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In case your ears haven’t been buzzing, hybrid cloud communications is the latest trend in cloud communications. You may already know that hybrid cloud is a mix of on-premises and cloud systems and this combination can yield some serious advantages. Before you jump on the hybrid cloud bandwagon however, here are six things you need to know.
One size doesn’t fit all
Each network is different and as such each business’s challenges will be unique to that specific organization. This is why it’s crucial to have a cloud communications system that can change with you. Before you make a decision on a public, private, or hybrid cloud system, you have to consider multiple factors like compatibility, cost, features, reliability, voice quality, and security.
There is no out-of-the-box cloud solution that will work for every business. The needs of your business today could be different from what your business needs six months from now. Your business needs a communications systems that can adapt and change as the market and your organization changes.
Read more about how hybrid cloud deployments vary >
Hybrid cloud isn’t just hype
You’ve probably heard about the hybrid cloud in passing but wondered if there was any substance to it. Is it just the latest technology fad—here today and gone tomorrow? Here’s the truth. The hybrid cloud is more than just hype and here are three big reasons why. It gives you the flexibility to use your on-site technology in conjunction with cloud services for applications. It also gives you the ability to stagger your migration to the cloud. Finally, it allows you to start transitioning from CapEx to OpEx spending.
Read more about the hype vs the reality >
Not all hybrid cloud providers are created equal
There are questions you should ask all potential hybrid cloud communications providers before choosing one. Topics like uptime, data security, flexibility, and scalability are key. Here are some things that you will want to ask potential providers.
- What happens when my local network goes down?
- What about disaster recovery?
- Can I add or subtract users on my plan?
- Is my data secure in the cloud?
Not all cloud providers are created equal and the answers to these questions will be different depending on who you talk to. So be sure to ask your potential hybrid cloud vendor these questions before your sign.
Learn more about the differences in hybrid cloud communications providers >
Your organizational readiness
A hybrid cloud setup can be great, but is your organization ready for it? Before you can start the transition, you will have to plan for the change. Consider things like your network, internet connection / bandwidth, and security.
Is your network ready to interface with the cloud? You have to think about things like total users, remote workers, and plans for future growth. Can your current Internet connection handle the increased bandwidth needed for cloud applications? Most cloud issues are caused by weak Internet connections that just can’t handle VoIP calls. You want to make sure you have enough connection bandwidth to meet your business’s data demands.
Security is another area where your organization will have to plan for the cloud. You’ll have to determine which data you want to store on-premises and which data can be stored in the cloud. Your organization might want to use cloud bursting—where businesses rely on the public cloud when the demand for computing capacity spikes at peak times. It’s always good practice to plan for your organization’s cloud needs in advance so that there aren’t any surprises.
Learn more about overcoming hybrid cloud challenges >
Security and compliance
With the hybrid cloud, you can keep your most sensitive data in a private cloud or on-premises system, but take advantage of a public cloud system for less sensitive communications. There are many ways you can help to secure hybrid cloud communications and data transmissions. Data security is important and most businesses want to keep important data like personally identifiable information or credit card transactions stored securely. The good news is that cloud-based communications aren’t as risky as some think.
With many cloud systems, you can securely access information remotely using VPN tunnels, authentication, and encrypted data connections. Many hybrid cloud providers have also made investments to make their cloud platforms so that they’re industry compliant. Some cloud platforms even allow you to carry security policies from their internal networks to the cloud.
Learn more about security and compliance with a hybrid cloud system >
The different types of clouds
If the cloud wasn’t mysterious enough on its own, there are three different models – public, private and hybrid cloud – and each type of cloud deployment has different advantages.
The public cloud is probably what most of us think of when we talk about the cloud. It’s a multi-tenant environment where you basically buy a portion of the server in a cloud computing environment. It’s great for most businesses because it’s usually a flexible, scalable, pay-as-you-go model. The private cloud is a dedicated single-tenant environment where only a single client or company is on that server’s hardware, storage, and network. The hybrid cloud is a mix of the public and on-premises or private cloud environments. There are pros and cons of each type of cloud depending on your business and data storage requirements.
Learn more about our hybrid cloud communications systems >
