Hybrid cloud is currently the most discussed topic in cloud computing. Cloud based service providers and users alike are exploring new ways to make hybrid cloud a more efficient cloud platform for enterprises than the existing public and private cloud systems.
A hybrid cloud, as the name suggests, is a composition of both private cloud and public cloud, i.e. it contains features of both the cloud computing models. The idea is to combine the bests of both public and private cloud to create a more efficient cloud environment. It is typically offered in two forms:
- A private cloud vendor forging partnership with a public cloud service provider to hosts his cloud based applications from where it can be accessed by thousands of users.
- A public cloud provider collaborating with private cloud vendor to extend his services in a private environment.
Hybrid cloud interest is to combine the benefits of the both in seamless manner and to assuage the pitfalls of either system.
Advantages of public cloud:
- Low investment threshold. Available in easy pay-as-you-go model
- Infrastructure and services shared between tenants
- Hospitable environment for testing and development
- Scalability to many servers
Advantages of private cloud:
- More secured environment as security layers applied to existing datacenter stays in place
- IT department retains control over the datacenter
- Datacenter is internally hosted and managed
- Ideal environment to host mission critical information
Advantages of hybrid cloud:
- Offers secured environment of private cloud and flexibility of public cloud.
- Seamlessly blend private and public cloud
- Mission critical data hosted securely on private cloud; and development and testing taking place in public cloud
- Scalable and transforms the workload during peak moment to the public cloud
But some of the risks of both the public and private clouds can also be the issues in the hybrid setup.
Risks of Public cloud:
- Security concerns in availing the shared infrastructure and facilities of multi-tenant environment
- Not ideal to host mission critical information
- There can be issues with the IT regarding losing control over data
Risks of Private cloud:
- High investment threshold for private cloud implementation
- Require purchasing and installation of new hardware and software
- New operational processes need to be implemented. Old processes might not support virtualization
Risks of hybrid cloud:
- Hybrid cloud is still at conceptual stage and not many are available for real use
- Adjustment of security concerns. It may have the same security issues of a public cloud setup
- Seamless integration poses technical challenges
- Effective workload distribution model needs to be devised
Addressing the challenges of hybrid cloud:
Even when hybrid cloud computing environment has certain technical concerns it is increasingly becoming the preferred choice for enterprises to house their cloud based applications. In order to offer seamless integration between its private and public cloud components application programming interfaces (APIs) and hypervisors are being used. Users prefer the more convenient approach of using their same data center tools to manage hybrid cloud. What actually they want is to be able to create applications, or transmitting existing applications between the clouds without serious networking and security policy changes. But to make it feasible complexities surrounding hybrid cloud also increases.
About the Guest Author: Alan Tibber is a software developer by profession, who is associated with various well known software development companies. He has 5 years experience in software application development.You can also contribute to OSH by “Write for US”.
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