Avoid Cloud Sprawl: Bring Transparency to Your Multi-Cloud Strategy

The very function of the cloud may make a multi-cloud strategy seem unnecessary at best. But there are several good reasons an organization may choose not to use a single cloud provider. First, if an organization has sensitive data that requires compliance with different standards, they may not be able to find a single provider that can ensure compliance for all of their data.

A multi-cloud strategy also reduces the risk of vendor lock-in and allows a company to create a software stack that is independent of the underlying infrastructure. For true redundancy, companies are looking to multiple clouds to avoid severe data loss should one of their cloud providers go down.

Finally, companies may find that different cloud providers offer similar services with very different pricing options, so enlisting a new provider to increase storage or add the functionality of new apps may be more cost-effective than simply upscaling the existing plan they have with a current provider. This lets specific workloads be run where it will be most efficient.

Challenges of a Multi-Cloud Strategy

Keeping track of activities through multiple clouds can become complicated. For instance, each provider has a log-in portal with a proprietary user interface and may also have unique requirements for password complexity. Without a central access portal or single sign-on interface, even the simple act of accessing different cloud solutions can be an unnecessary hassle. Because of this, organizations are struggling with cloud sprawl.

Cloud sprawl is the uncontrolled proliferation of an organization’s cloud instances, services or providers.

Cloud sprawl typically occurs when an organization lacks visibility or control over its cloud computing resources. Without holistic transparency into all cloud resources, organizations are seeing much larger spends than necessary due to over-provisioning or stagnant, unused resources.

Benefits of a Multi-Cloud Management Platform

CloudHelm’s multi-cloud management platform offers the benefits of using more than one cloud platform while mitigating the issues that can arise as a result of the increased complexity. In addition to allowing users to manage multiple cloud platforms from a single interface, it can provide information on how much is being spent on each provider, where resources are being wasted, and proactively recommend ways to help improve efficiency.

CloudHelm can also provide analytics on workloads including predictive analytics, and it allows comparisons of pricing with different models to ensure the user’s spending is as efficient as possible. Any organization with this tool at their disposal can get the best of AWS, Azure, and Google cloud services for any processes, workflows, or data storage they need without the headaches.

Contact us today to learn more.

/0 Comments/by

Why Move to Hosted Virtual Desktops?

The computer’s desktop screen is the link between the user and the operating system that drives the computer. Most people store shortcuts to their preferred programs on their desktop to facilitate speedy access to those functions. When confined to single computer, however, the user must have physical access to that computer to use it. A “virtual” desktop infrastructure (VDI), however, exists within a cloud configuration, making it accessible from any computer that can connect to that cloud. For many companies, implementation of a “Desktop as a Service” (DaaS) subscription frees workers to access their VDI and its associated functions from wherever they happen to be.

The Benefits of DaaS and VDIs

For businesses, DaaS offers significant advantages over individual computers assigned to individual employees:

Better Oversight of Employee Activities

With a DaaS subscription from CloudHelm, you are in control of the software your workers can access from their workstations, whether they’re located in your office or somewhere in the wider world. A “shared” desktop allows multiple workers access to common programs and functions, which are only modifiable by the system’s administrator. Cloudhelm also offers “dedicated” desktops that are unique to each worker. Companies can choose how to deploy their VDI based on how they do their business.

Easier Maintenance and Better Security

You are no longer responsible for maintaining your digital infrastructure when you have a DaaS subscription from CloudHelm. With DaaS comes full maintenance and security provisioning, so upgrades and updates easily encompass the entire corporate network of computing capacity.

Automation

Automation of routine business tasks has been proven to reduce costs and improve productivity. The CloudHelm technical team can automate as much of your programming as you want or need, so you always have the opportunity to cut costs without sacrificing revenue.

Use Cases for DaaS

Because it’s cloud-based, the VDI offers work opportunities that are unmatchable by on-premise computers:

  • Companies that rely on seasonal workers enjoy the scalability of the VDI environment because they pay only the cost of the computing power they consume. Rather than spending excessively on technology that sits idle part of the year, a VDI keeps those costs down while ensuring that they have the capacity they need in high season.
  • Entities that interact with other independent entities also enjoy the benefits of a well managed VDI. Real estate brokers, for example, often use the services of independent real estate agents to market their properties. When the broker’s technology doesn’t work with the agent’s device, however, the value of that partnership is diminished. DaaS allows the broker to share corporate activities with authorized agents without having to invest in additional or extraneous software or hardware.

CloudHelm’s Desktop as a Service offering, called CloudHelm Stations, utilizes CloudHelm’s high performing Infrastructure as a Service combined with the leading desktop solution of Citrix. Just one of the many solutions in CloudHelm’s full suite of products, Stations includes a multi-cloud management platform that enables users to manage their CloudHelm, Azure, AWS, and Google Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) all from one interface. If you’re thinking about migrating some or all of your business computing capacity to the cloud, consider CloudHelm as your primary source of cutting-edge cloud-computing and virtual desktop services.

/0 Comments/by