Did you know that a large majority of enterprises are multicloud users? Adopting a multicloud approach allows businesses to make their operations more efficient, flexible, and digitally advanced.
With the demand for multicloud experts soaring, it’s a lucrative area for aspiring cloud professionals to specialize in. In this guide, we offer an insightful view of multicloud fundamentals – the key characteristics, pros and cons, benefits, success factors, and best practices of a multicloud strategy.
For a more in-depth understanding of multicloud strategy, consider taking a cloud computing program. At the end of this guide, we’ll discuss how online cloud training equips you with essential skills, knowledge, and hands-on experience.
What is Multicloud?
Multicloud refers to utilizing Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) offerings from multiple cloud providers. For example, a company might use Amazon Web Services (AWS) for its storage needs due to its cost-effectiveness while using Microsoft Azure for its machine learning capabilities. Instead of relying on a single cloud provider, organizations using this approach can use various cloud providers’ strengths and capabilities to meet their computing needs.
As cloud professionals, you’re expected to grasp the complexities and nuances of managing workloads across multiple clouds, as this is becoming increasingly common in today’s cloud-centric IT landscape.
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Multicloud Computing vs. Hybrid Cloud Computing
Multicloud and hybrid cloud are two distinct cloud computing strategies that offer organizations different ways to leverage cloud services based on their specific needs. multicloud involves using multiple cloud services from various providers, including public and private clouds.
On the other hand, a hybrid cloud combines on-premises infrastructure with public cloud services. This approach allows organizations to benefit from the scalability and flexibility of the public cloud while keeping sensitive data or critical applications on-premises for security or compliance reasons.
In terms of security, multicloud environments can be complex to manage, as organizations need to ensure consistent security policies across multiple providers. However, this strategy can also reduce the impact of a single provider’s security breach. In contrast, hybrid cloud environments provide greater control over security for on-premises applications but require organizations to manage security across both on-premises and public cloud environments.
From a performance standpoint, multicloud environments can optimize performance by selecting the best cloud services for each workload. However, organizations must consider the complexity of managing multiple providers and potential data transfer costs. In comparison, hybrid cloud environments offer flexibility in workload placement but may experience higher latency for on-premises applications accessing public cloud services.
What Do We Mean By a Multicloud Strategy?
Adopting a multicloud approach allows organizations to mix and match services based on their specific needs, such as using one provider for storage and another for computing resources. For example, a company might use edge computing for real-time data processing while using a public cloud provider for scalable storage solutions.
Some businesses operate in a multicloud environment without a formal strategy. In such cases, business units, departments, or software development teams independently choose public cloud platforms for their needs, spreading workloads across multiple providers. However, to be considered a strategy, using multiple public cloud platforms must be a defined and managed organizational policy.
Cloud professionals are crucial in designing and implementing a successful multicloud strategy. They are responsible for assessing the organization’s needs, selecting the appropriate cloud services, managing cloud resources, and ensuring compliance with regulatory and legal standards.
The Benefits of Multicloud
Organizations may adopt a multicloud strategy for various reasons, such as cost efficiencies, cybersecurity, and risk mitigation. A multicloud approach can enhance flexibility and resilience in cloud operations by diversifying potential points of failure.
But that’s not all. Here are other key benefits of multicloud computing:
- Geographical diversity: It allows organizations to deploy resources in different geographic regions, improving performance and compliance with local data regulations. For example, a company might use Azure for its European and AWS for its Asian operations.
- Scalability: With multiple cloud providers, organizations can quickly scale resources up or down based on demand, ensuring they have the capacity they need without overpaying for unused resources.
- Reduced downtime: By spreading workloads across multiple cloud providers, organizations can reduce the risk of downtime due to outages or maintenance issues with a single provider.
- Cost optimization: Organizations can optimize their cloud spending and avoid vendor lock-in by selecting the most cost-effective cloud services for each workload.
- Improved performance: Organizations can place workloads closer to end-users or in regions where a cloud provider has better infrastructure, improving performance and user experience.
Also Read: What is Cloud Computing Security?
The Downsides of a Multicloud Strategy
There are several benefits of multicloud computing. However, it’s not without its challenges.
- Complexity: Managing workloads across multiple cloud providers can be complex and requires specialized skills and tools. For example, integrating data and applications across different cloud platforms can be challenging.
- Increased cost: While a multicloud strategy can optimize costs, it can also lead to increased costs due to the need for additional management tools. In addition, when organizations split their workloads between multiple cloud providers, they may not reach the volume thresholds required to qualify for volume discount pricing structures. This could lead to higher costs than consolidating all workloads with a single provider.
- Security risks: Using multiple cloud providers can increase the risk of security breaches, as each provider may have different security protocols and standards. For example, managing access controls and data encryption across multiple providers can be challenging.
- Compliance challenges: Meeting regulatory and compliance requirements across multiple cloud providers can be complex and require additional resources. For example, ensuring data sovereignty and privacy laws are met in different regions can be challenging.
- New points of failure: Using multiple cloud providers introduces new potential points of failure, such as dependencies on different network infrastructures and service providers, increasing the overall risk of downtime.
Reasons Organizations are Embracing Multicloud
Today, more than 80 percent of organizations worldwide use the multicloud approach for their computing needs. This shift is driven by various compelling reasons, such as:
- Not all companies have needs that can be met by features a single cloud provider might offer. Adopting a multicloud strategy enables organizations to cherry-pick the most suitable cloud solutions for their requirements.
- A multicloud approach makes a company more resilient to the fast-changing digital landscape. With the ability to scale and adapt to evolving regulations and new technologies, multicloud users can remain competitive and future-proof in their operations.
