Benefits and limitations of the hybrid cloud – valuable tips you need to know
Cloud computing is a necessity in business today. More features are added to cloud computing every year, and one of the newest advancements is the hybrid cloud.
A hybrid cloud is a cloud computing environment that includes a mix of private cloud, public third party, and on-premises infrastructure in which all elements work together.
The combination of private and public cloud computing networks could also involve other private assets such as edge devices. Theoretically, a hybrid cloud offers companies more options.
To help you learn more about hybrid computing networks, we explore some of the biggest pros and cons.
Benefits of a hybrid cloud
Here are some of the key benefits and limitations of using a hybrid cloud.
Flexibility
Many companies work with many types of data from different environments meaning they often have to adjust their infrastructure to suit the data.
A hybrid cloud uses public and private computing environments, which allow firms more flexibility in their infrastructure to handle the data. Companies’ huge workloads can seamlessly migrate from their private infrastructure to a vendor’s infrastructure without much work.
Cost
Cloud computing can be quite expensive, so cost is an important consideration every company must make when migrating to cloud computing. A significant benefit of hybrid computing is that it offers companies a way to scale their operations cost-effectively.
The combination of private and public cloud environments is a great mix suitable for offsetting the tremendous cost of private clouds. Organizations of any size or type can use the Hybrid Cloud Observability platform. Companies gain infrastructure and application support at excellent prices.
Scalability
Hybrid cloud computing is famous for its ability to adapt to organizational needs. A company would be limited if it were only to use its private cloud. Still, with a hybrid cloud, it can also use a public cloud environment allowing it more space for more data which is necessary for expansion.
Hybrid clouds offer nearly unlimited resources, which is crucial, especially during demand spikes. Companies should always factor in scalability when considering cloud computing. If a company is downsizing, it can also scale its cloud computing needs down with a hybrid cloud instead of having unused space that may be costing them.
Agility
A fantastic benefit of hybrid clouds is their capacity for customization. A cloud needs the ability to respond to a client’s needs quickly. A hybrid system could quickly connect old systems to new ones and swiftly create the infrastructure to meet business demands.
Limitations of a hybrid computing network
And here are some limitations of a hybrid computing network.
Security
Security is one of the main concerns of a hybrid network. You can do much to enhance your security with a private cloud, but your infrastructure becomes more vulnerable once you join a public cloud.
It is much more difficult to ensure safety in a hybrid cloud network because the users are mainly responsible for their data security even with stringent precautions.
Networking
Networking becomes a severe issue whenever you have a different cloud computing infrastructure. Hybrid clouds present a unique networking challenge due to using both private and public networks.
There are often tight restrictions to overcome when networking between private and public cloud computing models. Data transmission on a public cloud is usually done via the public internet; hence it dramatically affects the performance level of a hybrid cloud.
Compatibility
Though you get the advantages of private and public clouds in a hybrid cloud, you may run into compatibility issues which is a significant limitation. A private cloud’s design suits a particular organization or network.
Therefore, there are challenges when adapting the private cloud to the public one. Private clouds also typically perform better than public ones, so companies have to give up performance for other benefits when transitioning from a private cloud to a public one.
As you can see, there are pros and cons to a hybrid cloud. Every company has to weigh the benefits against the limitations of a hybrid network to determine if it is worth it. The hybrid cloud should meet business demands and be manageable to work for a firm.
Photo by Sigmund
