Is Hybrid IT the better choice?

In the changing business scenario, organizations are fast-moving to cloud computing. Switching to cloud reduces the upfront cost of setting up large-scale IT infrastructure, and has several other benefits. Apart from being inexpensive, it is also quite easy to set up, as the providers cover the infrastructure costs and also assist in deployment. In addition, businesses have access to the latest updates and can pay only for what they use.

There are basically three different types of cloud computing options an organization can choose from. First is the public cloud. Based on the standard cloud model, it enables the businesses to get the cloud-based services over the Internet.  The second kind of cloud model is known as the private cloud. Like public cloud, it also provides on-demand resources for complex computing and scalability. The difference is that a private cloud hosts services only to specific entities. It employs a firewall, gives these entities direct control over their data. This also maximizes security. However, the concept of private cloud is fundamentally at fault. This is because companies would again have to invest heavily on the private cloud infrastructure, increasing cost which they set about reducing in the first place.

The third option introduces a trade-off solution to the security issues of public cloud and the deployment-cost issues of the private cloud. As it’s a hybrid of both of them, it is aptly called a Hybrid cloud. This capability, known as cloud bursting, allows the computing requirements to be scaled beyond the Private cloud, extending them into the public cloud.

While it sounds an ideal solution, it may not be what most businesses need. Organizations who still tangibly utilize their legacy systems may not even need cloud computing. What they would ideally need is a procedure that accommodates their legacy systems alongside a public cloud. Over a period of time, it should then allow this system to gradually migrate to public cloud. So basically what they need is not Hybrid cloud, but Hybrid IT.

For instance, many enterprises are still on mainframe systems, and are unlikely to put the entire infrastructure on Cloud. It’s not as if it’s not feasible, but it does not make business sense either, as there may not be an instant ROI. In order for them to get on the cloud they would essentially have to replace the applications themselves. For this, businesses might want to continue running things until a precipitating event, which either could be technological, organizational or functional. Until then, organizations are likely to move on with a Hybrid IT model.

How Hybrid IT can help?

• With hybrid IT, enterprises can run their existing legacy system along the cloud-based services. Not all legacy systems will work on cloud and this might cause operational disruptions. Creation of a brand new infrastructure that is exclusively cloud-based can be taken over gradually. In this way, organizations can mitigate the cost of impulsive transformation.
• Pursuing Hybrid IT will provide organizations enough time to analyze the type of infrastructure that perfectly meets their needs. They can evaluate each business-process in detail and can decide which of them need the scalability and flexibility of cloud-based infrastructure. On the other hand, they can also scrutinize the process and can leave them on legacy architecture if it’s not worth migrating them to cloud. This way, they can perform a profound feasibility study and cost analysis that will hold them in good stead.

This simply means that organizations have to decide on the mode of IT which suits their processes before choosing the type of infrastructure that would support that mode. As more and more companies realize this, the practice of co-utilizing the traditional data center with high-tech cloud computing is steadily growing.

Key Takeaways

• Switching to cloud computing reduces the upfront cost of setting up large-scale IT infrastructure.
• Hybrid combines the primary advantages of both Public and Private cloud.
• With hybrid IT, enterprises can run their existing legacy system along the cloud-based services, saving on expenses.