A hybrid cloud network is a network that enables data transfers between on-premises IT resources, private clouds and public clouds, in other words, a hybrid cloud. Hybrid cloud computing supports the movement of workloads across these environments and is connected by telecommunication and cloud services and the infrastructure that supports those connections.
A hybrid cloud network architecture consists of private servers, public cloud virtual servers, and the network that connects them. Public cloud providers typically utilize direct MPLS or Ethernet connections to move data between the client’s private cloud and the service provider’s public cloud. Automation plays an important role in helping to accelerate provisioning and meet fluctuating network bandwidth requirements.
Hybrid cloud computing is an environment that creates flexibility by allowing a business to use both public and private networks for different uses. Advances in virtualization technology have made cloud computing more feasible, cost-efficient, and useful for an ever-expanding number of use cases.
The immense flexibility and power of the hybrid cloud platform enables businesses to replace physical servers, switches and routers in many cases. File storage is one of the more common services that have been taken over by cloud computing. A hybrid cloud environment allows for sensitive data to be stored on premises on a private cloud while other types of data can be stored in the less expensive public cloud.
Agility is the primary benefit of hybrid cloud networking. When computing demands surge, companies can handle that overflow by safely scaling up their on-site infrastructure to a public cloud—without giving third parties access to all of the company’s data. Enterprises can protect business-critical applications and data behind more comprehensive security measures, while still using the flexible and cost-efficient computing power of the public cloud for less sensitive tasks and information, depending on their needs.
To function efficiently and usefully, a hybrid cloud’s various environments and the resources within those environments need to be accessible and manageable in a streamlined way. A hybrid cloud platform thus provides central management capabilities for accessing, organizing and utilizing the on-premises, private cloud and public cloud resources. Essentially the hybrid cloud platform creates one unified network architecture from all the disparate parts that make up a hybrid cloud.
Hybrid cloud performance depends on optimizing how application components run. One way to improve that performance is by grouping applications into workloads that include databases, programming and a user interface. There are multiple ways to create workloads, using options like virtual machines, applications or containers (lightweight packages that include application code, databases, middleware and security programs). Applications should be grouped in a way that makes them easier to work with. The end goal is for the hybrid cloud network to seamlessly move workloads between the IT environments as needed.
To create optimized workloads, enterprises must invest in training or hire the right experts. A company that is considering moving to a hybrid cloud network architecture needs to understand the potential complexity of the technology. Businesses will want to think through all of the following aspects when shifting to a hybrid cloud environment:
Businesses enable hybrid cloud network connectivity through a variety of ways: Internet services, a VPN or a direct interconnection. When greater security is required, organizations can transfer data to an encrypted appliance and ship it to the public cloud service provider for direct transfer to the cloud provider's environment. The appliances are then wiped once the transfer is complete.
Cloud services may offer security features that include access and firewall controls, advanced configurations and automated encryption. Enterprises should also implement their own cloud security strategies. The following are best practices when it comes to planning for hybrid cloud network security:
While hybrid cloud networking is considered one of the most stable cloud environments and has clear advantages over the use of a sole private or public cloud, it can still present challenges. Below are some common hybrid cloud network challenges that businesses may encounter when developing a hybrid cloud network data center:
While these issues are important to address, if an enterprise uses the right resources and expertise to test and execute, deploying a hybrid cloud network can open up many new possibilities for business potential and agility.