6 Principles When Evaluating Hybrid Cloud Solutions

Date: Oct 27, 2022

Related Tags：1. Hybrid Cloud

2. What Is Hybrid Cloud?

Abstract: Hybrid cloud is all the rage these days. Almost every IT company claims to have a solution deployed, but very little has actually been implemented. Instead, they have private clouds that are somewhat integrated with multiple cloud instances.

In the following articles, the authors will attempt to clarify what makes a hybrid cloud environment hybrid, as well as some guidelines that IT organizations should follow when evaluating solutions from solution vendors.

What is/isn't a hybrid cloud?

Before diving into it, let's do a layered setup of what a hybrid cloud is. Likewise, it's important for us to identify what is not a hybrid cloud environment.



A hybrid cloud is not just a combination of private and public clouds. It's not just the ability to move workloads from on-prem to off-prem on demand. A hybrid cloud is the unified configuration and management of resources that can deliver and consume services in a consistent manner across multiple environments (public, private, or edge environments).



A private-public cloud deployment implemented by so many IT companies is not, by definition, a hybrid cloud environment because configuration and management of resources is performed through multiple consoles and panes. The proliferation of multiple clouds with multiple configuration and management tools for various services has exacerbated the cloud fatigue that IT departments often experience and has led to the return of applications and data from the cloud.

How do we cause this cloud fatigue?

The importance of properly deploying data centers from edge to cloud to core is better understood when one considers the proliferation of data across the enterprise and its importance in driving business development. Cloud has become the default answer due to its focus on organizational transformation and improving organizational, operational and business efficiency. Launching a cloud instance or service to provide an instant "boot" to the business brings some benefits.



It wasn't until one morning that the IT industry woke up and realized that massive budgets and resources were being used to support these clouds, not the business.

Furthermore, large amounts of data are generated and stored savagely without necessary protection. IT has become a cloud brokering organization when it comes to being a stronger partner to the business units that use these cloud services.

Why Hybrid Cloud?

In a true hybrid cloud environment, the IT headaches associated with multi-cloud management are significantly reduced. From infrastructure to configuration to management of workloads, data and environments, a hybrid cloud can dramatically reduce IT's resource and cost burden.



While these benefits of hybrid cloud may sound overly broad and basic, there are applications to consider using them. Native integration of public and private cloud environments enables seamless migration of data and applications, increasing business agility and reducing IT burden with minimal touch. Automating configuration and workload balancing frees up IT organizations to become more like the business technology consultants they'd like to be. Additionally, automated data management reduces significant costs and burdens for IT and the business.



At a time when there was some doubt about the cost of cloud computing, there was just as much doubt about a true hybrid cloud. Most cloud-weary IT executives believe that a true hybrid cloud is an unattainable paradise. But in fact, it's not. Companies like Dell Technologies are realizing this vision and should consider their product and service portfolio.



Questions to ask when evaluating hybrid cloud solutions



When talking to solution providers and evaluating products, it's easy to get caught up in the many details of hybrid cloud technology and lose sight of the big picture.

While the technology behind any hybrid cloud solution is essential, it's okay if the technology doesn't meet the following 6 principles. The six principles are as follows:

Simplicity: Does the evaluated solution simplify IT operations and reduce staff dedicated to deployment and management?

Agility: Can internal customers achieve greater business agility through the platform? Will IT be more responsive to business needs?

Cost: Will this hybrid cloud solution meaningfully reduce our direct and indirect costs?

Openness: Are organizations deploying open and flexible hybrid cloud solutions?

Autonomy and Security: Can a hybrid cloud solution securely support our IT organization's management and orchestration capabilities in on-prem and off-prem deployments, as well as in cloud-native and traditional environments?

Efficiency: Is it easy to buy, deploy and scale a hybrid cloud solution?



If the solution and company being evaluated cannot answer all of these questions above, you should stop and consider other options.

A true hybrid cloud environment can be achieved through a company like Dell, or through a solution like VCF on VxRail, where full-stack lifecycle management is automated.







Summarize thoughts



Hybrid cloud is just a name the marketing department decides to give the product. This is very real and brings tangible benefits to all parts of the enterprise (business units, operations and IT).

Simply put, a hybrid cloud is the unified configuration and management of resources that can deliver and consume services in a consistent manner across multiple environments (public cloud, private cloud, or edge).



While it's easy to be drawn to the many elements of a hybrid cloud solution, keep three things in mind:

It all starts with infrastructure. Infrastructure is the cornerstone of any hybrid cloud environment. Even if this infrastructure is used as a service, the quality of the final service is what matters. Making the right investments in infrastructure will pay off in the end.

An infrastructure optimized with a hybrid cloud technology stack is critical to achieving the increased provisioning and management efficiency that makes hybrid cloud work. Look for companies that can provide an optimized technology stack from delivery to support.

There are six simple questions to ask when evaluating hybrid cloud solutions. A yes or no answer to any of the above questions should seriously consider the solution being evaluated.

So, without compromise, true hybridization is achievable.