To remain competitive and resilient in today’s dynamic business environment, organisations are increasingly adopting a multi-cloud strategy to become more strategic. By leveraging the various strengths and features of multiple cloud providers, businesses can optimise performance, reduce costs, and enhance their operational flexibility.
This approach not only addresses the limitations of relying on a single provider but also empowers companies to innovate and scale more effectively. But this approach can become hard to manage, and costs can spiral. Our experts share their thoughts on how you can create a successful multi-cloud strategy, their top tips for managing multiple cloud environments, and why businesses need to use these strategies in order to remain competitive.
What is a multi-cloud strategy?
A multi-cloud strategy involves using cloud services from combinations of public (e.g. AWS, Microsoft Azure), private, and on-premises clouds, rather than relying on a single vendor. This approach allows organisations to select the best services and features from different providers to meet their specific business and application needs.
The benefits of a multi-cloud strategy
- Avoiding vendor lock-in: One of the primary reasons for a multi-cloud strategy is to avoid vendor lock-in. Relying on a single provider can create dependencies that limit flexibility and increase costs. By diversifying cloud providers, companies can negotiate better terms, prevent service disruptions, and remain agile in their technology choices.
- Optimising costs: Different cloud providers offer varied pricing models and features. A multi-cloud strategy enables you to choose the most cost-effective solutions for each workload. For example, storing large volumes of data might be cheaper on one platform, while another might offer better pricing for compute resources.
- Enhancing resilience and redundancy: Multi-cloud strategies naturally enhance disaster recovery and business continuity. If one provider experiences an outage, workloads can be shifted to another, ensuring uninterrupted services. This redundancy is crucial for businesses that require high availability.
- Leveraging best-in-class services: Each cloud provider has its strengths. AWS might offer superior machine learning tools, while Azure excels in enterprise integration, and an on-premise might provide the sovereignty solution for compliance. A multi-cloud strategy allows businesses to utilise the best services from each provider, driving innovation and improving performance.
How to create a multi-cloud strategy
- Assess business needs and goals: Start by understanding your business and workloads specific needs. Are you looking to optimise costs, improve resilience, or implement enhanced security? This assessment will guide the selection of cloud providers for your various needs and shape the design of your multi-cloud architecture.
- Evaluate cloud providers: Not all cloud providers are created equal. Evaluate them based on their strengths, pricing, geographical coverage, and how well they align with your business objectives. Consider also the ease of integration with your existing IT infrastructure, operational processes, and whether they are a good cultural fit for your organisation.
- Design for interoperability: Ensure that your applications and services can work seamlessly across different cloud environments. This might involve adopting open standards, using containerisation, or employing APIs that are compatible across platforms. Consider how you can attain visibility of your business process performance as it maps to a multi-cloud environment.
- Implement robust security measures: Security is a critical consideration in a multi-cloud environment. Develop a comprehensive security strategy that includes encryption, identity management, and regular audits. Ensure that security protocols are consistently applied across all platforms to protect sensitive data and maintain compliance.
- Optimise costs continuously: A multi-cloud strategy should include ongoing cost management. Use cloud management platforms to monitor usage, identify waste, and optimise resource allocation. Regularly review your cloud spend and adjust your strategy to take advantage of new pricing models and discounts. Consider whether different application architectures could be more cost effective.
How we’ve helped others to create a multi-cloud strategy
We’ve helped a well-known transportation company to transition from an on-premises infrastructure to a multi-cloud environment over several years. Initially, they moved to a hosted private cloud, which allowed for improved scalability and reduced capital expenditure. They then integrated AWS for specific applications requiring global reach and high performance. Eventually, they adopted a fully-fledged multi-cloud strategy, incorporating Redcentric Cloud and other public cloud providers.
This transition enabled the organisation to modernise its applications, improve performance, and avoid the high costs associated with on-premises infrastructure. The company’s ability to choose the best solutions for each aspect of its operations illustrates the power of a well-executed multi-cloud strategy.
Why multi-cloud is more than a buzz word
A multi-cloud strategy is no longer just a trend; it’s a strategic imperative for businesses aiming to stay competitive in a digital landscape. By carefully planning and executing a multi-cloud strategy, organisations can avoid vendor lock-in, optimise costs, enhance resilience, and leverage the best technologies available. The journey to a multi-cloud environment can lead to significant improvements in scalability, performance, and overall business agility.
If you are looking to future-proof your operations, building a multi-cloud strategy is not just an option – it’s a necessity.
Our experts are here to help. Contact us today to see how we can work with you to advise on creating a secure and strategic multi-cloud for your needs.
