In the wake of the global pandemic, the world swiftly transitioned to a digital-first, remote work paradigm, compelling organizations to reevaluate their longstanding business strategies to ensure continuity and progress. Leaders were thrust into making swift yet pivotal decisions concerning cloud adoption to support their widely dispersed workforce. In early 2020, time was of the essence, and urgency prevailed. Now, over two years later, organizations have the opportunity to review these rapid technology implementations and chart a more deliberate and strategic path for cloud and data management.

With remote work continuing into 2022 and anticipated growth in 2023, a Hybrid Cloud strategy is poised to become indispensable for success in the modern workforce.

Exploring Hybrid Cloud

Hybrid Cloud seamlessly integrates both public and private cloud environments, offering orchestration, management, and application portability capabilities. This empowers organizations to establish a flexible, customizable, and controlled infrastructure. Despite the increasing need for hybrid IT solutions within overall IT infrastructure, Forbes has reported that nearly 43% of businesses lack formal plans or strategies.

Traditionally, Hybrid Cloud strategies have been associated with various complexities, but these challenges can be surmounted through meticulous planning and strategic execution. To ensure a successful setup, leaders must invest time in comprehending their unique business requirements and then tailor their cloud approach to align with the organization's long-term business priorities. Leaders aiming to enhance their Hybrid Cloud strategy can follow these steps to achieve an optimal outcome.

1. Determine the Right Workload Placement

Cloud strategies are not one-size-fits-all, and to discover the most suitable Hybrid Cloud strategy, leaders should commence by familiarizing themselves with strategic workload placement. Deciding where data should reside entails a comprehensive evaluation, encompassing technical, operational, and business considerations. Key questions include: Do we possess a clear overview of the current workload locations? If so, how are they utilized, and what are their interconnections? Additionally, are all workloads presently situated in environments that offer optimal performance, security, reliability, and user satisfaction?

By delving into the specific requirements of individual workloads, organizations can identify the optimal combination of on-premises, public or private cloud, and colocation services. Organizational leaders must gain full visibility into their existing infrastructure, grasp their distinct challenges, dependencies, and prerequisites, to effectively address the questions above and determine an appropriate workload location. Each workload within the organization relies on data as an input and generates data as an output. The placement of this data, whether short-term or long-term, holds significant implications for the entire organization. A well-considered workload strategy, while requiring time and effort, can ultimately yield cost savings and deliver an enhanced user experience when executed meticulously.

2. Emphasize Workload Visibility

Managing a hybrid environment demands a significant investment of time and a high level of expertise, encompassing proficiency in traditional network and operating system technologies, as well as data security. Before the era of remote work, IT often employed a fragmented approach to monitor workload status, relying on various tools and disconnected reports. The growing prevalence of hybrid work has amplified the need for real-time remote support, rendering this fragmented approach increasingly ineffective.

In today's landscape, Chief Information Officers (CIOs) require a streamlined method for gaining visibility across their entire hybrid IT environment. To achieve this effectively, leaders should contemplate the adoption of a unified platform designed to facilitate the control and maintenance of both virtual and physical environments. By doing so, leaders can optimize the performance of their IT systems, swiftly access valuable insights, and make well-informed decisions efficiently. Given the intricate nature of contemporary digital infrastructure, investments in digital infrastructure management are on the rise, with a strong focus on resilience, security, and scalability.

3. Prioritize Resilience, Security, and Scalability

Cloud adoption, like any IT deployment, presents challenges in terms of resiliency, security, and scalability. These factors are crucial for achieving performance, compliance, and cost objectives. During the COVID-19 pandemic, organizations temporarily relaxed their flexibility rules, leading to reduced concerns regarding these critical aspects. However, it is now essential to refocus and maintain vigilance in terms of security and costs to fully benefit from cloud deployments, while addressing potential challenges.

Developing a robust resilience strategy enhances an organization's ability to withstand disruptions, minimize downtime, and reduce data loss. A study by Snow Software found that 72% of IT leaders consider security their most significant business concern, driven by unaccounted-for and unmanaged technology. As IT infrastructures expand, leaders must shift their focus to creating defense-in-depth strategies, as traditional perimeter security is insufficient for safeguarding hybrid environments spanning multiple platforms.

Cloud security must be a top priority, especially with a 49% increase in publicized ransomware attacks during the first half of 2023 compared to the same period in 2022. Cyberattacks can quickly devastate a business, highlighting the importance of robust defenses to protect intellectual property and customer data. Given that data is the lifeblood of every organization, staying ahead of threat actors is critical to its security.

In terms of scalability, cloud environments now offer utility-based computing, which can be cost-effective for organizations with limited budgets. However, it can also introduce unpredictability in cloud costs, leading to unpleasant surprises when the bill arrives. To mitigate this, leaders should prioritize budget transparency and closely monitor cloud spending. Automated scaling infrastructures require vigilant oversight to prevent overspending. Data-intensive businesses must consistently test strategies for resiliency, security, and scalability. As an organization's IT landscape changes, its approach to cloud computing should adapt accordingly.

With careful planning and flexibility, adopting a cloud strategy can significantly enhance IT operations. It's crucial to gather the necessary information and create a comprehensive action plan. Whether the process takes a few weeks or a few years, leaders should emphasize meticulous planning, strategic thinking, and adaptability in Hybrid Cloud adoption.