Top 5 Hybrid and Multicloud Trends to Benefit Your Company
In the dynamic world of cloud computing, staying ahead means embracing the flexibility and innovation that hybrid and multicloud environments offer. At this time, a staggering 55% of IT organizations are actively implementing multicloud networking, with another one-third planning to jump on board by the end of 2024, according to an IDC paper titled, "Embracing Integrated Security in a Multicloud Networking Strategy." This surge in adoption underscores the strategic shift towards a more integrated, agile, and responsive IT infrastructure.
Moreover, a Futorium report, "The Third Wave of Cloud Networks: Multi-Cloud Networking Market Growth Drivers," reveals that 71% of respondents anticipate increasing their investment in multicloud networking technology, either moderately or substantially. This investment is a clear indicator of the critical role that multicloud strategies are playing in the current and future landscape of business technology.
But what exactly are the trends within this space that are propelling companies forward? In this blog, we will examine the top five hybrid and multicloud trends that are not just transforming IT practices but are also delivering substantial benefits to organizations across the board. From running applications more efficiently with containerization to the expansion of edge computing, these trends are the building blocks for an optimized, future-proof business.
Read on as we delve into these transformative trends, understand why they are being implemented by forward-thinking companies, and gain insights on how your business can capitalize on these advancements to stay competitive and secure in a world where digital prowess is paramount.
Five hybrid cloud and multicloud trends
- Greater use of containers and Kubernetes: Businesses are deriving significant benefits from using containers and Kubernetes. Containers offer an efficient way to package and run applications across different environments, which is crucial for hybrid and multicloud strategies. Kubernetes orchestrates these containers, ensuring they run where and when they should, which simplifies deployment and scaling while improving resource utilization.
- Expansion of AI workloads: According to a recent IDC paper, 66% of respondents identify GenAI and other AI workloads as top use cases, noting that most enterprise AI-powered applications are highly distributed, requiring numerous API interactions across diverse environments. Furthermore, an F5 report cites that organizations plan to deploy AI applications in hybrid and multicloud environments, with 80% maintaining AI apps in the public cloud and 54% on premises. This widespread deployment necessitates a comprehensive and secure approach to managing AI workloads. See how F5 is helping to scale AI inference from the inside out in this blog post.
- Growing need for consistent and advanced security postures: As businesses navigate the complexities of hybrid and multicloud environments, they are adopting advanced security measures to protect their data and applications. These measures include comprehensive IAM, zero trust security frameworks, and stronger, purpose-built API security solutions. By enhancing their security postures through more consistent, agile, and comprehensive security systems that operate in any environment, companies can better protect against breaches and comply with regulatory requirements.
- Increasing the use of edge computing capabilities: Companies are benefiting from the deployment of edge computing within their hybrid and multicloud architectures. By processing data closer to the source, businesses can reduce latency, improve application performance, and enable new services that rely on real-time analytics, particularly important for sectors like manufacturing, retail, and healthcare or any others that rely on Internet of Things devices. Additionally, the edge offers data sovereignty for organizations that require additional security via separating Internet-facing networks from private ones.
- Improved focus on multicloud networking and cost optimization: With the financial investment in multicloud networking growing, businesses are looking to optimize their cloud spend and management. Tools that provide visibility and control over multiple cloud environments help companies better monitor usage and costs, automate resource allocation, and enforce governance policies. This trend toward cost optimization and better resource management is directly benefiting companies' bottom lines and operational efficiency.
The above are just some of the trends associated with the growing multicloud world. So, what are the signs businesses can look for to better understand if they are facing significant challenges related to their hybrid and mulitcloud environments?
F5 recently published its list of the top five multicloud security red flags for business to look for. These include:
- Security policy updates across distributed environments are slow, manual, and error prone.
- Analyzing your distributed network performance and security takes forever.
- You have gaps in security controls and visibility.
- You don't automate API discovery, inventory, and security.
- Your multicloud networking costs are soaring.
Learn more about the significance of these different top 5 multicloud security red flags.