- Using multiple cloud providers protects against downtimes. Even if one provider experiences an outage or, in the event of an external issue, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, companies can continue to access critical data by leveraging alternative providers.
- Companies that have adopted a multicloud strategy are better equipped to handle the complexities of mergers and acquisitions, as they can easily integrate and manage diverse cloud environments.
As more businesses recognize the benefits of a multicloud approach, they need people who can help them harness the full potential of multicloud computing. Therefore, organizations globally are keen to hire individuals who are experts in workload management across multiple clouds. Acquiring the right skills and cloud computing training can help you build your multicloud expertise and attract top recruiters.
7 Key Success Factors for a Multicloud Strategy
Here are some overarching elements essential for the success of the multicloud strategy.
- Clear objectives: It’s essential to define clear and measurable objectives for adopting a multicloud approach, keeping an eye on the organization’s overall goals and business requirements.
- Comprehensive planning: A plan that outlines the strategy’s key components, including workload distribution, data management, security measures, and integration processes, is critical to its success.
- Cost optimization: multicloud users must regularly review and optimize costs across all cloud providers, ensuring resources are utilized efficiently and cost-effectively.
- Security and compliance: Implement robust security measures and compliance practices to protect data and meet regulatory requirements across all cloud environments.
- Management tools: Without management tools and platforms, it’s practically impossible to streamline operations, monitor performance, and optimize costs across multiple cloud providers.
- Interoperability: Interoperability between cloud platforms and services is vital to seamless integration and data exchange.
- Continuous evaluation and improvement: The multicloud must be regularly assessed to identify areas for improvement and implement changes to enhance performance and efficiency.
Ensuring these success factors are ticked off can help organizations get the most out of their multicloud architecture.
Also Read: How to Become a Cloud Engineer in 2024? A Complete Guide
Best Practices to Follow While Developing a Multicloud Strategy
Now that we’ve discussed the critical factors for a successful multicloud plan, here’s how you can put them into action through best practices:
- Clearly outline your business goals and IT requirements to establish a solid foundation for your multicloud strategy.
- Assess CSPs based on specific criteria, such as performance, reliability, and compliance. A robust multicloud strategy hinges on choosing providers that align with your organization’s unique needs.
- Select cloud services that adhere to industry standards, promoting seamless integration across multiple platforms. This ensures interoperability and facilitates efficient data exchange.
- Prioritize data security by implementing robust encryption and access controls. Adhering to industry regulations is essential to maintaining compliance and safeguarding sensitive information.
- Monitor and optimize costs using cloud provider tools. Implement budget controls and regularly review resource allocation to ensure efficient spending.
- Design applications for redundancy across multiple clouds, incorporating load balancing and failover mechanisms. This approach enhances resilience and ensures high availability of services.
- Implement automation for resource provisioning, scaling, and management. Orchestration tools streamline workflows, promoting efficiency and consistency in multicloud environments.
- Deploy robust monitoring solutions to track performance and detect anomalies. Regularly optimize configurations to enhance overall system efficiency and resource utilization.
- Develop a comprehensive disaster recovery plan spanning multiple clouds. Regularly test and update the plan to ensure its effectiveness in mitigating potential disruptions.
- Maintain strong relationships with cloud providers, ensuring clear communication and understanding of service-level agreements (SLAs) and support options
- Regularly review and update your multicloud strategy based on evolving business needs and technological advancements. This iterative approach ensures that your plan remains aligned with the dynamic nature of the cloud landscape.
An industry-recognized cloud computing bootcamp can help you build the skills to navigate the complexities of multicloud environments effectively. Through continued education, you can stay current with industry best practices and become more confident in implementing a thorough multicloud plan.
How Multicloud Expertise Can Give Your Career a Boost
Whether you’re a cloud professional looking to advance in your current role or someone aspiring to enter the cloud computing field, upskilling in multicloud can open up opportunities. Here’s why.
- High demand: With more organizations embracing multicloud strategies, there’s a growing demand for professionals who can handle multicloud environments. By gaining expertise in multicloud, you position yourself as a valuable asset in the job market.
- Career advancement: multicloud expertise can be a catalyst for career advancement. It demonstrates to employers that you have the skills and knowledge to navigate the complexities of multicloud environments, making you a strong candidate for leadership and senior-level roles.
- Diverse skillset: Managing workloads across multiple cloud providers requires a diverse skill set beyond technical knowledge. It involves understanding different cloud platforms, optimizing costs, ensuring security and compliance, and effectively managing resources. By upskilling in multicloud, you develop a well-rounded skill set that is highly sought after by employers.
- Future-proofing your career: As the cloud computing landscape evolves, having expertise in multicloud environments ensures that your skills remain relevant and in demand. It positions you as a forward-thinking professional prepared to adapt to future changes in the industry.
- Competitive edge: In a competitive job market, having multicloud expertise can set you apart from other candidates. It positions you as someone proactive about learning new skills and staying ahead of industry trends.
- Increased earning potential: Professionals with multicloud expertise can often command higher salaries due to the specialized nature of their skills. By upskilling in multicloud, you enhance your career prospects and increase your earning potential.
Also Read: Top Cloud Computing Career Paths to Explore in 2024
Ready to Build the Right Skills for a Multicloud Career?
To become a proficient multicloud specialist, obtaining the necessary skills and experience is essential. But how do you do that?
Traditional college degrees may not provide the specific expertise required for multicloud environments. Instead, you can obtain the needed skills through an industry-recognized online cloud computing program, offering hands-on practical experience to kickstart your journey.
This cloud computing course will boost your career and help you gain hands-on experience in multicloud strategies. Maximize your learning experience with live virtual classes, masterclasses, 40+ hands-on projects, a capstone project, and exclusive job opportunities.
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