A hybrid cloud setup is a combination of public and private clouds. It offers the advantages of both environments: the low cost and scalability of a public cloud, and the security and customizability of a private cloud. But the dual nature of a hybrid cloud can also make it more complex to oversee than if you were using just either a public or private cloud. In order for you to effectively manage a hybrid cloud setup and, consequently, maximize its benefits for your business, you need to follow these tips:
Know what you’re managing in the hybrid cloud
The first thing you need to do is familiarize yourself with the data and workloads in your public and private cloud servers. You need to know which applications run on which servers, their function and importance to the organization, and who uses them. Should anything go wrong, you have to know which personnel to contact and the proper protocol for reaching out to them. Other crucial details you need to know include:
- When these applications run at peak performance
- What type of resources they require to run optimally
- What tools and services are integrated to these apps
- What other factors impact these apps’ performance
Implement strong security, but don’t stop there
Considering the ever-evolving nature of cyberthreats, you need to maximize the protection of your hybrid cloud setup. It’s no longer enough to have just firewalls and anti-malware software, though. You need advanced solutions like identity and access management and encryption tools to effectively manage potential risks to your data.
But when choosing which security tools to implement, you also have to consider their impact on your hybrid cloud environment’s performance. For instance, virtual private networks let you create secure connections that bypass threats in the public internet, but these tools are known to sometimes increase latency.
Get a good grasp of your tools
Hybrid cloud management is most efficiently done with the right specialized tools. These management tools have a wide range of capabilities, including:
- Cost management –allows you to implement policies for lowering cost and maximizing your ROI
- APIs and integration – helps you integrate your hybrid cloud servers with on-premises or cloud-based enterprise resource planning software and other tools critical to your operations
- Workload migration – allows you to securely move workloads between your public and private clouds
- Self-aggregation – lets you see and manage the different applications running on multiple cloud environments
- Self-service – lets you safely deploy and terminate workloads as needed
Most hybrid cloud management tools are automated, allowing you to focus on other important tasks instead of fussing over the state of your servers 24/7. Additionally, some cloud providers build these tools into their products, so you might want to check your dashboard before looking for third-party options.
Hybrid cloud management is most efficiently done with the right specialized tools.
Integrate everything into a single interface
Using a separate interface for each of your hybrid cloud’s component environments is a surefire way to make management unnecessarily complex. Simplify the process by finding a tool that gathers information from your private and public clouds and displays these using one interface. This reduces confusion and the risk of errors, and gives you better visibility and control over your hybrid cloud.
Be familiar with your service level agreement (SLA)
SLAs define the quality of outcomes you are entitled to get from your cloud providers, as well as the ways in which these results will be provided to you. These cover technical support and timely response to issues, among others. A hybrid cloud can be sensitive to changes in its components’ performance. Because of this, you need a cloud provider that can assure you of stability as well as redundant measures intended to prevent unplanned interruptions.
Effective management is crucial to making hybrid cloud servers the best assets they can be to your business. At Quicktech, we can help you develop a hybrid cloud setup that addresses your needs and helps your company become more efficient and capable of further growth.
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