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In our blog, Public Cloud Use Cases for Small Business, we covered different scenarios where a Public Cloud solution makes sense for a small business and why Australian small businesses are choosing Public Clouds for their IT needs.
But what if the IT needs of your small business aren’t cookie cutter? Perhaps you store confidential customer information that requires additional security, or you’re in an industry that requires compliance with regulations that prevent you from using a Public Cloud. If you fall into one of these two scenarios, Hybrid Cloud solutions for your small business may be ideal.
Small businesses don’t always have the resources or budget that large enterprises have, so they seek a Hybrid Cloud that provides the benefits of both a Private and Public Cloud. In this blog, we will discuss when Hybrid Cloud solutions for small business make sense.
In a Public Cloud scenario, you share your Cloud resources – servers, storage, and applications – with other tenants through a third-party Cloud service provider. A Private Cloud is a secure Cloud-based environment in which only you operate, and a Hybrid Cloud is a mixture of the two – a Cloud computing environment that uses a mix of on-premises Private Cloud and third-party Public Cloud services, and also provides the opportunity to transfer between the two platforms.
As mentioned in our previous blog, 86% of Australian companies are already using Cloud in their production environment. A report conducted by Telsyte found a growing trend in Hybrid Cloud, concluding that 40 per cent of enterprises will be using this model by 2019.
The growth in business use of Hybrid Cloud can be attributed to the fact that Hybrid Cloud brings together the benefits of a Public Cloud scenario – such as cost savings and scalability – with the benefits of a Private Cloud scenario – security and control – in a custom-made hybrid solution. Australians that select Hybrid Cloud solutions for small business enjoy the following benefits:
A Hybrid Cloud from a managed Cloud provider becomes an extension of your IT department. This provides additional resources you can use to outsource the day-to-day management of your IT, freeing up your internal resources for more strategic initiatives.
This is especially important for start-ups; a Hybrid Cloud reduces the expenses associated with an on-premise solution, incurring no upfront equipment costs to the small business. Hybrid Cloud’s pay-per-use model permits businesses to pay for only what they need , which can be very appealing to a small business – start-up or not.
A Hybrid Cloud allows a business to transfer between Private and Public Cloud to meet variable demand. Especially important for those companies that are relatively young and don’t know what to expect in terms of site traffic – this allows them to move between Private and Public Cloud as their needs change, providing the business with more flexibility.
A business can use an on-premise Private Cloud to host sensitive information and use the Public Cloud to host less critical information; allowing it to meet regulatory compliance standards and keep sensitive information secure.
Despite the benefits offered by Hybrid Cloud solutions for small business, companies may still be apprehensive when deciding on a Cloud solution for any of the following reasons:
Day-to-day administration is out of their hands and managed by a hosting provider, a concept many businesses may be uncomfortable with. While this is a valid concern, businesses that can accept handing off some control no longer need to worry about the day to day management of IT, as this is outsourced to the provider, which frees up IT resources.
Some companies may be concerned with security of a Hybrid Cloud solution as some data is stored in a Public Cloud environment. The simple solution to this concern is to store any critical data on-premise or in the Private Cloud.
When migrating to a Hybrid Cloud, companies – especially those with legacy systems – may fear integration problems that could interrupt business operations. The opposite is actually true, as a Hybrid Cloud helps fill the gaps between Cloud and legacy infrastructure.
Ask Yourself the Following Questions:
If you answered “yes” to any two of the three, you should consider a Hybrid Cloud.
A Hybrid Cloud may not be the ideal solution for all small businesses; however, many benefit from the flexibility that it provides. Here are five Hybrid Cloud use cases for small business:
If you are contemplating making a move to a Hybrid Cloud, these cases should help you determine whether this is the right solution for your business. Ensure you consider the following factors:
If you would like more information on migrating to the Cloud, we’re here to help. StudioCoast has been helping Australian small businesses with their hosting needs since 2002. Contact StudioCoast today.
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