The Benefits of Running a Multi Cloud Environment

Getting one cloud can be overwhelming, but getting a second? It might sound crazy, but that’s exactly what many enterprises are doing. The multi-cloud approach is becoming more popular with increased cloud options. The idea behind it is to utilize multiple cloud providers for different applications.

Most managed service providers have a specialized cloud infrastructure they work for. This means they have advanced exposure and expertise to get the most out of any given cloud infrastructure. Some even have backgrounds with each hyperscale cloud. This doesn’t always translate to a definitive multi-cloud option, but working with the same provider can make your partnership easier to manage.

Optimizing workloads

There are a lot of reasons to utilize multiple clouds. Cloud infrastructures have different strengths and weaknesses. Some workloads run better on one cloud platform versus another. Measuring the cost to performance is important.

Being able to run workloads in an optimal environment is what every enterprise is looking for. If you feel that your cloud platform isn’t enough for a specific task, there’s no reason not to utilize an additional platform. You can work with your managed service provider to find what will work best.

No single cloud can do everything a large enterprise needs. Every company is different; thus, every cloud infrastructure is going to fit different specifications. A multi-cloud environment allows IT teams to play around and figure out what works best for their workloads. Having additional options is almost always the right choice in computing.

You won’t get backed into a corner

Vendor lock-in can be one of the driving fears for enterprises researching a cloud service provider. Sometimes it can be incredibly difficult to transition from one cloud vendor to another. If you fear getting contractually locked into a vendor, a sound multi-cloud strategy can prevent this.

Managed service providers offer migration services to help when you need to move. This is an incredibly difficult and often overwhelming task for enterprises to work towards on their own. Being able to rely on a provider’s help during a move increases peace of mind during a largescale cloud change.

The cloud marketplace is constantly changing with new options. A proper strategy will allow your provider to integrate new tools and solutions without reworking your entire cloud architecture. If you’re stuck with a single cloud, you may miss out on a tool you find interesting. With multiple clouds, you’ll be able to port a tool over to both clouds with proper management.

Safer data

Isolating data is always a sound option. Maybe one cloud provider has better data storage options for your company’s specific needs or a certain MSP is only available on a different cloud. It’s also possible that you want to keep your cloud workloads separate from other types of data that your company holds. Sometimes it’s cheaper to keep data separate.

This comes back to weighing cost to performance. Sure, you could keep all your data and workloads on one cloud, but that may end up being costly. MSPs work with enterprises to find out where costs can be optimized. Whether it would mean adding a private cloud, or another public cloud, a cloud MSP will be there to help.

Additionally, some clouds have a higher focus on security or better optimization with certain security tools. Obviously, a higher security platform would be safer for data storage. Having multiple clouds gives your company complete control over your cloud data. It mitigates risk and makes data migration much easier.

Conclusion

The conclusion is simple. Every company is going to have different demands from their cloud infrastructure, and they need to weigh the pros and cons of each. Managed service providers enhance enterprise strengths while eliminating weaknesses. Figure out what cloud your developers enjoy working on the most and what tools they’ll need. Figure out where you want data. It all comes down to what your specific company needs and who can help.

Hybrid cloud is a multi-cloud alternative that focuses on on-premises or private cloud integration. Learn more here.