There are very few businesses in 2024 that do not use cloud computing. Not only that, but more companies are also using multicloud strategies than ever before. This means they use multiple cloud providers to store, process, and manage data.
A multicloud approach has flexibility, cost savings, and disaster recovery options. These are all good things for your business. Still, it is important to note that using a multicloud strategy is also more complex.
Fortunately, even though managing severe cloud environments can be challenging initially, automation can make this picture look different.
Automation makes it easier to work in the cloud. This is because automation tools streamline the process of multicloud management. Using automation, you can handle any cloud complexity thrown your way and reap the full benefits of cloud computing.
What Is Multicloud?
As mentioned, multicloud refers to using the services of more than one cloud provider. Doing this allows you to mitigate downtime risks and optimize workload performance.
Also, you have more choices if you use more than one cloud platform. You can use a cloud platform that is more affordable per month or year. You can also use another one purely for its technological solutions.
For example, you may use AWS (Amazon Web Services) for data storage and Microsoft Azure for application hosting. Additionally, you can use Google Cloud for machine learning workloads.
The point is to stop relying on a single provider and maximize what each cloud platform offers.
Automation and Multicloud Management
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Automation means using the relevant technology to perform tasks with minimal or no human intervention. When it comes to cloud management, automation tools can help your business streamline cloud operations.
These tools easily handle routine tasks, including resource allocation, monitoring, and scaling. Automation reduces the risk of human error and can save your IT team a lot of time. Moreover, it allows your IT employees to focus on more difficult tasks.
Let's look at how automation improves the different elements of multicloud management.
Automation Simplifies Resource Management
It is not easy to manage resources across different cloud platforms. Each cloud provider offers its own tools for allocating and managing resources. They may include storage, processing power, and networking. If you have to keep track of all these resources manually, you will lose a lot of valuable time and probably make multiple mistakes.
Automation removes this risk by allocating resources based on predefined rules and needs. For instance, if your company's workload suddenly increases, automation tools instantly scale up the resources needed to handle the extra load.
Keep in mind that this is all done without manual intervention. The same applies to demand decreases. Automation tools can scale back resources when necessary to avoid unnecessary costs.
Automation Improves Cost Efficiency
Multicloud strategies will save your business money. Different cloud providers offer various pricing modes. Automation can help you make the most cost-effective choices.
An automation tool can monitor usage across multiple clouds. It can also recommend moving workloads to a provider that offers a better price than specific tasks.
Automation also helps eliminate wasted resources. These may include unused storage or idle virtual machines.
Automation Improves Security
Any business operating in the cloud should consider security and compliance a top concern. Different cloud environments have different security measures and configurations. These can often become overly complex. However, automation tools can help streamline security management.
You can use an automation tool to enforce security policies across all your business' cloud environments. This will ensure each platform adheres to the same rules and protocols.
Doing this will reduce the risk of misconfigurations, which often lead to vulnerabilities.
An automated security monitoring tool can continuously scan for threats and vulnerabilities across several cloud environments. Your IT team will receive alerts so they can address issues quickly.
Automation Provides Data Backup and Disaster Recovery Benefits
Using automation tools, you can implement efficient backup and disaster recovery strategies. These tools schedule backups across different cloud providers. This ensures critical data remains protected. An automation tool can trigger disaster recovery protocols if there is a system failure or data loss. This will restore data from backups with manual intervention.
Automation Offers Peace of Mind
Automation tools monitor and optimize performance. They can make adjustments where necessary by monitoring several metrics. Moreover, automation tools do away with manual errors by handling repetitive tasks with precision.
If you automate routine tasks, you can focus on building your brand instead of wasting time figuring out cloud challenges.
At the end of the day, automation simplifies multicloud management and also makes it easier for business owners to make the most of cloud platform benefits.
