What is multi-cloud?

Multi-cloud refers to using cloud services from more than one cloud provider. A multi-cloud strategy gives organizations the flexibility to choose the environment that best fits each workload based on factors such as performance, cost, capabilities, security, and location. That flexibility can bring additional complexity, making visibility and consistent management across cloud environments important.

How does multi-cloud work?

In a multi-cloud environment, applications, infrastructure, and data are distributed across multiple cloud providers. Application programming interfaces (APIs) and other integration technologies connect these assets, while management, orchestration, and monitoring tools help provide visibility and control. Because every additional cloud can expand the attack surface and add operational complexity, consistent security and governance are especially important.

Why is multi-cloud important?

Multi-cloud allows organizations to choose providers based on their specific requirements rather than relying on a single cloud. It can provide access to best-of-breed capabilities, increase negotiating flexibility, and reduce vendor lock-in. Organizations can also choose different providers to address geographic, industry, performance, or regulatory requirements.

Benefits and use cases

In multi-cloud strategy, different parts of an organization may use different clouds for specific purposes. For example, a business might use one provider for its customer relationship management (CRM) platform and another for infrastructure as a service (IaaS).

Like hybrid cloud environments, multi-cloud introduces more complexity and moving parts. However, organizations that manage these environments effectively can gain greater value from their cloud investments including:

• Flexibility and scalability: Match workloads with cloud environments that best meet their requirements.
• Innovation: Take advantage of specialized capabilities and services from different providers.
• Cost control: Select services based on price and performance while optimizing resources across clouds.
• Agility: Place applications based on geographic, industry, performance, or business requirements.
• Availability and business continuity: Increase redundancy and reduce reliance on a single provider.
• Data sovereignty and region-specific compliance: Use regional or industry-specific cloud environments to meet data requirements.

Does NexusTek help with multi-cloud?

Yes. NexusTek has nearly 30 years of experience delivering modern IT solutions. NexusTek cloud offerings span the cloud lifecycle, from cloud migrations and projects to managed hybrid and multi-cloud services. The NexusTek Cloud offers both private and shared hosting environments, with access to experienced cloud architects and engineers who understand the unique business and technical needs of our clients.