As discussed in an earlier post, in many enterprises, cloud deployments developed organically to meet ever-changing business needs. With the realization that not all data and applications reside in a single cloud, enterprises now struggle to efficiently manage complex, multi-cloud environments. One of the tools available for managing these environments is a multi-cloud interconnect service that allows companies to link more than one cloud seamlessly and securely to increase cloud network resource allocation.
Beyond the simple network connection between cloud data centers, multi-cloud deployments require a secure and enterprise-grade foundation. Here are four things to consider when evaluating a multi-cloud interconnect service.
Security
Security plays an invaluable role in any cloud computing environment. Multi-cloud environments reduce the risk of data loss by distributing resources across multiple clouds connected by a reliable network and providing access to security experts. Multi-cloud interconnect services should provide top-line security built into the connection to encrypt data in transit and at rest.
Expansive Reach
One of the primary requirements of multi-cloud interconnect services is a wide data center footprint so that businesses can instantly connect to multiple locations globally. Also, connection to the most prominent cloud providers, such as AWS, Verizon and Microsoft, is imperative to provide enterprises with the control of their resources needed for rapid deployment of applications.
Performance
Multi-cloud interconnect services should lend higher performance to cloud computing solutions. The underlying Private IP Service should offer varying classes of services that prioritize all types of network traffic, advanced reporting capabilities to predict and managed costs, and stringent SLAs.
Simplicity
Multi-cloud interconnect services need to simplify network management for enterprises through a single portal so that businesses can seamlessly provision connections between clouds, with a click of a mouse. With an environment that pre-integrates networking and data center interfaces, businesses can seamlessly provision connections between clouds, streamlining the process to minutes or hours, instead of days or weeks in the traditional model.
As cloud deployments become more complex, managing and controlling cloud network access across mulitple clouds and in a global environment will be vital to realizing the technological competitive advantage of cloud computing.
