As organizations move more services, applications, and data into the cloud, enterprise architectures are becoming increasingly complex, creating the need for advanced data management strategies. This development has made multicloud architecture a popular topic in IT circles, and this week we checked with three of our technology partners — SAP, Salesforce, and Informatica — for their latest insights on how organizations are stepping up to the challenge.
Multi-cloud: beyond the buzzword (SAP)
SAP’s Ivan Mirisola moves beyond simplistic definitions of multicloud and explores the strategic implications of the term. What makes a multicloud approach unique is, as Mirisola puts it, “the ability to move pieces of the puzzle around — from vendor to vendor — without disrupting the overall solution.”
He posits the example of an organization whose sales portal experiences a flood in demand from Brazil, but its order management system is running out of Oregon. Under a robust multicloud strategy, the development team lead could simply approve re-routing of the Brazil requests to another data center in São Paulo, and systems will “automatically re-organize themselves” to address the surge in demand.
Mirisola goes on to offer a series of “pointers” on putting together a multicloud strategy in a microservices environment, including implementing test-driven development and promoting continuous integration capabilities.
How to Manage a Successful Multi-Cloud Strategy (Salesforce)
Most technology leaders are deploying their workloads on multiple cloud platforms, and Salesforce guest blogger Pete Johnson explores how cloud management platforms (CMPs) can help IT systems administrators get the most out of their cloud investments.
The simple reason for using more than one cloud, Johnson explains, is that “applications are not as homogenous as they used to be, so no one size fits all with respect to hosting them.” Different levels of data sensitivity, different availability needs, and different compliance requirements among applications have generated a need to employ an approach that matches the cloud solution to the app. Another driving factor is that “every company is [now] a software company,” with organizations outside of IT stepping into the role of technology buyer.
“The key to being successful with a multicloud strategy, then,” Johnson writes, “is to raise the control point above the individual cloud consoles with a cloud management platform (CMP).” Not only do CMPs give system admins the control needed to optimize use of resources; they also offer outside organizations a self-service portal for provisioning resources, while allowing IT to maintain control over who can deploy which applications on which cloud.
Avoiding the Dark Clouds in your Multi-Cloud Architecture (Informatica)
“A multicloud strategy is the new norm,” writes Informatica’s Phil Turton, “but care must be taken to avoid inadvertently creating a storm along the way.” One of the potential problem areas he refers to is the integration platform as a service (iPaaS). “Getting this element of your cloud architecture wrong,” he warns, “can prove to be a problematic mistake.” Turton goes on to explore several pitfalls to avoid when developing a cloud integration strategy, including unconsciously acquiring multiple integration solutions, obsessing about the short-term need, and creating fragmentation through point solution deployment.
Questions about developing and implementing a multicloud strategy for your organization? Give us a call.
