Blog Modernize On Premises With Storage as a Service for Hybrid Cloud
By Insight Editor / 22 Nov 2021
Not every workload fits in cloud. In fact, there are many instances in which key workloads need to remain on premises. While cloud-native workloads benefit from seamless scalability, low overhead cost and unparalleled flexibility, on premises workloads remain inflexible and cumbersome. This creates operational challenges for businesses.
Here are some of the drivers for key workloads to remain on premises:
Cost
- Moving large legacy systems from on premises to the cloud can be costly.
- High computing workloads may be a better fit for on premises to save on cloud costs.
Intellectual property
- Moving IP outside an on premises security perimeter can increase the risk of IP breach.
- Moving IP to untrustworthy third-party cloud providers can increase the risk of stolen IP.
Security
- Moving to the cloud requires building a secure cloud-native security posture.
- Third-party breaches increase the risk of lost or stolen data.
Compliance
- Some government agencies/contractors are required by law to keep workloads on premises.
- Some compliance requirements require client PII to remain on premises.
And while businesses choose to keep some workloads on premises while also running part of their operations in the cloud, they can encounter challenges.
Challenges with hybrid cloud
When businesses scale their on premises environment into the cloud, they may benefit from a host of operational advantages. However, they may also inadvertently introduce new challenges. In the hybrid model, workloads now span between multiple physical locations, which can expose new threat surfaces for cyberattacks, increase compliance concerns and raise a host of other considerations.
Some of the challenges that arise in the hybrid cloud model include:
- Compliance: As organizations move data into the cloud, it’s important that the data doesn’t flow outside of specific geo-regions to align with any compliance frameworks the business is required to follow.
- Migration: When migrating into the cloud, many organizations attempt to migrate workloads that are better suited for remaining on premises due to legacy infrastructure, compliance concerns or a host of other factors.
- Security: As organizations scale between locations, they inadvertently expose vulnerability points and threat vectors that malicious hackers can exploit to gain entry into their organization.
- Disparate workloads: As workloads scale into the public cloud, some applications, containers and services have trouble seamlessly migrating to and from environments, creating rigidity in their IT infrastructure.
Unfortunately, many businesses don’t realize that there are still considerations around achieving a seamless and flexible hybrid cloud infrastructure. To address these challenges, solutions such as HPE GreenLake deliver a Storage as a Service (STaaS) offering to bridge the gap between a rigid legacy on premises environment and the cloud.
STaaS with HPE GreenLake
At Insight, many of the organizations we work with are seeing a positive impact with STaaS for hybrid cloud from HPE GreenLake. For them, on premises workloads benefit from the same unparalleled scale, flexibility and cost optimization as their cloud counterparts. Leveraging STaaS is allowing these organizations to benefit from:
- Scalability: Scaling up and scaling down on premises infrastructure as business needs change
- Flexibility: Removing the constraints and challenges of vendor lock-in
- Optimized provisioning: No longer worrying about over- or under-provisioning on hardware
- Cloud-like consumption: Bringing the efficiency and cost optimization of the cloud right to the data center
Businesses that choose to adopt STaaS for hybrid cloud will benefit from faster time to market, streamlined operational efficiency and improved ability to innovate in their industry.
Touting a diverse portfolio — including HPE GreenLake Hybrid Cloud, Backup and Flex Capacity — HPE GreenLake allows you to tailor your STaaS needs to best fit your current workloads and future growth. With HPE GreenLake, you’re in the driver’s seat to capture the agility of cloud, delivered to your data center.
Interested in learning more about As a Service for hybrid cloud? Watch our LinkedIn Live: Optimizing Hybrid Cloud — The Role of As a Service.
Why Insight?
A modern hybrid IT infrastructure keeps your business competitive, adaptable and secure. But deciding what systems should remain on premises — and ensuring on premises workloads are as efficient as cloud-native workloads — can be challenging. Having a trusted technology partner by your side helps you make more strategic decisions.
With more than 30 years of technology services expertise, we’ll help you make the leap to a more versatile, cost-effective hybrid cloud environment, built on the efficient STaaS offering from HPE GreenLake.
