Welcome to the WEI Tech Exchange Blog

Advice for Implementing a Hybrid Cloud Strategy

Written by Greg LaBrie | May 3, 2016 12:45:00 PM

Is your company leveraging the advantages of hybrid cloud? A “happy medium” between private and public cloud options, the hybrid cloud allows IT leaders to use services and resources from third-party cloud computing providers in a partial manner curated to fit their needs. They can design a custom strategy using only services they desire while gaining the benefits of both public and private models.

Hybrid Cloud Implementation Challenges

Moving to a hybrid cloud model involves the merging of at least one public and one private cloud option into a single company-wide strategy.There are several things to consider during this transition, including:

  • How you will integrate old and new processes?
  • How you will implement the new hybrid cloud approach?
  • How you will migrate legacy apps and infrastructure?

Rightscale’s State of the Cloud survey found that 55 percent of organizations are planning on using hybrid cloud and distributing their workloads across a variety of public and private cloud options. Does this option sound right for you? Read on for three tips on implementing this as part of your IT strategy.

3 Tips for Implementing Hybrid Cloud

1. Organize Your Environment

IT leaders looking to transition to hybrid cloud should first take stock of their current IT environment and determine what services your organization is currently using. Look at usage, infrastructure and location, as well as the skills needed to operate the processes and resources required. Having a complete picture of your business’ IT environment will help you begin the hybrid cloud transition smoothly.

2. Determine Your Goal

It isn’t enough to pick some cloud services and begin using them; you should know exactly what business goals and objectives you want your hybrid cloud approach to fulfill. Map out your company’s strategic IT plan for the next several years and think about what services you could be using in the future. Then, align your goals with the necessary systems, infrastructure, applications and resources necessary. This will help you determine which service providers to choose.

3. Learn from Others

Studying up on other company’s experiences implementing a hybrid cloud model is essential for learning best practices and avoiding common mistakes. Get in touch with partner organizations and ask if they can help shed light on their experience and offer tips that may be helpful for you to make the transition smoother.

Implementing hybrid cloud into your IT strategy can be very beneficial for your company. Contact us today for assistance; we are happy to help!