- Hybrid cloud servers are a combination of private and public cloud environments, with the benefits of customization for storage, security, and computing requirements.
- Businesses that need fast and reliable data access, secure sharing of data, and solutions for downtime arising from local catastrophes cloud consider hybrid cloud setups.
- Companies with API compatibility, systemized application, migration, and robust network connectivity can make the most of multi-cloud, hybrid setups.
Today, most businesses operate in a digital environment. In most cases, using public cloud or on-premise infrastructure can cost additional money and resources. For most such cases, multi-cloud and hybrid setups can provide viable solutions.
Hybrid cloud infrastructure particularly benefits small and medium-scale businesses, providing numerous advantages, including resource efficiency, operational flexibility, superior security, and easier scalability.
Challenges Necessitating Modernization of SMB IT Infrastructure
SMBs are rapidly investing in modernizing their IT infrastructure which is essential to remain competitive. However, such upgrades can be challenging even for an organization with experienced IT professionals. Common actions to modernize IT infrastructure include virtualization, better networking, analytics, and using a hybrid cloud. As per Aberdeen Strategy and Research, the most common upgrades are associated with connectivity and networking, at 43%, followed by hybrid cloud, analytics, and virtualization.
Actions Taken by SMBs To Modernize IT Infrastructure
Source: Aberdeen Strategy and Research
A few key challenges include the security of the data, issues integrating new tech with existing infrastructure, and the complexity of new technologies. Effectively integrating technologies to ensure the overall infrastructure can provide adequate security requires expertise. New trends such as Kubernetes and hybrid cloud are things SMBs struggle to adopt.
Modernizing IT infrastructure helps SMBs to be more agile, competitive, and secure. In a hypercompetitive world, an agile team is required to complete projects within time and resource restraints. Also, with the increasing sophistication of cyber attacks, older IT infrastructure is vulnerable.
SMBs need to collaborate with dedicated service providers capable of advanced analytics to build customized hybrid, multi-cloud solutions. According to Aberdeen Strategy and Research, expertise in cost management and integrating new tech with existing infrastructure is important to SMBs looking for a service provider.
- A good service provider is capable of tech integration
- Service providers can optimize deployment to boost scalability
- They also support the management in terms of costs to make operations viable
What SMBs Look For in Hybrid Cloud Service Providers
Source: Aberdeen Strategy and Research
Additionally, managing multiple cloud providers requires specialized skills and expertise. SMEs should invest in staff training or consider partnering with managed service providers who can assist in managing and optimizing their cloud infrastructure.
See More: Why Cybersecurity Strategy Fails Public Cloud Providers
Critical Advantages SMBs Derive From Hybrid Cloud
SMBs leading in their vertical mostly do so through collaborations with managed service providers who provide superior security and storage capabilities through hybrid cloud setups. As per Aberdeen Strategy and Research, The most prominent advantages of adopting hybrid cloud solutions include:
- Reduced resources required to run IT operations
- Optimizations of operations
- Robust security
All these factors are largely responsible for satisfaction among a company’s higher management.
Benefits of Incorporating Hybrid and Multi-Cloud Services
Source: Aberdeen Strategy and Research
Enterprises can combine public and private cloud capabilities, enabling them to adapt their IT infrastructure to suit their needs. SMBs can store sensitive data on private clouds while utilizing public clouds for non-sensitive operations, striking a balance between security and scalability. Furthermore, multi-cloud infrastructure empowers SMEs to distribute their workloads across multiple cloud platforms, reducing the risk of vendor lock-in and enhancing resilience and performance.
Hybrid and multi-cloud models provide a cost-efficient alternative, as they offer a pay-as-you-go approach. SMEs can leverage public clouds for non-sensitive workloads, eliminating the need for capital expenditures and reducing operational costs.
Furthermore, by incorporating private cloud setups, SMBs can maintain stricter control over their critical data, ensuring compliance with industry regulations and enhancing data privacy. Additionally, the distributed nature of multi-cloud infrastructure provides resilience against potential security breaches, minimizing the impact of an attack and facilitating a quicker recovery process.
See More: IT Leaders in Emerging Life Sciences: Five Tips To Drive Your IT and Compliance Strategy
Key Steps To Modernize SMBs With Hybrid Cloud
To make the most of hybrid cloud solutions, SMBs should go through an optimized process:
- Gain a complete understanding of company requirements and what exactly one expects from deploying a hybrid cloud in terms of performance, security, and reliability.
- Following this, join hands with experienced service providers who can meet the requirements with the latest technologies and optimized deployment processes suitable for SMB environments.
- Invest in infrastructure modernization and training to make the overall infrastructure cloud-ready.
- Eliminate all blocks and bottlenecks, and integrate multi-cloud and hybrid setups to save time and resources in day-to-day operations.
See More: Becoming Cloud-Powered: CIOs Must Look Beyond Technology
With frequent changes to customer expectations and uncertainties in growth and stability, the requirement for reliable, secure, and scalable infrastructure is crucial. Modernization of infrastructure with dedicated service providers generates benefits, including end-to-end transparency, virtualization, and high-speed storage. Adopting multi-cloud and hybrid cloud environments can help SMBs improve operational efficiency, support innovation, and give them a long-term edge in an increasingly digital world.
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