Multi-cloud vs. Hybrid cloud: What's The Difference?

Lency Korien
2 hours ago
4 min read

What's the difference between multi-cloud and hybrid cloud computing?

Both "multi-cloud" and "hybrid cloud" describe cloud setups that use more than one cloud service. The key difference lies in the types of cloud infrastructure they incorporate. A hybrid cloud mixes together two or more distinct types of clouds, while a multi-cloud setup uses multiple clouds of the same category. Think of hybrid cloud as blending apples and oranges, whereas multi-cloud is like mixing various kinds of apples.

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How does cloud computing work?

In cloud computing, applications and data are stored on remote servers located in different data centers, rather than being housed in the same place as the users. When we talk about multi-cloud and hybrid cloud, each cloud service from different suppliers can be referred to simply as a "cloud."

What is the difference between a public cloud and a private cloud?

A public cloud service can be utilized by numerous customers simultaneously, much like many people can share a bank without accessing each other's funds.

Conversely, a private cloud is dedicated to a single customer. Organizations can either construct and manage a private cloud independently or enlist an external provider to host it for them.

What does multi-cloud mean?

"Multi-cloud" means using and integrating several public clouds. For instance, a company might choose one public cloud for its database, another for Platform as a Service (PaaS), and yet another for user authentication.

If this multi-cloud arrangement includes a private cloud or an on-site data center, it can then be categorized as a hybrid cloud deployment.

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What does hybrid cloud mean?

A hybrid cloud combines public cloud services with a private cloud or local infrastructure, which could be an internal data center or any IT system operating within a corporate network.

Hybrid cloud scenarios are quite prevalent. Some organizations transition partially to the cloud, but find it financially or logistically challenging to make a complete switch. Consequently, certain operations, business logic, and data storage remain on traditional on-premise infrastructure.

Additionally, businesses might opt for a hybrid cloud approach to retain certain processes and data in a more regulated environment—like a private cloud or on-premise data center—while still benefiting from the extensive resources and cost-effectiveness of public cloud computing.

Selecting the right cloud deployment model for your business involves careful consideration of various factors, particularly cost and security.

Which type of cloud deployment should businesses use?

Finding the right cloud deployment comes down to a number of factors. Chief among them are cost and security.

Cost

Public cloud services generally offer lower overhead and require less hands-on management compared to other infrastructure options. The cloud provider takes care of most essential tasks associated with data center maintenance—like server provisioning and security updates. Therefore, businesses that prioritize cost efficiency might lean towards a fully public cloud setup or potentially even a multi-cloud strategy.

Security

For organizations that need to adhere to strict regulatory standards regarding specific data or business logic, a hybrid cloud deployment could be the optimal choice. This allows them to retain certain sensitive data in a more controlled environment, such as a private cloud or on-premises data center.

However, it’s important to note that these controlled environments aren't guaranteed to be more secure. In many cases, public cloud providers possess greater resources for implementing security patches and safeguarding data than individual companies may have, especially if their cybersecurity budget is limited.

Additional Considerations:

Migration Effort: Transitioning data and operations to the cloud can be a demanding process in terms of resources. Although it can ultimately be beneficial for many businesses, a full migration might not be immediately practical for everyone, leading some to adopt a hybrid approach.

Reliability: Utilizing multiple cloud services can enhance the reliability of websites and applications during peak usage times. When one cloud gets overwhelmed, a secondary cloud can help manage the excess workload. This practice is known as "cloud bursting" since it allows workloads to "burst" from one cloud to another.

Vendor Lock-in: Engaging with several public cloud vendors can lessen dependence on a single provider. Cloudflare also plays a role in minimizing vendor lock-in by enhancing performance, security, and reliability across any cloud setup.

Performance: Hosting servers at the network edge through a public cloud can significantly improve performance by reducing latency, making for a smoother experience overall.

How OpsTree Enables Secure Cloud Migration & Modernization

Migrating to the cloud is not just about moving workloads. It’s about building a resilient, secure, and cost-governed platform that can scale with your business. At OpsTree, we help enterprises transform with confidence by combining cloud engineering, security, automation, and FinOps into a single execution framework.

Our Cloud Migration and Modernization Services ensure your applications move securely, modernize efficiently, and operate predictably, without unexpected costs or operational risks. We design cloud platforms that are future-ready, compliant, and optimized for performance from day one.

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