The shift to cloud repatriation: Why organizations are making the change
Part 1

Date:
Mon, 24 Jun 2024 14:20:29 +0000

Description:
Key factors driving the current wave of repatriation: edge computing and data privacy/sovereignty.

FULL STORY ======================================================================

Over the past decade, there has arguably not been any IT trend more transformative than the widespread availability of public cloud . With hyperscalers offering the promise of infinite scalability and flexibility for their workloads while alleviating the need for organizations to spend on internal infrastructure, tools and personnel, organizations have rushed headlong into a new era.

But more recently, as companies cloud strategies have continued to mature, there has been a growing realization not only that the expected financial payoff from public cloud investments may prove elusive, but also an understanding that organizations may risk sacrificing flexibility, security , and control when they go all in on public cloud. As a result, we have seen a growing number of companies starting to re-think their cloud strategies and making more judicious decisions about where their most critical workloads should reside. This reconsideration has led to a gradual migration of workloads back out of the public cloud and into private cloud environments repatriation and reflects a growing understanding of an undeniable truth:
the public cloud is simply not the optimal choice for every type of workload.

So how should organizations think strategically about the types of workloads that might benefit from repatriation? The decision about which workloads belong where really hinges on a deep understanding of their nature and the organizations specific needs. Regardless of a companys specific IT architecture, successful repatriation requires a nuanced approach and an understanding of how you want to access your data, what you need to protect and how much you are willing to spend.

In this first part of a two-part series, well look at two of the four key factors driving the current wave of repatriation: edge computing and data privacy /sovereignty. Living on the edge computing: Bringing workloads home

According to research from Virtana, most organizations currently employ some type of hybrid cloud strategy, with over 80% operating in multiple clouds and about 75% utilizing a form of private cloud. More recently weve seen a shift, particularly in sectors such as retail, industrial businesses, transit and healthcare, to edge computing, driven by the need for greater flexibility and control over computing resources. The development of the Internet of Things (IoT) has been critical here, as it has enabled the collection of a vast
array of data at the network edge.

When the number of connected IoT devices at the edge was relatively insubstantial, it made sense for organizations to send the data they provided to the public cloud. But as these devices have continued to proliferate,
there is a lot of efficiency to be gained by collecting and analyzing data at the edge, including near real-time response and greater reliability of critical infrastructure, such as point-of-sale systems and assembly lines.

Especially in industries where uninterrupted operations are paramount, minimizing downtime is crucial for maintaining profitability and competitiveness. This shift towards edge computing reflects a strategic reassessment of IT infrastructure deployment, prioritizing localized
solutions over traditional public cloud services , and it has led many organizations to pull workloads back from the public cloud. Data sovereignty and privacy

As businesses grapple with mounting concerns surrounding the privacy and ownership of information, there has been a growing recognition of the need to maintain greater control over sensitive data and establish parameters and policies governing its use.

In industries such as healthcare and financial services, where vast amounts
of sensitive critical data are generated and exchanged, maintaining trust and control over this information is of utmost importance. Ensuring that this
data resides in highly rusted environments allows organizations to
effectively safeguard their assets and mitigate the risk of unauthorized access or breaches.

Moreover, increased scrutiny by key stakeholders such as CIOs, CTOs, and boards has elevated the importance data sovereignty and privacy, resulting in a notable increase in the scrutiny of third-party cloud solutions. While public clouds may be suitable for workloads that are not subject to data sovereignty laws, a private solution is often required to meet compliance thresholds. Key factors to consider when deciding whether a public or private cloud solution might be more appropriate include how much control, oversight, portability, and customization the workload requires.

Trust and privacy are not the only data factors driving repatriation, of course. There are ancillary operational and strategic benefits to be gained
by maintaining data within trusted environments, such as greater control over how information is accessed, used, and shared.

In part two of this series, we will look at two other key factors playing a role in repatriation: the rise of Kubernetes and the flexibility of containers.

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This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro's Expert Insights channel where we feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/pro/the-shift-to-cloud-repatriation-why-organization s-are-making-the-change-part-1


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The shift to cloud repatriation: Why organizations are making the change - Part 2

Date:
Mon, 16 Sep 2024 14:12:04 +0000

Description:
Kubernetes offers flexibility, control, and cost-efficient performance during cloud repatriation.

