Hybrid Storage Solutions combine “On-Premises and Cloud Storage to provide an optimal data storage solution for businesses.
The “Hybrid Storage Model” allows organizations to store some data On-Premises while other data is stored in the cloud, based on the specific requirements of the data.
Contents
- 1 What is Hybrid Cloud Storage?
- 2 Hybrid Cloud: Examples of Hybrid Cloud in Enterprise Storage
- 3 Key Considerations – Combining On-Premises and Cloud Storage
- 4 Advantages and Disadvantages of the Hybrid Cloud Solution:
- 5 Hybrid Cloud Storage Solutions and Privacy
- 6 Hybrid Cloud Storage and Data Syncing:
- 7 Hybrid Cloud Model and Object Storage
What is Hybrid Cloud Storage?
The management of data storage can benefit from a hybrid cloud approach that leverages both cloud and on-premises resources.
By combining private and public cloud capabilities, businesses can create an integrated storage architecture that offers flexibility, scalability, and cost savings.
Hybrid cloud file storage provides essential capabilities that can be advantageous for businesses of any size.
In a hybrid cloud storage model, businesses store their data in a combination of on-premises infrastructure and public cloud storage services, typically with orchestration between the two environments.
Frequently accessed data can be stored in on-premises storage, while less frequently accessed data can be moved to public cloud storage to optimize cost.
Read also: Latest technologies in Enterprise Data Storage
Hybrid Cloud: Examples of Hybrid Cloud in Enterprise Storage
Hybrid cloud environments are recommended for businesses seeking to harness the advantages of both private and public clouds. This is particularly relevant when a company’s data center resources have reached capacity, or when the security standards of public cloud providers are insufficient. The utilization of private cloud or on-premise solutions can enhance the security of cloud usage.
Hybrid cloud models offer a broad range of applications. It is ideal for handling changing workloads that require adaptable security and storage capacity. Data can be appropriately stored in either public or private clouds based on the specific needs. Another example is processing large data volumes which is critical for digital transformation.
Hybrid cloud models are also advantageous when capacity needs to change temporarily. With flexible usage options for software solutions and other services, public cloud services can offer variable usage plans that enable businesses to run processes seamlessly without the need to invest in new IT structures.
Key Considerations – Combining On-Premises and Cloud Storage
Here are some key considerations and benefits of using a hybrid storage solution:
- Data Security: With a hybrid storage solution, businesses can keep their sensitive data on-premises, while less sensitive data can be stored in the cloud. This approach can help reduce the risk of data breaches and ensure that critical data always is protected.
- Cost Savings: Hybrid storage solutions can be cost-effective because they allow organizations to optimize their storage infrastructure. Businesses can store frequently accessed data on-premises, while archiving older data in the cloud, reducing the need for expensive on-premises storage.
- Scalability: Hybrid storage solutions can be easily scaled to meet the needs of growing businesses. As data requirements increase, businesses can scale their cloud storage to accommodate the growing demand, while still maintaining a robust on-premises storage infrastructure.
- Disaster Recovery: Hybrid storage solutions can provide a reliable disaster recovery solution for businesses. Data can be replicated in real-time to both – the cloud and on-premises storage; this is ensuring that critical data is always available – even in the event of a disaster.
- Flexibility: The hybrid storage model provides businesses with the flexibility to choose the storage solution that best suits their needs. Organizations can store data on-premises, in the cloud, or both, depending on the data’s specific requirements.
Overall, a hybrid storage solution can provide businesses with a flexible, scalable, and cost-effective data storage solution that balances the advantages of both on-premises and cloud storage.
Advantages and Disadvantages of the Hybrid Cloud Solution:
Hybrid Cloud Storage Solutions and Privacy
Cloud storage can be either private or public, depending on the type of cloud storage solution being used.
Public cloud storage: Public cloud storage is accessible to anyone who has an internet connection and is willing to pay for the service. This type of cloud storage is owned and managed by third-party providers such as Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud. Public cloud storage is generally considered less secure than private cloud storage because the provider owns and manages the infrastructure, and users share the same resources.
Private cloud storage: Private cloud storage on the other hand, is a type of cloud storage solution that is used exclusively by a single organization. It can be hosted on-premises or by a third-party provider, and it is generally considered to be more secure than public cloud storage. Private cloud storage solutions provide more control over data and security, and the infrastructure is not shared with other users.
In summary, while public cloud storage is not private, private cloud storage provides a secure, dedicated infrastructure for the exclusive use of a single organization.
Cloud storage vendors provide different cloud deployment models, including private cloud as an option. In a private cloud model, users have exclusive access to the cloud and data storage is typically managed on-premises by the owner of the private cloud. In contrast, public cloud storage users share computing resources with other businesses, although each company’s data and applications in the cloud are encrypted and kept hidden from other tenants.
Hybrid cloud is a combination of these two cloud deployment models, which allows data to be transferred between private and public cloud environments as needed.
Certain hybrid environments also include a multi-cloud solution, which utilizes services from multiple public cloud providers. This allows businesses to have greater flexibility and control over their data storage, while still taking advantage of the benefits of both private and public clouds.
Hybrid Cloud Storage and Data Syncing:
Data syncing through the cloud keeps the same file in different locations up to date. Users can set up a cloud-based file to which select data is copied, making it accessible via a web interface for others to access.
Changes made to the file by any user are automatically updated in corresponding folders on other users’ devices. This increases productivity and saves time, as users spend less time searching for documents and more time on business operations. A data-syncing application is required to sync data across hybrid cloud environments, and most hybrid cloud storage platforms offer a “sync folder” in the file system.
Hybrid Cloud Model and Object Storage
Object storage is an ideal solution for handling large volumes of unstructured data. Unstructured data includes emails, videos, web pages, audio files, and images that continuously stream from mobile and smart devices, social media, and search engines.
Each object is a self-contained repository that includes data, metadata, and a unique ID number. Object storage is a structurally flat data architecture, unlike hierarchal databases that organize data by relationships.
On-premises, cloud, and hybrid object storage options are available. Hybrid cloud environments are ideal for handling object storage, as companies can aggregate object storage devices into larger storage pools and distribute them across locations and clouds.
This allows for scalability and improved data resiliency over legacy storage platforms. To sync multiple cloud storage services, a well-planned strategy is required to determine data governance, map where all the data is stored, and save on costs by knowing which data to include and not include in a sync.
Read also: What is Data Archiving – Pros and Cons
