Inculcating cloud computing into business operations has been a target for many businesses, both small and large. Apart from those that have the resources to develop and maintain their own infrastructure, most depend on external service providers.
In some cases, firms decide to employ a multi-cloud strategy where they utilize the services of two or more different vendors. This presents their own set of difficulties to businesses.
Discover the challenges of a multi-cloud environment and the strategies to overcome them.
Here are 3 different setbacks with a multi-cloud environment and their solutions.
Differing Service Pricing by Vendors
Each vendor has their own set of services they provide based on their tools, infrastructure, and expertise. With cloud computing, one of the main benefits is easy scalability and flexibility as per requirement.
However, with different cloud providers, each has their own pricing model. This makes it difficult for businesses to estimate costs and budget accordingly.
Solution to Differing Pricing Models
The first step is to conduct regular audits and be fully aware of any underutilized or unused resources. This can be done by using appropriate cost monitoring tools. AWS Cost Explorer helps analyze and examine the expenditure across different platforms.
Additionally, by using auto scaling, changes in user patterns and traffic can automatically adjust resources to best fit the situation. This reduces wastage of resources by ensuring they are utilized as per requirement.
Complications in Management
Since there are multiple service providers, managing and maintaining of business approach becomes complicated. Each vendor generally has their own interfaces and tools that operate in a specific manner. This makes it difficult to hold a consistent strategy across platforms.
Solution to Management Complexity
The easiest solution is to use the services of unified management tools. Platforms such as Cisco CloudCenter or MicroSoft Azure Arc can be utilized for a centralized and optimized cloud strategy.
Along with this, the appropriate training of the IT team is necessary. With the right tools, they can become proficient in managing a multi-cloud environment.
Maintaining Security and Regulatory Compliance
Security is a major factor while considering cloud computing, especially as the importance of data confidentiality and integrity becomes a critical talking point. With multi-cloud services, security protocols will differ making it complex to deal with.
Solution to Ensuring Security of Cloud Services
Utilizing AWS Security Hub or MicroSoft Sentinel, security management tools that are centralized are the key to maintaining security. These can easily monitor and manage movement across multiple platforms.
For compliance with industry mandates, utilizing automated compliance tools that adhere to regulatory requirements is best. Overall, regular audits to identify chinks in the security armor is necessary.
