So what will you choose: public cloud, private cloud – or perhaps a solution in between? The flexibility and scalability of the cloud have also made it well suited to partial use, namely the hybrid cloud solution. Those who can’t quite make up their mind can have as much or as little of the cloud as suits them. However, it’s better still to approach this resource with a clear IT strategy in mind and to make a hybrid cloud solution a deliberate choice, rather than a vague default. Here are two possibilities that could drive a hybrid cloud decision.
The first is the need to handle exceptional requirements for IT resources. In normal situations the in-house IT infrastructure may be enough, but certain situations can dictate a change of plan. If the in-house systems break down for instance, then a backup cloud solution with data files, system configurations and even the applications themselves could save the day. Or perhaps the organisation has stable IT resources requirements for most of the time, with exceptional peak requirements at the end of the month or in the festive seasons. Being able to add in cloud resources on a hybrid pay as you go basis should work out as less expensive than buying in servers that then stand idle at other times.
The second possibility is to use cloud facilities to test out new ideas, applications or ventures. Once again, instead of the capital outlay to buy in new servers, enterprises can try things out on resources they hire for only the duration of the trial. That also means that any strain, hiccups or straight out problems won’t affect the existing in-house servers that run current business operations. If the cloud-based venture flops, the company will be able to cut its losses. And if it turns out to be a runaway success, the cloud provider should be able to keep pace with growth for as long as the company chooses to run in hybrid cloud mode.