By Olivia Munro, EzeCastle Integration – When it comes to cloud terminology, the definitions can be…cloudy…for lack of a better word. While cloud computing is considered a business imperative, it can be complicated trying to decipher which model is best for your firm. Traditionally, the financial sector has outsourced to the private cloud due to the security it provides around the industry’s highly classified and sensitive data. Now, many firms are moving to a hybrid cloud strategy, a mix of public and private cloud models.
Recently, we’ve seen a new model emerge: the multi-cloud strategy. While the multi-cloud strategy and hybrid cloud strategy are similar and are often confused, they have two different IT infrastructure models. According to TechTarget, a multi-cloud strategy is “the use of two or more cloud computing services for your cloud strategy.” It is generally a combination of public cloud environments (like AWS, Google, Microsoft, and IBM), though it could be utilizing two private cloud infrastructures, or a mix of public and private. By that definition, hybrid cloud can be considered a type of multi-cloud strategy.
Now, to refresh, a hybrid cloud methodology converges features from the public and private cloud and on-prem solutions to create a strategy with the best features from public and private clouds. This creates a flexible platform that can meet a broad range of needs, including flexibility and security needs.
Similarities
As previously mentioned, there are similarities between the two methodologies; hence they are often mistaken for one another. Both the hybrid cloud methodology and a multi-clouds strategy:
- Utilise a mix of clouds to create an ideal structure for their environment
- Have flexibility from multi-cloud access
- Can tailor plan based on budget requirements
- Increase redundancy due to multiple clouds
Differences
While there are similarities between the two models, they are truly more different than they are alike.
One of the crucial differences between a hybrid cloud strategy and a multi-cloud strategy is that the hybrid cloud provides direct connectivity between the public and private cloud, while a multi-cloud strategy the two cloud providers are often completely separate. Another key difference between the two models, is that the Eze Hybrid Cloud is fully-managed. With Eze, your firm has one cloud provider who produces head-to-toe support, 365x7x24. Using a multi-cloud strategy can require managing and overseeing multiple providers, which means a heavier workload for your IT staff. Depending on the proficiency of your staff, as well as their current workload, managing multiple cloud providers may not be feasible for your organisation.
Another key difference is that because a multi-cloud strategy uses multiple cloud providers, organizations can avoid vendor lock-in. For financial firms, due to the sensitive nature of data and strict regulations, having a single provider with support can be considered an asset. Lastly, and most importantly, there is a difference in security. With Eze Hybrid Cloud, security is a primary focus, as firms are utilising the Eze Private Cloud to store your firm’s most sensitive data. With a multi-cloud strategy, both the cloud vendors and the firm have shared responsibility for the security of the data.
