Evolving cloud services - choices galore or confusion?

Taking your organization’s services to the cloud is hailed as the epitome of efficiency and one of the best returns on investment you can get. Cloud can host your data, and applications, and provide you with infrastructure for your expanding needs. But before you take a plunge you need to decide what function you need the cloud to fulfill and what type of Cloud services best suit your organizational needs.

Then again, Cloud services are no longer just a simple cloud. You now have two more options – Multi-Cloud and Hybrid cloud. Let's look at what each type means.

Simple Cloud: A set of servers that can be accessed through the internet is called a cloud. One or more of the servers can be private, meaning only dedicated to one organization's use. This is called a Private cloud. Servers can also be shared between multiple organizations or applications, making it a Public Cloud.

There are multiple service providers (also called vendors) who provide both types of server space.

Simple cloud is useful when you are trying to reduce overheads in terms of setting up servers on premises for your apps or when trying to maintain an additional backup copy of your organization’s data. The downside to this can be data loss/ leakage and the risk of hacking. So the sensitivity of the data would be a key factor in opting for such a service.

This is useful for a start-up or a small size company.

Multi-Cloud: When you opt for multiple service providers with a similar type of cloud either public or private (but not both together) it's called Multi-Cloud. This is useful when you want to be sure about zero downtime because of any issue with a power outage or one server being down. This cloud is also used to reduce dependency on one vendor and have the flexibility to switch to low-cost solutions smoothly.

But the shortfalls of this type are differences in performance and reliability. There is increased vulnerability in terms of more points open to hacking.  The complexity of managing multiple vendors is a necessary step in having this cloud. 

This is suitable more for the 

Hybrid Cloud: This is similar to Multi-Cloud but with the flexibility of using both Public Clouds and Private Clouds together. This can also include the servers located at your premises. You can pick and choose vendors getting the most value in each service that you need. 

This is most useful for midsize organizations and large organisations. The flexibility in choosing a vendor and the combination of type of servers can get you a host of benefits.

This convenience comes with the price of increased complexity in managing the entire universe of Clouds.

 So based on the size of your organization, the nature of your data and the protection required you could pick the right cloud that fits your needs. 

In case you require more details we at Aurora can help you make the transition. Reach us on [email protected].