A few months back, I wrote about what technology changes businesses should expect in 2021. In that post, I discussed how enterprises would need to balance the public cloud with infrastructure privacy and how a hybrid cloud infrastructure that includes on-premise cloud capabilities could deliver the solution businesses need.  

Fast forward to today, and we learn that, indeed, cloud migration is steadily reversing from public to on-premises private clouds.

Here’s some of the reasons as to what is driving the reverse cloud migration.
 

Reasons Why the Hybrid Cloud Is Gaining Popularity 

First, let’s define the hybrid cloud. In simple terms, it’s a mix of public and private cloud with on-premises (private data center) infrastructure. Since every hybrid cloud model is different, organizations need to find one that best serves their unique needs.  

For instance, enterprises needing higher security might maintain much of their on-premises infrastructure and only use the cloud to host less critical resources. Those with dynamic workloads and a need for high availability might choose a private cloud with the option of moving to a public one during resource peaks.  

No matter which model you choose, the goal is to create a seamless, secure, and automated environment for optimal flexibility and productivity with the least amount of human interaction.  

Here are just a few of the primary reasons why organizations are making the transition to on-premises private and hybrid solutions.
 

Scalability  

A hybrid cloud solution lets you choose the best cloud to run individual workloads and manage critical application data. For smaller and growing businesses, scaling on-premises infrastructure can be cost-prohibitive. A hybrid cloud model lets you continue managing current business requirements while supporting current and future growth.
 

Enhanced Mobility  

To save on costs, many companies want the ability to migrate applications and data to the best cloud and then change it when business conditions change. A hybrid solution with the features like Nutanix offers mobility across cloud environments and makes managing resources more fluid and effortless.
 

Streamlined Functionality  

As more and more organizations embrace agility, they face growing and acquisition pressure they need to innovate faster and faster. A hybrid cloud solution allows you to keep up with responding to customer needs by innovating faster. But it does it without disrupting your entire organization by moving to an all-end full cloud environment. 
 

Cloud Bursting  

When your private cloud resources are insufficient, cloud bursting lets you meet expanding capacity requirements and handle peak demands. This application configuration allows a private cloud to “burst” into a public one to access additional computing resources. In effect, you’re “renting” resources for the time you need them. It’s a cost-effective solution that can save your organization significantly across the board.
 

Improved Disaster Recovery  

This is one of the major benefits of a hybrid cloud approach, particularly for organizations new to the cloud. Compared to an expensive and resource-heavy disaster recovery system, a cloud model can make a big difference in terms of cost savings and flexibility.   

For instance, you can use the public cloud for less critical resources while still maintaining control over sensitive data in your on-premises data center and meet your organizations RTO (Recovery Time Objective) and RPO’s (Recovery Point Objective). And since you only pay for what you use, you can store recovery data for a fraction of the cost of on-premises disaster recovery solutions.
 

Security and Compliance  

When companies have specific security and compliance requirements, the hybrid cloud can be their best option. Industries with tightly governed data can use a hybrid approach to segregate applications and resources as they see fit. It gives them a much better sense of comfort, control and can help them with compliance.   

For instance, hospitals and other medical providers deal with highly sensitive personal data. A hybrid cloud model lets them maintain complete control by keeping that data stored on-premises. Less sensitive data and workloads are relegated to the cloud. This approach enables them to restrict access to applications and maintain industry compliance when necessary.
 

Better Management and Control of Big Data Analytics  

Some Big Data organizations have found migrating from a public to a hybrid cloud model enables better customer and employee experiences by providing the most up-to-date and relevant data and most importantly control over data. It also makes it easier to tailor messages and promotions that reflect each user’s unique behaviors.  

Cost Savings with Converging Clouds  

With technology solutions from manufacturers like Nutanix, IT departments can now treat public, private, and distributed clouds as one seamless IT operating environment. This keeps costs down by giving IT teams: 

• A common operating model across clouds 
• The flexibility to move data and apps into different clouds effortlessly as they monitor cost in each of the solutions 
• It should not require advanced engineering skillsets to support it 
   

Enhanced Customer Experiences  

All businesses want to build value in every customer touchpoint with personalized experiences through e-commerce, customer marketing, service, or supply chain. A hybrid cloud approach improves the customer experience by enabling faster time to market. You can also respond to customer needs and requests more quickly, and rapidly develop new products and services.   

For example, healthcare organizations can use a hybrid cloud model to interact with patients in real-time. Financial institutions can maintain better oversight of their customers’ full financials.  

There’s no doubt many resources are better-kept off-premises in the cloud. But look for more vital pieces of networks to move to private infrastructure. I think we will continue to find the ideal way to maximize cost-savings and productivity while minimizing privacy and security issues is a hybrid approach.  This may be a great way for your organization to bridge your current solutions with future-proofed economical infrastructure technology that has simplicity, flexibility, scalability, expandability, and security all together.