factors go into deciding which cloud solution makes the most sense for your business. Understanding the features you need, pricing, and flexibility requirements are an essential first step. It’s also helpful to consider what solutions are most common in your industry. It also helps to answer the following questions:
- What is our inventory of applications?
- What data do we need to store? How sensitive are those data?
- How many devices need to connect to the cloud platform?
- What business problems can we solve with cloud solutions?
- Are we bound by compliance or contractual data security mandates?
- What are the real costs of onsite data centers, including staffing, maintenance, and utility expenses?
- What certifications and technologies do potential cloud providers offer?
At DeVeera, we help Monterrey and Salinas area companies with solutions to their most pressing technology and business challenges. Our consulting services provide your business with insights and answers to inform your choice of cloud solutions, managed services, cybersecurity, and software. Learn more about how DeVeera can transform your business by contacting us today.
