Multi-cloud architecture is a proven method for navigating the complexities of modernizing legacy IT systems. However, industry-specific compliance mandates and data privacy regulations can prove more challenging when opting for this style of IT modernization.
Read more: Application and infrastructure modernization: the key to digital transformation
The benefits of multi-cloud environments
Multi-cloud architecture includes multiple clouds, whether private, public, or a combination thereof. It is an infrastructure that typically leverages the services of several cloud providers to tactically spread workloads, data, and applications among clouds. Let’s talk about the advantages to this architecture:
- Tailored cloud architecture: Businesses can choose cloud providers with the pricing, performance, and services that best support specific compliance mandates, security needs, and other issues of strategic importance to the organization.
- Greater exposure management: Different clouds are not interconnected, meaning any service disruptions like downtime or outages affecting one cloud will not impact other clouds in the infrastructure.
- Enhanced flexibility: Businesses are not obligated to commit to one cloud provider for their entire IT system to function. With the progression of cybersecurity measures and cloud technology—in addition to evolving business and regulatory requirements—there is always the flexibility to change cloud providers.
- Scalability: This architecture style can quickly adapt to changing business demands such as increased data needs, a jump in user traffic, and performance.
In short, multi-cloud architecture is advantageous because each cloud and its digital assets are isolated from other clouds in the infrastructure. However, creating a single environment where different systems are interconnected with hybrid cloud architecture is possible. This strategy makes it possible to add on-premises data centers to the mix. They help manage traffic at peak times with cloud bursting. This is not a functionality of multi-cloud architecture, where clouds are entirely separate from each other.
Read more: The state of cloud network security, SASE, and SD-WAN today
Securing cloud architecture
Multi-cloud architecture is secure because each cloud is designed to function independently. If one cloud suffers a security breach, it will not impact the other clouds in the infrastructure.
However, security protocols should be uniform across a multi-cloud environment. This approach should extend to data encryption for at-rest and in-transit data in addition to access and identity management. It is also important to remember that not all cloud providers will have the same technologies or offerings.
However, there are some standard protections available from most cloud providers:
- A cloud firewall mitigates hazardous traffic.
- Real-time policy enforcement ensures users conform to security protocols and that the business can quickly respond to latent threats to minimize security risks.
- Web protection safeguards against malware and phishing scams. Cloud security posture management (CSPM) limits misconfigurations and risks throughout the cloud environment and assists with business compliance. Secure access service edge (SASE) is a unified networking and network security service in multi-cloud environments, allowing for better scalability.
- Cloud network segmentation establishes disparate sub-networks to diminish threats and unauthorized access.
Constant visibility is necessary to optimize these security measures. To successfully access risks, it is essential to understand operations within each cloud, have visibility into incoming and outgoing Internet traffic, and follow access patterns to identify atypical activity.
Read more: What to look for in a cloud security partner
Choosing a partner for multi-cloud management
Transforming traditional IT infrastructure to this managed cloud environment has several sustainable advantages. Both deployment and overseeing daily operations are time-intensive processes. The experienced professionals at OnX can simplify all these tasks and ensure each cloud within the architecture operates efficiently. The OnX team sources cloud providers that are right for your business and configures their services for optimized outcomes.
Connect with OnX to streamline your IT modernization from traditional infrastructures to multi-cloud architecture. The move will minimize potential disruptions to your business and provide a lens into the evolution of cloud technology.
Get in touch to learn more.