One of the most popular use cases for hybrid cloud is cloud bursting. This allows you to keep data and processing on your internal servers during normal workloads, while accessing additional resources in the cloud to handle temporary spikes in demand.
Making cloud bursting works requires tackling three major issues: identifying applications that are appropriate for cloud bursting, avoiding issues due to network latency, and keeping data that’s used in both the cloud and locally in synch.
Identifying Applications Appropriate for Cloud Bursting
Applications may need to run on different platforms in the public and private clouds, so the first check is that the application is compatible across the platforms. Keeping application configurations consistent is vital to ensure proper functioning, so you’ll need a good way to manage startup scripts and configuration files. The application must be designed to allow multiple instances to be running at the same time; all the services it depends on must also be prepared to serve multiple copies of the same application.
Avoiding Network Latency Issues
Cloud bursting depends on the ability to transfer data between public and private clouds, so network latency can have a big impact on the effectiveness of a cloud bursting solution. Spend time analyzing data to identify opportunities to store data in the cloud, minimizing time copying files when bringing up the cloud resources. Using a virtual private cloud, rather than a private cloud in your own data center, can position the cloud bursting resources physically closer to the everyday resources, reducing the time to share content.
Keeping Data Synchronized
Static data can easily support applications running in both public and private clouds, but other data requires synchronization. Database sharding can improve the performance by reducing overlapping data that needs to be shared. Data deduplication minimizes the number of copies that require updates.
Deciding Whether to Use Cloud Bursting
Because of the complexity involved in creating a cloud bursting architecture, it’s important to decide whether cloud bursting is the best solution to your needs.
If an application’s data can be safely stored in public cloud, it may make more sense to simply use public cloud to run the application at all times, not just during periods of high demand. Similarly, if you’re investing the capital to build a private cloud environment, it may make more sense to invest enough capital and create an environment that can support the maximum anticipated demand on the application.
It takes careful evaluation to decide whether to use cloud bursting and how to effectively implement it. Working with an experienced partner, like dcVAST, can help you gain insight into how to best meet your needs and provide support in building, deploying, and managing your cloud environment. Our experience with IaaS, hybrid cloud solutions like Nutanix and NetApp, and Amazon Web Services provides a strong foundation for customizing a cloud solution that satisfies your business demands. Contact us to discuss whether your strategy should include cloud bursting.
