The Best of Both Worlds: Benefits of Hybrid Cloud for SMBs

Startups

Sean Wilkins · Feb 28, 2024 · 6 minute read

Feeling torn between the agility of a nimble startup and the security of a well-established enterprise? As an SMB, you may face the choice between speed and stability. Enter the hybrid cloud, a revolutionary approach that delivers the best of both worlds. Imagine swiftly deploying new ideas like a tech startup, while enjoying the robust security and compliance of the enterprise world. 

That’s where the hybrid cloud can help. In the hybrid model, you set up your own combination of private and public clouds to craft the most customized solution for every configuration. Let’s unpack the myriad of reasons why SMBs are getting excited about hybrid cloud and how it’s shaping up to be a game-changer in the way they operate.

What is a Hybrid Cloud Infrastructure?

A hybrid cloud infrastructure is a construct of a private cloud, a proprietary system (sometimes but not always an on-prem server) built and operated by the SMB exclusively for its own uses, and a public cloud, usually bought from a multi-tenant cloud provider like Kamatera. This hybrid approach allows you to access your data and applications across boundaries and architectures. 

A hybrid cloud strategy allows businesses to experiment with different cloud configurations and services to find the one that best fits their IT infrastructure.

What are the Benefits of Having a Hybrid Cloud Infrastructure?

With a hybrid cloud, SMBs can mix and match the best parts of the public and private cloud environments. This means they can choose the most suitable deployment model, storage plan, and resource requirements. This can unlock benefits in cost efficiency, agility, flexibility and innovation. Here’s a rundown of the top benefits for the SMB using a hybrid cloud computing setup. 

(Almost) Infinite Flexibility and Scalability

The beauty of the hybrid cloud lies in its incredible flexibility and scalability. It’s like having a water balloon for your IT infrastructure, which can expand or contract based on your business needs. Your business needs more water (resources) during peak business times, and less during the slow periods. The hybrid cloud enables you to enable on-demand provisioning without overhauling your entire IT architecture.

How this works in real life: Ready to launch a new application or explore a new market? A dev/test approach on a public cloud is usually cheaper and more flexible, with a faster time-to-market. The DevOp team can develop applications with minimal risk and investment, then move them to the private cloud for greater security going forward.

Better Security and Compliance

When it comes to keeping data safe and staying on the right side of regulations, the hybrid cloud can be like a top-notch security team and a savvy legal advisor rolled into one. It lets you keep your most valuable data assets in a secure, controlled environment while still enjoying the expansive capabilities of the public cloud. This dual approach makes it easier to protect against digital threats and simplifies the maze of compliance regulations SMBs often face.

Moreover, a good hybrid cloud setup incorporates a suite of security tools and features that act like a digital fortress around your business, from encryption and treat detection to access controls and security audits. This layered security strategy means you can focus more on growing your business and less on worrying about potential breaches or compliance mishaps.

How it works in real life: An e-commerce brand can host confidential data such as customers’ financial information within the private cloud, where it will be protected by the in-house security setup. Less sensitive forms and documents can be stored in the public cloud, where data is more vulnerable, but can be safeguarded by a reliable cloud services provider.

Cutting Costs Without Cutting Corners

Who doesn’t love the idea of saving money without compromising on quality? The hybrid cloud is all about smart spending, allowing you to dial up resources when demand spikes and dial them down when it ebbs, like a thermostat controls temperature. This pay-as-you-go approach means you’re not wasting money on unused capacity or scrambling to add resources when there’s a sudden surge in demand.

But the benefits extend beyond just operational costs. The hybrid cloud can lead to better budgeting and financial forecasting, helping you strategically allocate your IT spending. With better visibility, you get a clearer view of your infrastructure, workloads, and data, allowing you to invest wisely in areas that drive the most long-term growth.

How this works in real life: SMBs can use a public cloud provider for less critical or variable workloads, and save the private cloud resources for more sensitive or stable workloads. This expands cloud computing capacity without increasing data center expenses. 

Disaster Recovery to the Rescue

Your hybrid cloud can act as your business’s safety net to catch you when an unexpected disaster strikes. That’s because data and applications are housed on an SMB’s private cloud and backed up on the public cloud. Whether it’s a natural calamity, a cyber attack, or a simple human error, the hybrid cloud ensures your business can bounce back quickly with minimal downtime and data loss. 

How this works in real life: If cyber criminals attack, your hybrid-enabled emergency backup plan will automatically kick in, keeping operations running smoothly. This plan, of course, relies on the level of your cloud provider’s disaster recovery resources. Kamatera’s cutting-edge technologies and highly secure infrastructure, with 24/7 real-time data replication and constant monitoring, enable quick restoration of a business’s critical systems and data in the event of a disaster.

Staying Agile and Competitive

The hybrid cloud empowers SMBs with the agility of a startup and the muscle of a larger enterprise company. It allows for rapid deployment of new services, quick adaptation to customer feedback, and the flexibility to pivot on the fly. This nimbleness is a significant asset in staying ahead of the competition and capturing market opportunities as they arise.

Moreover, the hybrid cloud’s scalability supports innovation, enabling SMBs to explore new technologies and business models with reduced risk and investment. 

How this works in real life: A novel application development technique where the hybrid cloud really shines is cloud bursting. A cloud burst uses load balancers to redirect traffic overflow to the public cloud when the private cloud has reached its limits. Think of an online store during Black Friday using its hybrid cloud to avoid outages or server downtime. 

Conclusion

The hybrid cloud stands out as a transformative force for SMBs, offering a blend of flexibility, security, cost efficiency, and innovation potential that’s hard to match. With its ability to adapt to changing needs, protect valuable data, manage costs intelligently, ensure business continuity, and foster a culture of agility and innovation, the hybrid cloud is paving the way for SMBs to thrive. 

In embracing the hybrid cloud, SMBs are not just making an IT decision; they’re making a strategic choice to empower their business for the challenges and opportunities of tomorrow.