Security Glossary: Zero Trust

What Is Multicloud?

Multicloud deployment refers to the strategy of utilizing multiple cloud computing services from different providers in a single heterogeneous architecture. This approach to cloud computing has become increasingly popular among businesses as it allows for a more customized, flexible, and resilient IT infrastructure.

The hallmark of a multicloud setup is its diversity of public cloud services. These services are sourced from various providers, each offering their unique strengths and capabilities. For instance, a company might utilize Amazon Web Services (AWS) for its mobile applications, Google Cloud for groupware like Google Workspaces, Microsoft Azure for hosting its website, Linode for containerized applications, and DigitalOcean for storage solutions. This variety exemplifies a typical multicloud deployment, showcasing how different services can be combined to meet specific business requirements.

There are several key reasons why businesses opt for a multicloud approach:

  • Technology Needs: Often, no single cloud provider can support all the technologies and services that a business requires. Multicloud deployments allow organizations to select the best provider for each specific need, ensuring that all technological requirements are effectively met.
  • Cost-Effectiveness: Different cloud platforms may offer more favorable pricing for certain types of workloads. By spreading services across multiple providers, businesses can optimize costs based on the pricing structures of each cloud service.
  • Risk Mitigation: Using multiple cloud providers can reduce the risk of vendor lock-in and provide redundancy, enhancing business continuity and disaster recovery capabilities.
  • Flexibility and Agility: Multicloud environments enable businesses to leverage the unique features and strengths of different cloud platforms, thus fostering innovation and agility in deploying and managing applications.

For IT decision-makers, aligning business technology with organizational needs is crucial. In the modern IT landscape, cloud solutions often present the most viable answer to various business challenges. The decision-making process typically involves identifying a specific problem or need and selecting the most suitable cloud solution to create a reliable workflow.

Multicloud deployment, therefore, is not just a technological choice but a strategic business decision that enables companies to leverage the strengths of various cloud services, leading to enhanced performance, scalability, and operational efficiency.