In our white paper titled, “How the Hybrid Cloud can Launch Your Digital Transformation,” we discussed the many benefits of implementing a hybrid cloud solution in order to gain the efficiencies, agility and cost savings that are associated with the digital business model. We of course are not the first ones to embrace the power of the hybrid cloud and the advantages it can offer many organizations today. There are many IT companies and consultants promoting the positives of this new paradigm.
Like any new technology architype however, there are some definite challenges when navigating unfamiliar technological waters as well as a few potential “gotchas” that can delay, hinder or even potentially terminate a hybrid cloud implementation. Below are some of the potential missteps that you can avoid if you properly plot your course in advance.
HYBRID CLOUD MISTAKES TO AVOID
1. IGNORING HIDDEN COSTS
Backing up the terabytes of files from the data center to the cloud is one of the biggest draws of the hybrid cloud. Cloud providers prominently promote the unprecedented levels of redundancy their systems have to offer. They are also quick to advertise the low costs associated with backup storage. In many instances, organizations can back up their data to the cloud for as little as a penny per GB of data. The very premise of storing 100 GB of data for a buck is certainly enticing.
However, there are usually more charges to incur than just the cost of the data at rest. Storage prices this low are usually designated for cold archive storage. Cold storage is about low cost, high capacity and data durability. Speed, however, is something that it is not known for. To say that restoring data from cold archive storage is slow is an understatement. While this is a perfectly suitable solution for inactive data, organizations that are looking for a means to overcome a total hardware failure or implement disaster recovery will most likely be disappointed.
While the cost to store data at rest can be pennies, supplementary fees can begin to add up quickly should that fateful day arrive when you need to retrieve that data. Most cloud providers charge some sort of transfer fee when restoring your data that can quickly add up. Access fees, sometimes referred to as retrieval fees, are not uncommon.
2. OVERPAYING FOR STORAGE
Most network managers are familiar with the various storage formats such as block, file, object and tape. It is easy to be aware of these different types of formats within one’s data center because they are visibly recognized. Few organizations would archive inactive data to a SAN utilizing solid-state drives. Different types of data justify different storage formats.
It is important to remember that cloud providers utilize the same storage platforms that reside in your own data center as well. Take the time to understand all of the various data storage options that a potential cloud vender offers as well as their associated costs. Then assign the appropriate data cost structure to your various data types. Choosing block storage when only object cloud storage is warranted can be a costly mistake.
3. NOT UNDERSTANDING YOUR SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENT
One of the common financial mistakes that people make is investing in things they do not understand. Many times, individuals will avoid taking the time to read the fine print or ask questions, and then one day regretting it. As IT managers, we can certainly find more exciting things with our time than sitting down to read a long protracted SLA, yet taking the time to thoroughly read all of the fine print can save your organization a lot of confusion and grief down the road.
When you sign up with a cloud vendor, you are essentially signing on with a partner, a partner that will be providing mission critical services that your organization and users depend on. Some of the meticulous but significant details to discern are:
- What is the guaranteed uptime?
- Is there a guaranteed window of recovery time?
- What type of support does the cloud vendor provide?
- What type of security does the cloud provider include?
A proper SLA clearly defines the expectations and roles that the cloud provider will be assuming. Remember that a hybrid cloud is a cohesion of two worlds – your data center and the cloud. You cannot afford to be arguing over who is responsible for what during a service interruption. Do not feel awkward asking many questions.
4. TREATING ALL CLOUD PROVIDERS THE SAME
Using the financial analogy again, how many times have you heard someone you know act on a stock pick they heard about while taking the bus to work or overhearing a conversation at a nearby table over dinner. As unwise as that can be, it is just as imprudent to choose a cloud vendor based on an advertisement or name recognition. Not all cloud providers are the same and no two cloud providers are identical.
The first step is to understand the services provided by potential cloud vendors. There is a big difference between those offering Platform as a Service and those offering Infrastructure as a Service. You also need to know the physical locations that a cloud provider has. In some instances, you may require a cloud provider that is in close proximity to your on premise location in order to eliminate latency issues. For a disaster recovery solution, you will want a provider that can guarantee your data resides outside of your region. It is also important that your cloud provider has the scalability to accommodate the growth of your resource demands over time.
5. FAILING TO DOCUMENT CLOUD RESOURCES
It is not uncommon to find detailed Visio diagrams documenting the resources and data flows of an on premise network within most organizations. Yet many of those same organizations treat their cloud resources as “out of sight, out of mind.” It is just as important to fully document your cloud resources in the traditional way you approach those on premise. In fact, one can argue that because these resources are out of sight, it is more even more critical to document and diagram them. It is just as important to record IP addresses of cloud servers as it is internal ones. Knowing which servers your mission critical apps reside on is equally imperative in the cloud. For organizations implementing a hybrid cloud, an “out of sight, out of mind” mindset can also mean “out of business.”
DON’T GO IT ALONE
These are just some of the missteps organizations make when selecting a cloud solution provider. Although these may be but simple oversights, they can translate into costly delays and mistakes. Just as many people look to the experience and insight of a financial planner when discerning an investment strategy, an IT solutions provider with experience in designing and building cloud architectures can greatly increase the success level of a hybrid cloud implementation. Whether you need an outside expert to simply review and appraise your cloud strategy, or guide and assist you through the design and implementation process, having a consulting partner can prove invaluable.
