The challenges of hybrid IT in the age of cloud repatriation

Many tech teams now find themselves at a crucial crossroads

News By Kevin Kline published 7 November 2024

In a world where cloud computing forms the backbone of modern IT, many tech teams now find themselves at a crucial crossroads regarding the future of their cloud strategies.

The move to the cloud was a digital gold rush that revolutionized how businesses operate, offering benefits such as enhanced scalability, cost efficiency, and the ability to rapidly deploy cloud applications, workloads, and data. Today, the dust has settled. Cloud computing has become the new normal and an integral part of modern IT infrastructure. Some organizations have begun to reassess their cloud strategies and, in some cases, are opting to repatriate certain resources and workloads back on-premises. This trend has further increased the complexity of hybrid—and frequently multi-cloud—IT environments.

Without the right solutions in place, IT teams may face reduced visibility, making effective cloud management more challenging. This, in turn, can lead to difficulties in meeting uptime requirements. It also leaves less time for innovation. As teams navigate their IT environments in the age of cloud repatriation, it’s valuable to look back at the journey that brought us here, and at steps the industry can take to ensure they are well-positioned for IT success on-prem, in the cloud, and beyond.

Kevin Kline

Microsoft MVP and database expert at SolarWinds

Cloud adoption spurs innovation, but not without new challenges

Companies that originally opted to invest in the cloud embarked on a journey into uncharted territory. This expansion was often driven by the need for flexibility, with cloud platforms enabling businesses to quickly scale resources to match fluctuating demands. One of the most exciting aspects of the cloud is that it enables companies to innovate rapidly. From advanced cloud analytics to automation, the cloud has allowed companies to adopt the latest advancements like AI and machine learning, helping them stay ahead in a rapidly changing market.

While cloud expansion has offered numerous benefits, it has also introduced new challenges that may cause companies to reconsider their approach. Expenses can quickly spiral out of control if not carefully monitored and optimized, prompting companies to reevaluate whether the advantages of cloud expansion truly outweigh the costs. Additionally, integration and interoperability have become significant concerns as organizations expand their cloud footprint. Ensuring that new cloud resources integrate seamlessly with existing systems has, in some instances, proven to be more complex than anticipated. Lastly, security concerns may arise– many organizations believe public cloud is not secure for their data. These factors may lead some companies to explore the possibility of repatriating certain workloads back to on-premises environments.

Cloud repatriation offers organizations a way to regain control and address emerging issues

The story of cloud repatriation is often one of regaining operational control. A recent report found that 25% of organizations surveyed are already moving some cloud workloads back on-premises. Repatriation offers an opportunity to address these issues like rising costs, data privacy concerns, and security issues. Depending on their circumstances, managing IT resources internally can allow some organizations to customize their infrastructure to meet these specific needs while providing direct oversight over performance and security.

With rising regulations surrounding data privacy and protection, enhanced control over on-prem data storage and management provides significant advantages by simplifying compliance efforts. On the performance side, on-prem systems can sometimes offer lower latency compared to cloud services, particularly if data centers are closer to the organization's user base. For applications requiring high-speed processing or real-time data access, repatriating critical workloads can enhance performance and limit latency.

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