Hybrid computing is a relatively new concept that’s caught on at a very fast pace and is increasing in popularity. What can it offer your business – apart from simply being a piece of jargon that’s bandied around at networking events – and is it something you should be considering?
Advantages
Best of Both Worlds
Adopting hybrid computing can be an efficient way to scale and tailor your company’s need. Multiple standardised processes run together to make the clouds function, so hybrid computing can be the perfect solution to load heavy projects, which your company’s in-house servers might not be able to manage.
If your company has reams of data which you’re not currently using – but needs to keep – it can be stored in the public cloud for the time being, which may be significantly cheaper than private. If there comes a time when the data becomes mission-critical, it can easily be transferred to the private, in-house storage system – instead of you having to make do with just one of the two options.
Value for Money
If your company had to invest in managed hosting providers or outsourcing them, it could amount to a sizeable invoice. Hybrid computing is available for a reasonable cost and can work out cheaper, and avoids the problem of having to purchase exclusive server hardware for a one-off project. You can just pay for what you use when you use it this way – and you get access to the resources at short notice.
Reliability
You can operate hybrid clouds at any time from any part of the world. This means they provide a global reach for businesses that are keen to spread their reach beyond the location of their current offices. In addition, this infrastructure provides reliable connectivity – even when there are outages.
Data Management
If you choose a service such as one that Canopy – the open cloud company provides, you have the luxury of additional services such as replication, back-up and service-level guarantees. This means your IT staff can be freed up to spend their time on other tasks, which might be more important or pressing.
Disadvantages
Complexity
If you were to use either private or public computing, you may not run into the complexity issues you might find with a hybrid model. When you are dealing with two different concepts, it undoubtedly means additional problems or complications could arise.
Safety Risks
Many are still concerned with safety risks when it comes to taking the plunge into cloud computing. However, experts maintain that it is just as safe as a physical server, with some contending that it’s actually more secure.
There is the option for businesses to store their most sensitive data on local servers and put everything else onto the cloud, until they are satisfied that security levels are of a high enough standard.
Overall
In conclusion, it appears a hybrid solution offers many benefits, which can be really helpful for businesses looking to improve the management of their critical information. While the issues of safety and complexity may still worry some, the pros of such technology appear to outweigh the cons. It may just be a case of getting to grips with it.