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Multi Cloud vs Hybrid Cloud

In this guide, we’ll explore the main differences between Multi-Cloud vs Hybrid Cloud storage systems for businesses.

By recognizing the value of cloud computing and a cloud infrastructure, many businesses employ different models of digital data storage and establish safe practices to ensure its security.

Two very popular models of digital data storage are multi cloud and hybrid cloud. Let’s take a look at which one is the best.

Table of Contents

The Difference Between Public Clouds & Private Clouds

To determine which model of cloud service storage is superior, we first have to define what is a public cloud and what is a private cloud.

A public cloud is when a third-party provider offers cloud storage services via the internet, often but not always through a paid subscription. By choosing a public cloud provider, you enter into a vendor-customer relationship, where the third-party vendor will be responsible for the security and maintenance of your data.

The provider will offer the same service to other customers but will be responsible for keeping your data separate and inaccessible to anyone but you. There are a lot of well-known companies that offer public cloud services, such as Google, Amazon, and Microsoft.

On the other hand, a private cloud is a cloud storage system created and maintained in-house. That means that the business that uses it is also the one responsible for its framework. Moreover, no other company can use it as it is specifically created to address the needs of the particular business.

What Is Multi Cloud?

A multi cloud storage system uses multiple public cloud services (two or more) by a variety of third-party providers.

Usually, businesses use a multi cloud model because they can pick and choose the best services available from each provider. This is very helpful in the case a company wants to use one provider for a certain task due to its system’s efficiency or its lower cost and then use another provider that is more convenient for a different task.

For example, a business might use the Google Cloud Platform as a simple storage backup, Amazon Web Service (AWS) for its Database-as-a-Service (DBaaS) capabilities, and Microsoft Azure for its applications that might help with Human Resources-related tasks.

Essentially, a multi cloud system or multi cloud strategy allows businesses to choose the best tools from multiple cloud providers to better their operations.

What Is Hybrid Cloud?

hybrid network diagram combination intersection of private and public infrastructure within a company

A hybrid cloud model combines a public cloud with a private cloud, getting access to the best applications from both worlds.

The main focus of this system is integration, which means that businesses aim to merge different systems to create one main framework that allows for better workflow.

Due to the involvement of a private cloud system, a hybrid cloud architecture would still require the business to be responsible for maintenance and other related actions, even with the participation of a third-party vendor or data center due to the public cloud component.

Of course, businesses can also use multiple public clouds, including a combination of both multi cloud and hybrid cloud models.

In this case, a company can use a multi cloud solution – one private cloud system combined with several other public cloud service systems (two or more) for a variety of different tasks.

Pros & Cons

A multi cloud storage model allows flexibility to a business so that it won’t be entirely dependent on one service provider.

This kind of cloud platform also gives the ability to select what system works better for each task, enabling the business to use the best-of-the-best tools suitable for each specific situation. Moreover, it allows a company to save costs by selecting services at more affordable prices.

In a business with multiple departments, each department tends to have different needs that are best met by various tools. By utilizing a multi cloud environment, the company allows each department to use tools best suited for each of its work actions.

For example, Payroll and Accounting might need a different multi-cloud solution from the ones used by Marketing, Human Resources, or Legal department. Therefore, a multi-cloud model offers the ability to choose and reduce costs.

On the other hand, a multi-cloud model can also be quite complicated to navigate. This is because by using several different third-party providers, you have less control over your data. You are not responsible for their security and the systems’ infrastructures.

Therefore, you become more vulnerable to the threats that your providers might face, having little to no control over how to respond to them.

Keeping track of every single public cloud system you utilize might also prove to be a complex process as you would have to check on each individually since you usually do not have the ability to connect them.

A hybrid cloud system enables the centralization of the digital information under the business itself. Using this model, a company is still flexible because it relies mainly on itself. However, the most crucial benefit is that it has greater control over its data and can usually deal with threats more immediately than a different cloud option.

Hybrid cloud deployment also allows for better adaptability to the fluctuations in operations.

With the central functions being managed internally, only ancillary tasks are sourced externally, allowing the business to scale back at its outsourcing whenever needed. This also enables the company to cut down costs based on the performance of the business.

Which Model Is the Best?

digital screen with application cloud service icons and blurry laptop at background

As mentioned above, both data storage models have their benefits, but the best solution would actually be a combination of the two for cloud management.  

A hybrid multi cloud model is often preferred for the flexibility that a multi cloud approach offers and the greater control that a hybrid cloud provides.

Having a centralized system that you have control over internally allows you to ensure your data’s security.

Using several public cloud providers, you have various options for your supplementary tasks specifically based on your business’s condition. So, multiple clouds may prove to be the best option for your business.

Both modes can be helpful, but combining the multi cloud architecture and hybrid cloud environment would actually allow a business to reach peak performance.

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