A hybrid cloud is an integrated cloud service utilizing both private and public clouds
to perform distinct functions
within the same organization. All cloud computing services should offer certain
efficiencies to differing degrees but
public cloud services are likely to be more cost efficient and scalable than private
clouds. Therefore, an organization
can maximize their efficiencies by employing public cloud services for all
non-sensitive operations, only relying on a
private cloud where they require it and ensuring that all of their platforms are
seamlessly integrated.
Hybrid cloud models can be implemented in a number of ways:
Separate cloud providers team up to provide both private and public services as an
integrated service
Individual cloud providers offer a complete hybrid package
Organizations who manage their private clouds themselves sign up to a public cloud
service which they then integrate
into their infrastructure
In practice, an enterprise could implement hybrid cloud hosting to host their eCommerce
website within a private cloud,
where it is secure and scalable, but their brochure site in a public cloud, where it is
more cost effective (and
security is less of a concern). Alternatively, an Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
offering, for example, could
follow the hybrid cloud model and provide a financial business with storage for client
data within a private cloud, but
then allow collaboration on project planning documents in the public cloud – where they
can be accessed by multiple
users from any convenient location.
A hybrid cloud configuration, such as hybrid hosting, can offer its
users the following features:
SCALABILITY
Public cloud services offer scalability with fewer boundaries because resource is
pulled from the larger cloud
infrastructure. By moving non-sensitive functions to the public cloud it allows an
organization to benefit from public
cloud scalability whilst reducing the demands on a private cloud
COST EFFICIENCIES
Public clouds are likely to offer more significant economies of scale and greater cost
efficiencies than private
clouds. Hybrid clouds allow organizations to access these savings for many business
functions whilst still keeping
sensitive operations secure.
SECURITY
The private cloud element of the hybrid cloud model not only provides the security
where it is needed for sensitive
operations but can also satisfy regulatory requirements for data handling and
storage where it is applicable
FLEXIBILITY
The availability of both secure resource and scalable cost effective public
resource can provide organizations with
more opportunities to explore different operational avenues
