The term "hybrid cloud" refers to using a combination of different cloud computing environments to run applications and store data. This combined model is a much-sought-after and serviceable alternative to the cloud choices to date. In fact, the hybrid cloud model is anticipated to experience unprecedented growth, rising at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 22.8% in the telecom industry until 2030.
Until recently, businesses had to choose between two types of clouds: private clouds and public clouds.
A private cloud is a computing environment in which all computing resources, including servers, storage and networking infrastructure, are used solely by one company or organization. Private clouds can be established within a company's own data centers or data centers operated by a cloud service provider (CSP). Only people from this organization are granted access to its specific cloud services and data.
As the name implies, public clouds are instead open to the public and thus shared among multiple users who access and use the services on a pay-as-you-go basis. These public services are available to anyone with an internet connection.
The Role of Hybrid Cloud in Telecom Infrastructure
The hybrid cloud approach in telecommunications holds that all sensitive data that needs extra security, such as personally identifiable information (PII), billing and payment data, and access credentials, is stored in a private cloud. Telecom companies can then utilize public clouds to store less sensitive data because the latter are more adaptable and scalable in the modern world.
For telecom companies, hybrid cloud solutions have several significant benefits that address various facets of data management and business operations:
No vendor lock-in
Telecom companies can utilize the best services from various cloud providers without being dependent on a single vendor. With the flexibility the hybrid cloud offers, these companies can select the most ideal solutions for their respective needs. This fosters innovation and adaptability throughout their business practices.
Lower overall costs
Adopting the hybrid cloud creates new opportunities for cost savings. A company can continue to benefit from the cloud's scalability and flexibility while also maintaining control over its space. It avoids having to pay for any solutions that it doesn’t specifically need while still receiving notable advantages. A hybrid cloud strategy guarantees resource efficiency while upholding high standards of data protection.
Improved scalability and flexibility
Telcos can easily manage a variety of workloads, such as handling unexpected traffic spikes or seasonal changes, because they have the flexibility to scale resources depending on demand. Although enterprises don't typically switch their workloads between cloud providers, they do appreciate the security of being able to do so while choosing particular services from different providers to optimize performance.
Elevated security and data control
Telecom businesses can better manage data agility and improve their overall security posture by controlling data access and storage locations.
With a hybrid cloud model, businesses can combine the power of a public cloud with the security of a private cloud. While it will likely still be necessary to transfer data stored in a private environment to the public cloud for analytics, applications and other purposes, strong encryption techniques can be used to guarantee this data is kept as secure as possible.
With the rise of hybrid cloud computing, telecom businesses are welcoming the ability to seamlessly manage sensitive data security while relying on the increased flexibility and performance that the combined technology brings. After years of choosing exclusively between public and private clouds, the hybrid cloud approach may finally offer the best of both worlds.