FULL STORY ======================================================================

This is Part 2 of a two-part series on cloud repatriation. In The Shift to Cloud Repatriation: Why Organizations are Making the Change - Part 1 we
delved into the significance of edge computing and data sovereignty when considering repatriation highlighting the strategic benefits of maintaining control over data. But another key factor is the growing popularity of Kubernetes , the next evolution in application deployment and management. An open source container orchestration platform that offers organizations an appealing combination of flexibility and control, Kubernetes helps companies more dynamically size for each application, while managing costs and
improving performance. Kubernetes and containers: A new era of flexibility
and efficiency

Although containers are billed as lightweight alternatives to full virtual machines, they pack a massive punch. From small ephemeral apps to large scale stateful workloads, containers give organizations the ability to encapsulate applications in a consistent environment, eliminating software configuration conflicts and ensuring reliable performance across different platforms. Kubernetes serves as a powerful open-source controller or orchestration platform for containers, enabling developers to manage and scale applications seamlessly.

Because Kubernetes is open source, it is accessible to anyone at any time. Whether you are operating racks of enterprise-class servers or a couple of mini PCs in a retail closet, Kubernetes can adapt and function seamlessly. This universal compatibility, flexibility, and ease of use allows developers to create, manage, and scale applications, free of the constraints traditionally imposed by specific hardware or software environments.

An additional point of appeal is the standardization that Kubernetes offers. Developers can write applications, encapsulate them into containers, and replicate these containers endlessly with consistent results. This eliminates the headache of dealing with conflicting operating systems or applications that might override critical data. Containers ensure a digitally perfect copy of a known good application, which can be deployed as many times as needed without variation.

All of the major hyperscalers have developed advanced tools around
Kubernetes, but the core value of Kubernetes remains its open-source foundation and the fact that it doesnt bind organizations to a single cloud provider. Kubernetes also provides organizations with the ability to move configurations across different environments including public clouds,
private clouds, or even on-premises servers that is the true game-changer. This enables businesses to avoid a lock-in with any single cloud provider, offering the freedom to choose the most cost-effective and efficient solution for each workload. Workload portability: the Kubernetes advantage

Prior to Kubernetes, moving applications and workloads between different environments was cumbersome and costly, and continuously using public cloud resources for stable, long-running applications was not cost-effective. Now organizations can evaluate their computing needs and optimize costs by transferring workloads to the most appropriate channel, balancing cost and performance. Stable applications with predictable usage patterns can benefit from the cost savings of a private cloud, avoiding the premium costs associated with on-demand public cloud resources.

Still, not all applications are suited for private clouds. Applications with sporadic, high compute needs, such as running one-time machine learning algorithms on large datasets, are ideal for the public cloud because they allow businesses to leverage significant computing power for short periods without long-term commitments. Conversely, applications that require continuous operation and low latency, such as incident management systems or real-time financial applications, are better suited for private clouds.

Think about it this way: public clouds excel in providing resources for applications that can be turned off when not in use, saving costs during idle periods. But for applications that must run 24/7, private clouds offer more predictable pricing and lower total cost of ownership. Additionally, private cloud provides greater flexibility and lower costs for data transfer and connectivity, making them more cost effective for moving large volumes of
data between different locations.

The multi-cloud paradigm is here to stay, driven by the need for flexibility, cost optimization, and performance. During the pandemic, many organizations rushed to public clouds due to immediate needs and external pressures. But it has become clear that relying on a single provider is not a sustainable long-term strategy. Cost concerns, latency issues, and the inability to move workloads freely have underscored the limitations of a one-size-fits-all approach.

By carefully evaluating workloads and leveraging the strengths of both public and private clouds, businesses can achieve the best performance, lowest cost, and ultimately drive better business outcomes. The future lies in this
hybrid, multi-cloud approach, where the right strategy can make all the difference.

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This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro's Expert Insights channel where we feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/pro/the-shift-to-cloud-repatriation-why-organization s-are-making-the-change-part-2


--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A47 (Linux/64)
* Origin: tqwNet Technology News (1337:1/100)