What it Takes to Achieve a Successful Multi-Cloud Strategy.

The multi-cloud approach to doing business has become very popular. A Deloitte study showed just under a year ago that 80 percent of the companies surveyed in the USA are already pursuing this type of strategy[i]. A recent study by Pluralsight also confirmed the popularity of the multi-cloud approach. The research shows that 85 percent of the companies surveyed already have multi-cloud strategies in place, but only nine percent of these organizations have experience with multiple cloud providers[ii]. Key benefits that enterprises expect from multi-cloud investments include more choice, best-of-breed services, application and data scalability, as well as greater flexibility.

More flexibility, fewer limitations

In fact, multi-cloud environments convey the necessary flexibility for companies to better adapt to changing business requirements. Businesses with an existing on-premises infrastructure are able to move more smoothly to the cloud by adopting a multi-cloud strategy. They will be able to migrate workloads incrementally and integrate hybrid cloud solutions to maintain compatibility with their existing systems. Resources can be met as needed and new technologies can be introduced without being constrained by the offerings of a single cloud provider. By distributing workloads across multiple providers, the impact of potential service disruptions can be reduced. A multi-cloud approach also allows organizations to host data and applications in different geographic regions to comply with data sovereignty laws and regulations. This is particularly important for companies operating in countries or regions with different data protection regulations.

More performance, less risk

By using multiple cloud providers, an over-dependence on a single provider can be avoided. This reduces the risk of being tied to the ecosystem, tools, and pricing structures of a specific provider. In addition, when enterprises deal with multiple cloud providers, they are in a better negotiating position when it comes to pricing, terms and conditions, and service level agreements (SLAs). Competition between providers often leads to better deals.

Distributing workloads across multiple cloud platforms mitigates risk and increases resiliency. If one provider experiences an outage, workloads can be moved to another provider, which in turn ensures better business continuity and disaster recovery capabilities. In general, a multi-cloud strategy is an excellent way to optimize and enhance your own digital performance. Different cloud providers excel in specific areas; there are particularly suitable providers for each workload - for example, for computing power, for data storage or for machine learning services (AI). By tailoring usage to specific workload requirements, costs also can be optimized.

AI and multi-cloud strategies are a great fit

In an AI environment, the advantages of a multi-cloud strategy can be used very effectively. This is particularly evident in the increased flexibility of the system as well as the opportunity to optimally combine the latest technologies and the strengths of different platforms[iii]. However, especially in AI environments, a cloud-agnostic architecture is essential to ensure seamless connectivity between different providers and services [iv]. This can be achieved, among other things, by making applications modular so that they can span multiple cloud providers or use services from multiple clouds. Of course, it is also crucial in this context to ensure data security - by implementing robust data protection measures and complying with the relevant data protection regulations. Last but not least, there is cost management: When implementing a multi-cloud strategy, effective cost management is important. This includes constant monitoring of cloud usage and costs, optimizing resource allocation, and taking advantage of cost-saving opportunities.

Tools and services from VMware and UMB

American technology company VMware specializes in virtualization technologies and cloud computing solutions and offers products and services for the implementation and management of multi-cloud strategies. UMB has the highest partner status as a VMware Principal Partner and offers know-how, many years of experience and excellent relationships with VMware. The company works with multiple cloud providers to ensure compatibility and integration with their services. This allows organizations to take advantage of specific cloud vendor offerings while benefiting from VMware's management and virtualization capabilities. VMware tools and services make it easy to migrate workloads from on-premises infrastructure to different cloud providers. Starting with hybrid cloud integration, VMware offers tools and solutions that enable organizations to seamlessly extend their on-premises infrastructure into public cloud environments. VMware Cloud Foundation provides a hybrid cloud platform with a complete set of software-defined services for computing, storage, networking, containers, and cloud management. The result is an agile, reliable, and efficient cloud infrastructure that enables consistent operations across private and public clouds. VMware also offers management and automation tools to manage workloads across multiple cloud providers. VMware Aria, for example (formerly vRealize and VMware CloudHealth), provides visibility, cost management and governance for workloads deployed in multiple clouds[v].

VMware and UMB can create the digital foundation for your organization's evolution and operational excellence when it comes to multi-cloud strategies. We are VMware Premier Solutions Provider, Principal Partner Digital Workspace and VMware Cloud-verified and can successfully implement your project. Contact us.

[i]Cloud Leaders Embrace Mature Multi-Cloud Architectures and Strategies | Deloitte US

[ii]85% of organizations are adopting multicloud strategies | Pluralsight

[iii] Generative AI for the enterprise | VMware Multi-Cloud Briefing  

[iv]Containers bring cloud-agnostic workloads closer to reality | TechTarget

[v] The Next Chapter of Multi-Cloud Management  - VMware Multi-Cloud Briefing