A multi-cloud strategy is characterized by the use of a variety of cloud platforms and applications, includingand software as a service (SaaS). Businesses that adopt this approach do so for a number of reasons, chief among them increased flexibility. A multi-cloud strategy means not being wed to a single vendor or platform, and this translates – as we’ll see – to reduced costs, tighter security, improved scalability, and more.
While there are some challenges to be taken into consideration – like ensuring interoperability between applications and services, increased training requirements and a functionally smaller pool of skilled candidates when hiring, and increased operational and logistical complexity – many companies have found that the benefits are well worth it.
Freedom of choice
As previously mentioned, one of the greatest advantages to adopting a multi-cloud strategy is that you ultimately have greater freedom to build the cloud solution that best fits your business.
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Second, interoperability can be a troublesome issue when working with multiple cloud platforms. While many of the biggest names, like AWS and Microsoft Azure, demonstrate high interoperability, multi-cloud approaches often include individual SaaS solutions, between which integrations can be more complex. Carefully planning one’s multi-cloud approach is the first step to avoiding these issues.
Finally, data governance and compliance with regional and state legislation is often more difficult to ensure with a multi-cloud approach, where each vendor may ensure compliance with certain regulations but not others. Once again, planning and foresight are a business’s best line of defense here. Companies will need to take special care, as information is moved from one platform to another, that all regulations are being met.
Conclusion
A multi-cloud strategy benefits businesses for a variety of reasons. Freedom of choice ensures that businesses can include (and pay for only) the features needed, and places pressure on vendors to maintain competitive prices and service agreements. It can make it easier for businesses to adapt with agility to rises (or drops) in demand, improve security and operations by eliminating the need for shadow IT, and better respond to data crises.