Understanding The Use Of Hybrid Clouds
Consistently increasing information storage demands are forcing many businesses to choose between hosting their data on in-house servers and processing it using third-party cloud storage. There is, however, a third option - hybrid cloud storage - that combines many of the benefits of third-party cloud storage with reduced risk.
What’s a Hybrid Cloud?
Essentially, a hybrid cloud is neither fully public nor fully private. Cloud storage is provided by an infrastructure as service (IaS) provider using a private cloud that is created internally. In a hybrid setup, the private and public portions of the cloud are separate and are housed at different locations - creating two discrete systems that communicate using an encrypted connection.
This arrangement allows businesses to store sensitive data securely in a private cloud, while still providing access to the resources offered by the public cloud. An alternative to the IASP model is a Platform as a Service (PaaS) system in which infrastructure services are combined with development tools, allowing your organization to build and deploy its own applications easily. PaaS also provides consistency and predictability in the development and deployment of software.
Handling Seasonal Surges
Many businesses experience predictable busy and slack seasons throughout the year. In such cases it may be more advantageous to house sensitive data in a private cloud storage during slower times, and to use the public cloud when traffic levels peak. In this way, the hybrid safeguards sensitive data but preserves reliability during peak season. Because the hybrid system is scalable, it allows your business to prepare for temporary demand spikes, while permitting you to run analytics on sales data in the public cloud.
Virtualizing Software
Another advantage of the hybrid cloud is that it allows your business to create and store virtual versions of all your business software and apps, uncoupled from your operating system, in the cloud.
That way, in the event of a major system failure or compromise of in-house software, you can simply reboot the affected apps directly from the cloud, without costly or complex data recovery processes.
Where Are Hybrid Clouds Most Effective?
There are several areas where hybrid cloud storage presents businesses with the best option. In finance, for example, the hybrid model allows trade orders to be hosted securely in a private cloud, while trade analytics reside in the public cloud. This protects sensitive customer information while allowing the business to assess its performance.
Another example is healthcare, where sensitive patient data are protected by HIPAA (the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act). Such data must be stored on a private cloud and encrypted when in transit to ensure patient privacy. Law firms also use hybrid cloud systems to store encrypted data safely and remotely. By connecting the public cloud to its private cloud, a law firm can protect sensitive data and safeguard against network failure, natural disaster, or security breach.
At Iconic Technologies, the smooth and uninterrupted flow of your business is critically important. Our talented and skilled team of consultants has built its reputation helping businesses like yours improve efficiency, reduce network downtime, migrate data to the cloud, and guard against cyber crime. Our IT technicians understand the intricacies of cloud migration, encryption, and data storage. We can even help your business develop an emergency data recovery plan to protect you in the event of a major loss or breach. Contact us today, and discover how Iconic Technologies can help you stay ahead of the competition.
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