Scaling Your Business with the Hybrid Cloud

The cloud is one of the more impactful innovations to catch fire as of late, and it’s spurring companies to move key aspects of their core business operations online. But while cloud technologies and models gain momentum—Gartner predicts the public cloud service market will reach $204 billion this year—many companies are also using internal, on-site private clouds.

Private clouds can be an effective option for companies in highly regulated industries or those with strict workflow needs. However, these solutions lack the flexibility and scalability of the public cloud, and you need to have the resources to keep them running smoothly and securely.

There is a third option that bridges that gap: the hybrid cloud. Hybrid cloud solutions are becoming increasingly commonplace, allowing businesses of all sizes to take advantage of the cloud’s flexibility and scalability without sacrificing performance or security. These articles from the Hiring Headquarters—Upwork’s resource for businesses, freelancers, and entrepreneurs—offer a great introduction to help you get started.

What Is the Hybrid Cloud and What’s All the Buzz About?

The hybrid cloud allows you to move data between an external public cloud and your own internal private infrastructure while keeping sensitive data separate and secure.

“Hybrid Cloud: A Brief Intro” serves as an excellent primer that goes into greater detail about what the hybrid cloud is, how it works, and the resources you need to put it in place. It also highlights special considerations for moving to a hybrid cloud setup—as well as several examples of how it’s used in different industries.

Here are three key reasons to consider moving to a hybrid cloud model.

1) Stability – Having the ability to interface between public and private cloud services ensures your most vital operations and functions can always remain accessible for your on-site operations.

2) Flexibility – Businesses whose products and services change frequently benefit from the scalability and flexible nature of the hybrid cloud. It can free companies up to try new things without having to overhaul their existing infrastructure.

3) Security – A hybrid cloud lets you tap into the advantages of public cloud services while keeping critical data secure in your private cloud.

Putting the Hybrid Cloud to Use

Data storage is a major challenge for many businesses, especially e-commerce sites and visual effects studios who run data-heavy operations; their needs can shift wildly from month-to-month and season-to-season.

Cloud bursting—on-demand rental of virtual storage and processing power—has the potential to solve this challenge, though this advanced hybrid cloud application presents its own challenges.

Cloud bursting lets businesses quickly ramp up their existing private cloud infrastructure by tapping into extra resources from the external public cloud on an as-needed basis. This cuts down on the need for additional infrastructure and ongoing maintenance when you only need the boost for a limited period of time.

“Is Cloud Bursting Right for You?” explains how the process works and offers behind-the-curtain insights into whether it’s something you can put into play for your company. It identifies several challenges that businesses can potentially face, and suggests a range of resources that can help with planning and implementing cloud bursting.

Additionally, the article outlines useful team roles to have in place to ease you through the process and ensure a smooth transition to the cloud.

Want to learn more? The Hiring Headquarters has additional tips, expert articles, and resources to help you navigate the world of online business.

The post Scaling Your Business with the Hybrid Cloud appeared first on Upwork Blog.

from Upwork Blog http://ift.tt/2ay0oFj