Hybrid Clouds the Way to Go
In these tough economic times it has become rather common to hear upper management ask questions such as, "I've read about that cloud computing thing. Why aren't we using the cloud instead of buying so many servers?" But is the cloud ready? The answer, as any good engineer would tell you, is "it depends."
Mon, July 27, 2009
Network World — In these tough economic times it has become rather common to hear upper management ask questions such as, "I've read about that cloud computing thing. Why aren't we using the cloud instead of buying so many servers?" But is the cloud ready? The answer, as any good engineer would tell you, is "it depends."
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The cloud is already recognized as a great alternative for Internet sites, hosted e-mail, scalable storage and on-demand computing needs. Those who have embraced the cloud for these purposes say it offers exactly the kind of computing they need, when they need it and at a reasonable price with no commitments. Projects are implemented faster and IT is better prepared for unpredictable traffic patterns, spikes or last minute "emergencies." But while the benefits of cloud-based hosting are compelling, there is still resistance.
Resistance to the cloud comes primarily from two fronts: IT pros who are used to managing their own hardware, and business executives who fear the cloud as an unknown and insecure world where everybody's data is intertwined with no boundaries or safeguards.
Both feel safer knowing their servers are controlled and under their own supervision. But the price for that security is substantial and the security of the cloud is already very good and only getting better. As the economy continues to falter, tighter budgets and fewer resources will lead many IT and business professionals to their first experience with cloud computing and/or more traditional managed hosting.
Start with a hybrid
But assuming your organization has overcome the initial resistance to embracing cloud computing, the question remains: Is the cloud really ready for everything?
The answer is probably not, but it is ready for everyone. The cloud certainly is ready for some portion of your applications and IT infrastructure needs. One important thing to remember about cloud computing is that it doesn't have to be an all-or-nothing proposition. It can be a component of a larger IT infrastructure strategy that may include in-house data centers, co-location or managed hosting.
In fact, the hybrid combination of cloud plus traditional infrastructure is probably the best answer for most companies. A hybrid approach can provide you the costs savings, the scalable on-demand infrastructure and the security you need with very few tradeoffs.
Building a hybrid strategy requires some upfront planning. There are essentially three buckets of applications: those which could live completely within the cloud; those which require completely dedicated infrastructure; and those applications where a combination of the cloud and dedicated would be ideal.
