If you keep up with the trends in the IT industry, you might have come across the term “Hybrid Cloud”. In layman's terms, a hybrid cloud means a combination of at least one public and one private cloud. The main objective behind using the hybrid cloud is a unified, automated, and well-managed computing system. Many businesses predominantly use hybrid cloud to take advantage of both (public and private) clouds. Companies can use the private cloud to store sensitive information for better security. At the same time, they can use the public cloud for non-sensitive information.
How Does Hybrid Cloud Work?
Understanding how the hybrid cloud works is no rocket science. A hybrid cloud allows you to use both public and private cloud computing systems, seamlessly. Companies can divide their data and applications between public and private clouds. Thus, using hybrid clouds you can kill two birds with one stone. Once the data and applications are divided between public and private, the components of both are integrated. Thus, allowing companies to access the data and applications to move between both the clouds as and when required.
Have you ever wondered what is the secret behind the seamless services of some of your favorite apps and services like Netflix, Amazon Prime, AirBnB etc? It is nothing but the effortless and seamless integration of hybrid clouds.
Hybrid cloud is what made Netflix possible. Netflix and other video streaming applications use the private cloud to store the sensitive infringing content like customer information on their private clouds. On the contrary, the videos that we stream on these platforms are stored on their public clouds. While hybrid cloud is revolutionizing the IT world, there are two sides to the same coin. So, let’s look at the advantages and disadvantages of using the hybrid cloud.
Advantages of using Hybrid Cloud
Flexibility - Hybrid cloud provides you this flexibility to switch between different domains (private and public) as per the likings of the organization.
Cost-effective - Hybrid cloud allows you to store non-sensitive data on the public cloud which is cheaper and can help save a ton of money.
Security - The private cloud offers you vigorous security so that you don’t have to worry about hacking or breach of data ever.
Disadvantages of Hybrid Cloud
Complexity - Using both public and private clouds can create complexity and confusion while managing it, as compared to using only one kind of cloud (public or private).
Higher Costs - Hybrid clouds do provide you the best of both the worlds, but the cost is also doubled because of that.
Complicates Integration - Integrating both the public and private cloud can be quite complicated and requires specialized skillset to do so.
By employing hybrid cloud services many IT companies are making their IT environments much more complex and complicated from the security and management perspective. Because of this, there are many elements that need to be taken care of. Managing these complex cloud computing systems needs specialized skills and talent.
As Hybrid Cloud Computing continues to revolutionize the IT world with its increased flexibility, scalability, and security, there is a significant skill gap in the cybersecurity space which needs to be looked into to meet the demands of the industry and develop a skilled workforce to address future needs.
(Author: Karishma Chandnani is a Content Writing Intern at TechDoQuest. She offers refreshing & youthful perspectives on the topics she writes about.)