June 1, 2015

The Web Is Not Enough! Why Businesses Need Hybrid Solutions

By Vineet Jain

Why Businesses Need Hybrid Solutions Running a cloud server is no longer the novel trend it once was. Now, the cloud is a necessary data tier that allows employees to access vital company data and maintain productivity from anywhere in the world. But it isn’t a perfect system — security and performance issues can quickly […]

Why Businesses Need Hybrid Solutions

Running a cloud server is no longer the novel trend it once was. Now, the cloud is a necessary data tier that allows employees to access vital company data and maintain productivity from anywhere in the world.

But it isn’t a perfect system — security and performance issues can quickly darken your cloud. And as far as performance is concerned, it’s simply not ideal to be hosting large files such as computer-aided design (CAD) drawings, videos, hi-def audio, and high-res images in the cloud for multiple users.

Need Hybrid Solutions

Fortunately this cloud has a silver lining: a hybrid infrastructure that allows you to store small, non-sensitive files in the cloud and larger, more complex files on premises – with seamless access to both. According to Gartner, utilizing hybrid systems is on the rise. By 2017, about half of all large enterprises are expected to use hybrid cloud systems.

But the road to migration isn’t without its own set of bumps. To avoid some of the most common pitfalls of hybrid cloud migration, keep these three fundamentals in mind:

  • Understand Cloud Migration Limitations

The top concern for IT when moving to a new solution is migrating data. You don’t want to squelch productivity during the transfer process, but making all the important files immediately available can be a steep challenge, especially if you don’t have a plan.

Bandwidth constraints when connecting to the Internet can slow file sharing down to a crawl, and large enterprises face the task of migrating and syncing hundreds of terabytes of data to the cloud, which can bog down servers. The beauty of hybrid allows you to prioritize the data and only move the most essential files now and take a staged approach for data migration. It’s important for IT to work with cloud providers on a strategy for prioritizing data migrations. This will ensure all vital files are available when needed, and an accelerator can help speed up the process

  • Utilize Existing Resources

It’s important to plan for the future while also utilizing existing infrastructure. While a new company can simply add a cloud server, existing companies already have thousands — if not millions — of dollars invested in On-Premises servers, network-attached storage (NAS) devices, and other equipment in their on-site network infrastructure. Ignoring this equipment just to focus on cloud computing is a poor financial and technical decision.

Having a hybrid solution also assists with other cost savings, such as bandwidth costs, by helping get the files in the right place when users need to access them to optimize these resources. Instead of accessing that large video file from the cloud, it will be accessible from the storage device closest to the user. Changes will only be synced back to the cloud when bandwidth is optimal.

An ideal hybrid cloud solution isn’t a replacement for existing IT infrastructure. Rather, it’s an adaptable platform that integrates cloud storage with the existing on-prem environment most enterprises have invested in and evolved over the years.

Cloud storage is also meant to be scalable — serving both current and future business needs. Cloud providers should be working with customers on a road map to avoid any disruptions in service caused by company growth. A business may only have 100 employees now, but by next year, it could grow to 500, and a properly executed hybrid solution is able to scale with the company.

  • Train Your Users

It’s easy to make the initial investment in a cloud solution, but in order to get your money’s worth, you must ensure user adoption. Educating users on how to securely access the hybrid solution and explaining the wonderful productivity benefits will help you get a good ROI. It’s also important that users understand the security issues around not using a secure, enterprise-grade solution.

On-site network infrastructures represent the stability of the past, and cloud computing represents the adaptability of the present. In the future, companies utilizing hybrid solutions that seamlessly integrate both into one secure solution are best equipped for success and growth. While the cloud can provide quick access to company data from anywhere in the world, performance and security of existing equipment make a hybrid solution the clear winner.

By Vineet Jain

Vineet Jain

Vineet is the CEO and co-founder of Egnyte. Prior to Egnyte, Vineet founded and successfully built Valdero, a supply chain software solution provider, funded by KPCB, MDV and Trinity Ventures. He has held a rich variety of senior operational positions at companies like KPMG, Bechtel, etc. in the past. He has 20 years of experience in building capital-efficient and nimble organizations. Vineet earned a BS in Engineering from Delhi College of Engineering and received an MBA from Santa Clara University.
Steve Prentice

Episode 19: Why AWS Needs to Become Opinionated about FinOps

On today’s episode of the CloudTweaks podcast, Steve Prentice chats with Rahul Subramaniam, CEO at CloudFix [...]
Read more

Exploring SaaS Directories: The Path to Optimal Software Selection

Exploring the Landscape of SaaS Directories SaaS directories are vital in today’s digital age, serving [...]
Read more
Metasploit-Penetration-Testing-Software-Pen-Testing-Security

Leading Cloud Vulnerability Scanners

Vulnerability Scanners Cyber security vulnerabilities are a constant nuisance and it certainly doesn’t help with [...]
Read more

Lambda Cold Starts: What They Are and How to Fix Them

What Are Lambda Cold Starts? Lambda cold starts occur when AWS Lambda has to initialize [...]
Read more

A.I. is Not All It’s Cracked Up to Be…At Least Not Yet!

Exploring AI’s Potential: The Gap Between Aspiration and Reality Recently Samsung releases its new Galaxy [...]
Read more
Steve Prentice

Get Smarter – The Era of Microlearning 

The Era of Microlearning Becoming employable and then staying employable requires ongoing, up to date [...]
Read more

SPONSORS

Interviews and Thought Leadership

Daniel Barber

Q&A Daniel Barber – 2024 AI + Data Privacy Predictions

2024 AI + Data Privacy Predictions In a recent interview with CloudTweaks, Daniel Barber, Co-Founder and CEO of DataGrail, shared insightful perspectives on the evolving landscape of AI and privacy. [...]
Read more

AI at the Gate: Navigating the Future of Cybersecurity with SonicWall’s Bobby Cornwell

Navigating the Future of Cybersecurity In the face of the digital age’s advancements, AI’s role in cybersecurity presents both innovation and challenges. CloudTweaks welcomes a Q&A with Bobby Cornwell, Vice [...]
Read more

Embracing Governance to Navigate 2024’s Tech Trends

Mastering Governance Strategies for Success The start of a new year is a fitting time for goal-setting, and IT managers [...]
Read more

Top Cloud Cost Optimization Strategies for Multi-Cloud Environments

The age-old saying “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket” has found a new resonance in today’s cloud landscape. [...]
Read more

How AI Machine Learning Is Enhancing Customer Experience Across Industries

Elevating Customer Satisfaction: AI’s Impact in Every Sector Recent years have witnessed an incredible transformational leap with regard to Artificial [...]
Read more

SPONSOR PARTNER

Explore top-tier education with exclusive savings on online courses from MIT, Oxford, and Harvard through our e-learning sponsor. Elevate your career with world-class knowledge. Start now!
© 2024 CloudTweaks. All rights reserved.