Remote operations
Marc Prempain
15 April 2024
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Cloud computing promises to simplify our lives, allowing us to access software, hardware, and storage remotely at never before seen prices. But the reality is companies often use a variety of tools to accomplish their tasks, which are not necessarily hosted on the same cloud systems. A multi-cloud environment is a cloud infrastructure comprising a variety of services from different providers. Multi-cloud can include any combination of Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), Platform-as-a-Service (Paas), and Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) cloud platforms.
Multi-Cloud management allows a company to use multiple cloud services at the same time, syncing data where appropriate. For example, a company may use Microsoft Azure IaaS for storage services, while its design team uses Adobe’s Creative Cloud SaaS, and the development team uses Google App Engine as a PaaS for app development.
Alternatively, all of your software could come from one cloud-based web service but use data centers and cloud environments from another. Multi-cloud allows a company to unite these disparate services under one architecture according to their specific needs. A great advantage of cloud computing is the pay-as-you-go model, which saves money and allows rapid scaling in size. Cloud computing adapts to your needs, whether you’re a small business that needs to host its website or a multinational corporation. Companies will choose a multi-tenant or single-tenant architecture according to their cloud computing needs.
Cloud computing has allowed companies to save considerable sums of money by outsourcing data storage to a third party. Often, this third party will host different customers on the same servers, with each client getting their own dedicated space on the server to store their data. This arrangement is called multi-tenancy. Today, multi-tenancy is the norm for cloud computing. In contrast, single-tenancy is where one company is the sole client of a server. For large companies or companies with specific needs, single-tenancy is sometimes the best option.
To better explain the differences between the two, think of the cloud server like a building. Multi-tenant servers are like an apartment building, whereas single-tenant servers are like a house. In an apartment building, multiple tenants share the cost of maintenance and upkeep. They can choose a smaller or bigger apartment depending on their needs and budget. If repairs are needed, you may have to wait because there is no dedicated repairer for each customer. On the other hand, a single-tenant server is used by one tenant, so it requires more money to upkeep, on top of higher rent. However, you can customize it more to your needs. It is easier to secure because fewer people are accessing the building.
Multi-tenant servers are often referred to as public clouds, while single-tenant ones are private clouds. Hybrid clouds are a combination of an on-site private server with a public cloud service. According to Google’s definition, a hybrid cloud includes at least one private cloud. In contrast, multi-cloud comprises at least two public clouds. So why should a company use a multi-cloud setup?
While a single-cloud strategy at first seems more convenient and likely cheaper, real-world workflows soon discredit this theory for many companies. The truth is different services are not created equally. Microsoft Office is the king of word processing and spreadsheet software. On the other hand, Google excels at email and photo storage. Adobe offers specialized solutions to creative professionals.
The case to use a multi-cloud strategy can be made easily for companies with different specialized departments. Engineering departments may want to use Autodesk’s 360 cloud for engineering files. At the same time, marketing needs to purchase cloud storage for WordPress blog articles from a cloud service provider. The reason that organizations choose a multi-cloud strategy is that it makes sense. It helps them get their work done more efficiently while using the most appropriate tools available for each job.
For IT departments, managing different cloud infrastructures can understandably seem daunting. But the truth is, it’s easier than it may seem. Large companies offering cloud solutions often have built-in tech support for their programs. This resource reduces the workload for internal IT departments. Still, with a variety of cloud vendors and software platforms to deal with, multi-cloud presents challenges that you don’t have if you use a unified cloud platform. It’s essential to develop a multi-cloud strategy to successfully deploy multiple cloud services at the same time.
According to Accenture, the steps to multi-cloud security start before you even begin. Design your multi-cloud setup from the beginning with security in mind, ensuring roles are clear and that your network is configured correctly. Since a cloud is always connected to the internet, you need to log who accesses your cloud. Employee access permissions should be regularly updated to make sure access is only granted where necessary. Two-factor authentication and encryption are key technologies that should be implemented liberally to ensure added security.
As employees come and go, it is crucial to preserve institutional knowledge in a centralized knowledge base. ViiBE’s video call web app offers a built-in knowledge management tool to store call-related information. All shared documents related to the call are accessible in the knowledge base alongside the video call. The data is all stored in the cloud, ready to be downloaded as needed. ViiBE’s ticketing solution makes finding past interactions effortless. It can easily group multiple calls for the same issue under a single ticket.
Cloud computing has made it amazingly cheaper to access storage, hardware, and software than ever before. Multi-cloud strategies enable a company to fully take advantage of these benefits, tailoring solutions to their specific use case. While it has many benefits, multi-cloud requires a studied approach to security, especially when using multi-tenant architecture. ViiBE’s video call web app and cloud-based knowledge base are designed to be as flexible, convenient, and secure as the latest cloud technology. Thanks to technologies like multi-cloud and ViiBE, the world is becoming more interconnected and productive than ever before.
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