Multi-Cloud vs. Hybrid Cloud: Which Cloud Strategy Fits Your Business Needs?

In today's digital-first world, cloud computing is no longer optional—it's essential. However, during the pandemic, businesses that didn't adopt cloud computing somewhere in the 2010s-2020s found that without it, the normal functioning of the business was absolutely impossible, losing competitiveness in the market almost instantly. But the greatest challenge that many organizations had to face was the question of which cloud strategy to use and what type of model to implement. In this regard, it is worth mentioning two options: Multi-cloud vs Hybrid Cloud. Both have their own benefits, but knowing their most important aspects will help you decide which cloud option suits your organization the best.

What are the advantages of using a multi-cloud?

  • Reliability and/or redundancy
  • Reduced vendor lock-in
  • Potential cost savings

What is multi-cloud?

In cloud computing, a cloud is a group of servers that clients can access via the Internet. A corporation that provides cloud services is usually in charge of managing each cloud. A cloud that is shared by multiple users is referred to as public.

01

Reliability and/or redundancy

Using a multi-cloud deployment helps a company avoid having too many things at once. Users will still have access to some functionality from the other deployed clouds in the event that one goes down. It's also possible to use one public cloud as a backup for another.

02

Reduced vendor lock-in

Switching to the cloud necessitates depending on outside cloud providers, and when businesses utilize these providers more frequently, it might be challenging to break free from them. Systems and storage, however, are dispersed among several suppliers if a multi-cloud approach is adopted. Because most of the infrastructure persists throughout the migration, it is therefore simpler to move away from using one of these providers.

03

Potential cost savings

Businesses can choose the most cost-effective services from various cloud providers if they are not committed to employing a single cloud vendor for all of their infrastructure requirements.

What is Hybrid cloud?

Hybrid cloud integrates public cloud services with on-premises infrastructure (private cloud). With the help of this paradigm, companies may easily combine contemporary cloud technologies with their current IT systems.

What are the advantages of using a hybrid cloud?

  • Flexibility

    • Making the change to a different cloud deployment style is made easier by hybrid clouds. For example, it will be easier for a company to switch to a fully public cloud deployment if some of its storage or business operations are already done in a public cloud.

  • Wider variety of technology

    • Processing of large amounts of data and other technologies that are impractical to operate in a private cloud can be integrated into a company's operations through a public cloud.

  • Backups to avoid downtime

    • A business can rely on the other cloud to prevent service outages in the event that one crashes or fails. Multi-cloud installations additionally benefit from this kind of flexibility.

  • Potential cost savings

    • A private cloud or other internal data centre can be costly and resource-intensive to maintain. By shifting some of its activities to a public cloud, a company can reduce expenses by not having to maintain as much technology on-site.

  • Keep sensitive data on-premises

    • Highly classified data including credit card numbers, medical records, and financial information are handled by certain institutions. An organization has far more control over the security protocols that protect sensitive data when such data is kept on-premises. When implementing a hybrid cloud deployment, a company can use public clouds to run the remaining applications while maintaining critical data in a secure private cloud.

How can we help you determine which cloud strategy is right for your business?

Choosing between hybrid cloud vs multi-cloud depends on your organization’s priorities, including performance, budget, security, and compliance. Each strategy offers unique benefits, so it's essential to evaluate which one aligns better with your business needs and infrastructure goals.
Choose multi-cloud if your focus is flexibility, avoiding vendor lock-in, or optimizing workloads across multiple platforms.
Choose Hybrid Cloud if you need to integrate legacy systems, protect sensitive data, or gradually scale into the cloud.
Challenges you can face in multi-cloud

  • Requires skilled teams to manage multiple platforms
  • Complex cost optimization
Challenges you can face in hybrid-cloud
  • Requires complex integration and management
  • Potential latency issues when connecting environments

Understanding Hybrid Cloud Communication and the Difference Between Multi-Cloud and Hybrid Cloud Computing

How do the different environments communicate with each other in a hybrid cloud?

The relationship between the individual clouds is crucial to the functionality of a hybrid cloud. There are several ways to link on-premises infrastructure, private clouds, and public clouds, including:

  • APIs (Application Programming Interfaces)
  • VPNs (Virtual Private Networks)
  • WANs (Wide Area Networks)
An enterprise is not operating a hybrid cloud if there is no functional connectivity between the clouds; instead, it is just operating two or more distinct cloud environments concurrently and will not benefit from hybrid cloud deployments.

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

The terms "hybrid cloud" and "multi-cloud" describe cloud deployments that combine multiple clouds. The types of cloud infrastructure they offer vary.
Whereas multi-cloud combines several clouds of the same type, hybrid cloud infrastructure combines two or more distinct cloud types. Multi-cloud is like blending several kinds of apples, whereas hybrid cloud is like combining apples and oranges.

Conclusion

Both Multi-Cloud and Hybrid Cloud offer significant advantages, but the right strategy depends on your business’s unique requirements. Whether you prioritize flexibility with multi-cloud or seek a balance between security and scalability with hybrid cloud, adopting the right approach can drive efficiency, innovation, and growth. At Sumcircle Technologies, we specialize in helping businesses choose the right cloud strategy tailored to their needs. Let us guide you in leveraging the full potential of cloud computing to achieve your organizational goals. Contact us today to get started!