How to Optimize Your Hybrid Cloud Architecture

A hybrid cloud architecture has become the industry’s preferred choice for hosting data and applications. For most businesses, a multi-cloud arrangement implies more robust security and privacy implementations combined with expert management and cost savings. Hosting data and applications on the cloud has several features that all businesses can benefit from. A hybrid cloud architecture can be deployed with the help of an external provider, commonly known as a third-party cloud service provider. A third-party cloud service provider (or CSP) is usually responsible for deploying and managing a secure hybrid cloud architecture for storing corporate data and applications.

Hybrid cloud architectures are usually available in the form of managed services. Known as Desktop as a Service or DaaS, it delivers hosted desktops or cloud desktops to businesses over a secure cloud network backed up by cloud servers in isolated data centers. Best Cloud desktops have already taken off and replaced on-premises VDI (Virtual Desktop Infrastructure) for data hosting capabilities. Cloud desktops can utilize a private cloud, a public cloud, or a combination of the two (hybrid cloud) to host and deliver virtual applications.

Cloud Desktops as part of Hybrid Cloud Architecture

The Cloud desktops are high-performance virtual desktops for businesses over a secure cloud network. These desktops are hosted on the cloud and developed using the latest VDI (Virtual Desktop Infrastructure). Users can easily access these desktops from any device connected to the internet: a laptop, smartphone, or tablet. The desktops come pre-installed with all necessary and ready-to-use applications per business specifications. It ensures that employees can get to work in no time and that there is no work interruption.

At the wake of the pandemic, workplaces worldwide became virtual. It meant physical workstations slowly became obsolete and came to be replaced by powerful digital workstations. These digital workspaces are powered by hybrid cloud architecture. In recent years, small businesses, in particular, have reaped the utmost benefits of the cloud. These benefits come from greater security, cost savings, business agility, and flexible working conditions. Cloud data hosting may have begun as an experiment some years ago. But since then, its adoption has steadily risen to become a top trend among businesses worldwide. As more time passes, companies continue to realize the true potential of hybrid cloud infrastructure.

How to Optimize a Hybrid Cloud Architecture 

A hybrid cloud architecture can reinvent modern businesses with access, flexibility, and agility. The ability to work uninterruptedly has also become the key to business productivity. A mixed workforce consisting of in-office and remote employees needs managed virtual desktops to ensure that business goes on as usual.

The distribution of the workforce often implies a similar distribution in workload. Managed desktop services help streamline operations across multiple devices at different locations. A hybrid cloud provides the crew with a dedicated workspace that encourages workforce collaboration and can be accessed easily from any site.

Adopting a hybrid cloud infrastructure makes virtual desktops available to employees on and off-premises, thereby driving employee collaboration and productivity. Employees only log into their virtual desktops using their unique credentials to get to work. Once logged in, files and applications become available instantaneously.

Features of a Hybrid Cloud Infrastructure 

Hybrid cloud infrastructure offers business-agile features for companies irrespective of size and sector. These features help companies to reach productivity goals efficiently and inexpensively. Following are the top four features of hybrid cloud infrastructure:

1. Zero hardware requirements:

With cloud desktops, a no-hardware scenario is possible. Employees can use their devices to access virtual desktops. With the software being managed by the provider, businesses can benefit from high-end IT services at pay-as-you-go pricing plans. As opposed to a physical infrastructure that takes up space and cannot be reused, recycled, or renewed, virtual desktops can be easily scaled on demand.

2. Zero CAPEX:

CAPEX or capital expenditure can make or break a startup. Businesses tend to think there is no way to reduce CAPEX after a point, and a lower CAPEX may translate to a lower business success rate. Although some capital expenditure is inevitable in setting up a business, there is no reason for expenses to go beyond a sizeable budget. Cloud desktops ensure that the CAPEX is at its minimum by outsourcing all IT-related tasks to the cloud provider. Cloud desktops also require no on-premises infrastructure, further driving down set-up expenditure.

3. Platform-independence:

Cloud desktops are entirely platform-independent. It means cloud desktops can be accessed from any device, irrespective of its operating system. The inherent capabilities of a local device do not count, as these are used only to access virtual desktops. Every user can avail of a dedicated virtual machine to run an operating system as per their preference. When working on cloud desktops on a local device, the native OS cannot give rise to compatibility issues.

4. Centralized Management:

Businesses tend to exercise as much control over data as possible. A hybrid cloud architecture deploys the most advanced, industry-grade security solutions to ensure safe data storage. Businesses seek complete data protection from their hosting partner with state-of-the-art safeguards to prevent unauthorized access and data breach.

Small companies would easily exceed their budget if such protocols were deployed in in-house infrastructure. A hybrid cloud is a cost-effective solution to all security concerns and hosts virtual desktops over a multi-layered infrastructure with end-to-end encryption, antivirus software, firewalls, Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (IDPs), and access controls. A secure infrastructure protects data in storage and transit and provides security to end-user devices and the entire network.

Conclusion

The pandemic has changed many things. The way people work is one of them. Because the ways of working have changed, the capacity to work has stayed the same. A hybrid cloud architecture has ensured that employee productivity remains optimal no matter the employee’s location.

It, in turn, has helped businesses move ahead with more extraordinary skills and higher goals in sight. Hybrid cloud infrastructure has enabled remote working and overall business agility, allowing enterprises to stay on track with greater focus and efficiency. The result is an innovative workspace and an empowered workforce.