Even as success stories roll in of cost savings, improved agility and scalability in the cloud, some enterprises resist putting workloads in cloud environments, preferring the relative safety of on-site systems. The problem is that data is becoming a driving force in shaping business decisions, and in order to manage, analyze and gather insights from data, hybrid cloud migration is becoming the ideal solution.
It’s about control and security. Even a large, global enterprise may resist moving data to the cloud, despite the possibility of significant gains. Not only are they concerned about how they will provide adequate security monitoring, but it’s also a desire to retain control over the data. Some enterprises may also have reservations about cloud data storage because they work in a highly-regulated industry such as healthcare or finance.
Some enterprises will go to great lengths to keep data under their roof, with on-site data storage structures and storage mechanisms. They then need to add in analysis and management, soon creating a monstrous data processing division of IT. It’s not that this approach can’t work; it’s that it becomes so complex, cumbersome and expensive that it is impossible to remain competitive.
Choosing good hybrid design. The beauty of hybrid cloud migration is that it doesn’t force you to remove everything from an on-premises model. Moving data storage to the cloud frees up on-site systems for processing, virtualization and even some data processing. When the environment is a hybrid one, data visibility is optimized.
There’s a lot of flexibility around hybrid design, with options around your specific data storage and access needs. Some enterprises have a low tolerance for latency, while others have particular requirements for meeting compliance regulations.
In general, enterprises are moving away from highly-customized, private cloud solutions to a hybrid environment that is, inherently, a customized environment. The benefit of hybrid solutions that involve on-site, public and private cloud is that they access the power and speed of the public cloud.
Choose the right provider. A good managed services provider can help you gain the visibility and control over your data that you want for an ideal hybrid environment. It’s important that you choose a provider who not only can support your technical needs, but who also aligns with your enterprise in terms of expectations related to security and infrastructure support.
To learn more about the benefits of moving to a hybrid cloud solution for data, contact us at TailWind. Our certified, on-site technician support helps you navigate transitions, such as a migration to hybrid cloud, so you can successfully upgrade your data strategy.