What does ‘hybrid cloud’ mean? Most hybrid clouds combine a public cloud with a private cloud.
A hybrid cloud mixes two or more types of cloud environments. Hybrid cloud deployments combine public* and private clouds**, and they may also include on-premise legacy infrastructure. For a cloud to truly be hybrid, these different cloud environments must be tightly interconnected with each other, essentially functioning as one combined infrastructure. Almost all hybrid clouds include at least one public cloud.
A hybrid cloud operates much like a hybrid car, combining distinct technologies to maximize efficiency and performance. Hybrid cars merge gasoline engines with electric power, each offering unique advantages and limitations. When strategically integrated, the result is a vehicle that is more fuel-efficient than traditional gasoline cars and more powerful than fully electric ones. Similarly, hybrid clouds blend multiple cloud environments to optimize functionality and resource utilization.
Uses of Hybrid Clouds
Organizations leverage hybrid clouds in various ways. Some may run critical services on a private cloud while utilizing a public cloud for additional workloads. Others use public clouds as backups or to scale operations during peak demand, maintaining core processes within a private cloud.
Types of Hybrid Cloud Environments
Any combination of the following environments constitutes a hybrid cloud:
- Public Cloud: Managed by third-party vendors, public clouds host resources across multiple data centers, shared among various organizations. Virtual machines facilitate multitenancy, allowing separate companies to utilize the same physical servers.
- On-Premise Private Cloud: A private cloud exclusively serves one organization, ensuring that servers, software, and data remain isolated. These clouds are directly managed and secured by the organization rather than an external provider.
- Hosted Private Cloud: Like an on-premise private cloud, hosted private clouds are dedicated solely to one organization. However, instead of being maintained on-site, they are housed in third-party-managed data centers and accessed via the Internet. Unlike public clouds, hosted private clouds do not involve multitenancy.
- On-Premise (Legacy): Traditional IT infrastructure without cloud integration. Organizations purchase software licenses, install hardware on-site, and run applications directly on local devices—akin to working in Microsoft Word instead of cloud-based Google Docs.
Hybrid Cloud vs. Multi-Cloud
While hybrid clouds integrate different cloud models within a unified architecture, multi-cloud refers to organizations using multiple cloud providers without necessarily connecting them. Hybrid cloud environments emphasize interoperability between private and public clouds, whereas multi-cloud strategies distribute workloads across separate cloud services without direct integration.
A multi-cloud deployment combines multiple public clouds, while a hybrid cloud combines a public cloud with another type of environment. Hybrid clouds combine apples and oranges – a multi-cloud deployment is more like combining many types of apples.
A multi-cloud can also be a hybrid cloud if it mixes multiple types of cloud environments, in addition to using multiple public clouds, just as a rectangle can be a square, but not all rectangles are squares. Conversely, a hybrid cloud deployment can also be multi-cloud if it uses several public clouds.
How do the different environments communicate with each other in a hybrid cloud?
For a hybrid cloud to work well, the connection between the separate clouds is key. Public clouds, private clouds, and on-premises infrastructure can connect in a variety of ways, including:
Without a working connection between clouds, an organization is not running a hybrid cloud – they are merely running two or more separate cloud environments in parallel, and they won’t reap the benefits of hybrid cloud deployments.
Advantages of Hybrid Cloud Architecture
- Flexibility
Hybrid clouds allow businesses to transition between cloud deployment models with ease. If an organization decides to shift entirely to a public cloud, having some processes or storage already in a public cloud simplifies the migration. - Access to Advanced Technology
Public clouds provide access to cutting-edge technologies that may not be feasible in a private cloud, such as big data processing and AI-driven analytics. - Improved Reliability and Backup
In the event of a cloud failure, a company can rely on the other cloud to maintain operations, minimizing downtime. This redundancy is also a key advantage of multi-cloud strategies. - Scalability for Demand Spikes
Businesses can run core operations in a private cloud while leveraging public cloud resources to handle sudden surges in demand, such as increased traffic during Black Friday. This approach, known as cloud bursting, ensures seamless scalability. - Cost Efficiency
Maintaining an on-premise private cloud can be costly and resource-intensive. By offloading certain workloads to a public cloud, organizations reduce infrastructure expenses while optimizing resource allocation. - Enhanced Security for Sensitive Data
Organizations handling sensitive information, such as financial records, healthcare data, or payment details, can store critical data in a private cloud while using public clouds for less sensitive applications. This hybrid approach ensures greater control over security measures.
Drawbacks of Hybrid Cloud Architecture
- Increased Security Risks
A more complex network infrastructure means a larger attack surface, increasing the likelihood of vulnerabilities. While a private cloud may have strong security measures, different vendors may offer varying levels of protection, potentially creating weak points in the system. - Complex Integrations
Connecting and orchestrating multiple cloud environments requires additional setup and maintenance. Unlike a single public or private cloud deployment, hybrid clouds need technologies like VPNs or dedicated networking solutions to ensure seamless communication between environments. - Challenging Security Management
While an on-premise private cloud operates behind a company firewall, hosted private clouds and public clouds do not. Organizations may need separate security solutions for different environments, making data protection more complex. Additionally, managing user authentication and access control across multiple clouds can be difficult.