Hybrid cloud will rule in 2014

NEW DELHI, INDIA: Large enterprise combining private and public cloud operations, often described as ‘hybrid cloud computing', according to a Wipro-Cisco joint study conducted by Forrester consulting.

The study titled ‘Transforming the Data Center -Navigating the journey from virtualization to private clouds' notes that ‘hybrid cloud' is becoming the new normal.

According to the study, hybrid approach promises cost savings and significant gains in IT and business flexibility, some concerns remain around how to manage and integrate on-premises infrastructure with cloud services in a hybrid cloud architecture.

The study notes that 60 percent of the respondents believe virtualization will be the primary technology over the next 12 months. Banking, financial services and insurance companies strongly recognize the link between virtualization and private/hybrid cloud enablement with 97 percent of those surveyed highlighting this aspect.

Study further revealed that security is at par with cost as a primary driver for a hybrid cloud approach. Also, 78 percent of Indian respondents feel that cost reduction and resource optimization drive cloud investments and 76 per cent believe that security is one of the key capabilities required to enable private/hybrid cloud.

The study states that 25 percent of the respondents find that adopting IaaS as-a-service technology will drive IT organizations towards a hybrid cloud approach. More than half of those planning to use or using IaaS see "on-demand flexibility for hosting workloads on-premises or at a cloud service provider" as a key benefit of going hybrid with their IaaS strategy. Flexibility to respond quickly to business needs also topped the list of key benefits associated with a hybrid model.

Rajesh Rege, director, Cloud and Datacentre Sales, Cisco India and SAARC, said: "It's clear that virtualization technologies are driving more flexibility in the data center. However, to realize the full potential; CIOs need to adopt a fabric-based approach that integrates compute, network, security, virtualization, and management solutions into a single, more efficient and simplified data center platform. This approach maximizes the advantages of virtualization and facilitates automation, to increase efficiencies, productivity and agility."

According to the study, organizations that embrace private/hybrid cloud approaches alongside traditional data center capabilities will be far better positioned to support, encourage and innovate within their organizations based on simplified, more efficient access to compute resources and capabilities.