Many companies are turning to cloud computing instead of cost-intensive data centres. But what is cloud management and what are the benefits of a cloud management strategy?
Many companies are turning to cloud computing instead of cost-intensive data centers. This is also accompanied by cloud management. But what is cloud management and what advantages does a cloud management strategy offer?
When it comes to corporate IT infrastructure, cloud services are now firmly established. However, using the cloud also involves managing and controlling the various cloud services: This is where cloud management comes into play.
As part of cloud management, IT administrators or service providers can determine what the business needs - both in terms of performance and type of cloud - and how best to use cloud solutions. Commonly, there are four different forms of cloud that work in different ways:
Private Cloud: Is a cloud that is only used by one company. It can be located on the company's own servers or purchased via service providers.
Hybrid Cloud: This form of cloud combines private and public clouds. If a company needs more storage space than the private cloud can provide in the short term, it can also access a public cloud.
Public cloud: These are larger clouds provided by a service provider. Companies only ever use individual parts of these clouds.
Multi Cloud: In a Multi Cloud system, the clouds of different providers are used and combined with each other.
The use of hybrid and multi-clouds is becoming increasingly popular as they allow more flexibility. As part of a cloud management strategy, IT administrators ensure that cloud services are used as optimally as possible and are aligned with each other.
This strategy is implemented with the help of cloud management tools. These enable IT administrators to manage and monitor access rights, data storage, applications, services and security systems. They can also identify optimization potential and automate processes. For example, the creation of data backups can be automated.
Targeted cloud management brings several benefits to businesses.
IT security plays a significant role, especially when using cloud computing. As part of cloud management, IT administrators control movements in the cloud and ensure that all the necessary security systems are up to date and stable.
Thanks to cloud services companies have a variety of options. But not all of them make sense for every company. Effective cloud management can determine which cloud computing functions are necessary and in which processes there is potential for optimization. In this way, targeted measures can be taken for the efficient use of cloud services.
In addition to improving efficiency, identifying the cloud services that are actually relevant for a company also has the advantage that costs can be optimized. Thus, cost savings are possible when working specifically with the cloud services that deliver the most added value. Services that are not used or are sufficiently utilized can be reduced.
Cloud computing is constantly evolving. Cloud management enables a flexible response to new technologies. IT administrators always keep track of current developments and check which new services are relevant for a company and how they can be integrated into existing workflows.
Cloud management is performed by IT administrators via special Cloud Management Platforms (CMP). Depending on which cloud your company uses, different options come into consideration.
Providers of public clouds usually offer their own cloud management platforms. However, these often only have limited functions, which is why third-party solutions can still be interesting.
Especially when hybrid or multi-clouds are in use, a good cloud management platform is important. This makes it possible to move data back and forth between the different cloud types and thus ensure optimal use. Security aspects can also be monitored via cloud management platforms.
