Cloud is complicated. Every organization requires some mix of cloud infrastructure, but adoption style and rate come in many forms all with their own challenges. Multi-cloud architectures are more complex and, therefore, more challenging to manage. Multi-cloud tooling has become essential to managing cloud resources cost-effectively and ensuring strong governance and security.
COVID-19 Effect on Cloud Computing
Across the world, IT leaders predict cloud usage will be higher than initially planned well into 2021. Some of the increase is a result of the extra capacity needed for current cloud-based applications to meet increased demand as online usage grows. Other organizations may accelerate migration from data centers to cloud in response to reduced headcount, difficulties in accessing data center facilities and delays in hardware supply chains.
How do you plan on solving for multi-cloud complexity? Below, we highlight four of the top challenges and why investing in a multi-cloud tooling platform like Involta’s Hybrid Cloud Platform powered by Morpheus is essential to helping you “Get There”.
1. Costs are hard to predict and manage
When you are running a multi-cloud environment with many applications servicing many departments it quickly becomes a management nightmare. Instead of reducing staff burden, you may end up increasing it. Not to mention that when multiple cloud vendors are being used, multiple skill sets will also need to be managed to get the maximum out of the cloud. It is also difficult to forecast cloud costs when there are plans to introduce new services/apps, business demand for existing services change, and when the software efficiency fluctuates on existing services. It requires setting up process and workflows, deep expertise, and the right data.
2. Data and optimization are difficult to maintain
When you are running an ERP that is hosted in Texas, an HRM that is hosted in Indiana and so on and so forth, things such as distances, security, data conversion and data rates can cause issues. Additionally, misaligned approaches between your teams/departments can become a hurdle that can make or break your cloud cost optimization efforts. It quickly becomes hard to identify duplicate assets and over-provisioned resources. Organizations need to implement management tools that can help them better understand their assets.
3. Compliance and security complexities cause leadership concern
Lack of visibility across hosts and services masks security threats. That makes it easier for hackers to find exploitable vulnerabilities within an organization’s infrastructure. Applications become more complex and have a larger attack surface when deployed on multiple clouds, which increases the likelihood of a security breach. The bottom line is that, in a multi-cloud environment, you no longer control the network perimeter, so you must secure the inside of the network as well. And we all know that if you don’t have security, you can’t meet compliance mandates. Organizations must consider how they will configure, manage, alert, log and respond to security events across multiple clouds.
4. Owned platforms require significant CapEx
The cost-savings benefits of moving to the cloud have been well-documented and a main driver for organizations when deciding to move in this direction. However, the complexities around multi-cloud environments can sometimes lead to technical and financial issues. Trying to develop a quality management platform in house requires significant investments in tools and staff and makes it difficult to pivot as business requirements evolve and which can impede or kill other projects in need of funds.
Most cloud providers supply management tools and reporting systems, but they aren’t all created equally and usually require some form of vendor expertise. Not to mention, wasted staff time having to go to multiple places to compile necessary information. In the end, you never really gain clear visibility into your cloud ecosystem.
In order to maximize cloud benefits, manage multi-cloud environments and keep your IT staff focused on driving your business forward, you should be looking at implementing a cloud platform dashboard. Having one dashboard that shows different metrics will allow you to optimize, monitor and organize any and all your cloud activities. In turn, having accurate data will allow you to find the optimal level of investment in technology, ultimately helping you to achieve business goals.
See how you can benefit from having a cloud management platform capable of accessing data from all sources and consolidating that data so you can view it across a single pane display. Involta’s Hybrid Cloud Platform powered by Morpheus can help you “Get There”.
