After years of arguing over private and public clouds and after weighing the numerous pros and cons, enterprises have finally realized that hybrid is the way to go. A hybrid infrastructure gives you more control over the cost and capabilities of your enterprise cloud. Being the leading name in cloud computing, Azure has mastered hybrid cloud like no one else. Azure’s hybrid cloud solutions may be unparalleled but it all depends on the cloud strategy that holds the infrastructure. As an enterprise grows and their network needs evolve, the infrastructure should remain stable but also sustainable.
Speaking of sustainability, it is predicted that data centers will consume 1/5th of the planet’s energy by 2025. Not to mention they are already responsible for more than 3 percent of carbon emission, which can reach up to 14 percent in the next ten years. Azure allows for the highest level of sustainability, but it takes advanced Azure training and certification such as Developing Azure solutions and Azure Fundamentals, to ensure creation and implementation of a cloud network that is both stable and sustainable.
Why Does Your Cloud Strategy Need to be Stable and Sustainable?
In order to understand why you need Azure for a stable and sustainable network, let’s assume that your enterprises are currently running in an old-fashioned way. This means that you are most probably running your own server, a different one for each location. Each server must have a different configuration and your IT team needs to configure and manage each of them individually. Now, the scenario might be the most reasonable in terms of data security, but it puts extra load on the administration team, especially when your enterprise is growing. It requires continuous updates for each of the servers. Most importantly, the model is not ideal from the energy efficient point of view.
This model is not sustainable, and the increasing load will eventually make it unstable. Azure, on the other hand, has servers that run in a standardized setup. It has highly standardized data centers across the world. The data centers are spread across different regions with a minimum of three per region. This means your network stays stable and your team can focus on operations rather than the connection. However, it all begins with a sound hybrid cloud network strategy, which can only be created and implemented with a proper understanding of Azure hybrid cloud. That is where Azure certification becomes essential for any enterprise seeking complete advantage from Azure.
Azure Saves the Day in the Most Sustainable Way
Any responsible enterprise must invest in sustainable technology. Earlier this year, Microsoft took on the responsibility to help businesses become around 93 percent more energy efficient while reducing carbon emission up to 98 percent. Azure hybrid cloud is a huge part of this mission. With services such as Microsoft Azure Cloud Compute, Azure Storage, and Exchange Online, Microsoft has become a pioneer of cleaner cloud.
Azure Can Help Your Team Define and Implement a Sustainable Strategy
Enterprise need to understand that a hybrid cloud strategy and implementation is complex, mainly because it has to be defined and implemented according to the specific needs and requirements. The implementation, therefore, varies from business to business and must be flexible and scalable enough to accommodate future needs. There are a number of considerations to keep in mind when creating a hybrid cloud network strategy with Microsoft Azure.
Scalability
While Microsoft takes care of sustainability aspects, scalability is a factor your team will have to include in the strategy. An enterprise will require to scale up or even scale down in the future. The network should be able to accommodate the scale within internal as well as the external cloud without compromising performance or security. Another key factor involved in this equation is the cost. It is imperative to ensure scalability without exceeding the cost.
Compatibility
Another crucial factor to consider when creating a hybrid cloud strategy is compatibility. It is important to consider that there are two layers of infrastructure you are dealing with, private as well as public. Now Azure Active Directory Approach is what makes it one of the most straightforward hybrid solution to deal with. While typically different teams and tools may be required for on-premises and public cloud, Azure lets your team manage the on-premises servers through the Active Directory. That allows for a more comprehensive governance and security for both the infrastructure.
Best Practices
Speaking of security and governance, IT teams need to develop a set of best practices for the hybrid cloud network. It is one of the major strategic and implementation challenges in the hybrid environment. These practices should cover all the core facets of cloud computing including resource pooling, on-demand self-service, measured service, rapid elasticity, and network access. Moreover, these practices should be developed to enhance task automation that will ultimately improve efficiency across the enterprise.
Security
We have previously highlighted the fact that it is nearly impossible to discuss cloud strategy without a mention of security. We all know it is the one thing that kept enterprises away from the hybrid cloud for years. Thanks to Microsoft, security is now the least of your concern. Your network strategy, however, is what plays the most important role in ensuring that the information is fully secure when it leaves and enters different data centers.
All of it boils down to the fact that there is no cookie-cutter approach to hybrid cloud strategy. There is no single formula that works for all businesses. In fact, it is the high level of flexibility and diversity of hybrid environment that makes it feasible for any enterprise. It is important to understand the significance of hybrid cloud strategy when it comes to efficient, stable, and sustainable network implementation. It is sufficient to conclude that Azure has essentially the most sustainable hybrid cloud solution for your businesses. Invest in Azure certification and training to make sure your team has the knowledge and capabilities to create and implement an effective strategy with Azure.
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