The modern cloud environment is characterized not by one provider, but by a mix of them. The multi-cloud strategy is a new frontier, with most companies having a single cloud service that they have used over the last several years. The method implies combining services from several cloud providers to take advantage of their strengths. However, the more cloud companies implement, the more complex and fragmented the environment they usually come into.
Here is where a central cloud hub comes into the picture. You may have specific workloads across other platforms, but a unified control plane is required to manage all. Microsoft Azure is increasingly becoming the preferred center of this multi-cloud migration. Its specialties in hybrid management, enterprise security, and a unified ecosystem make it the perfect armada for a multi-cloud environment.
What is a Multi-Cloud and why does it matter?
A multi-cloud approach is the use of two or more cloud vendors (e.g., AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud). And a hybrid cloud, on the other hand, mixes a public cloud and a local IT facility. There are several business-related objectives that have prompted the use of a multi-cloud solution:
- Vendor Lock-in Avoidance: Using one vendor is a challenge because there is no bargaining power and no possibility to move away in case the service is changed. Multi-cloud provides you with flexibility and negotiation power.
- Best-of-Breed Services: Not every cloud is the same. One system may have a better AI/ML system, whereas another might have a more developed serverless structure. Multi-cloud gives you the freedom to use an optimal service.
- Grace and Resilience: In case one of your cloud providers goes offline, your business-critical workloads can resume operation in the other. This functionality boosts business resilience and disaster recovery.
The main issue, however, is determining how to effectively manage this complexity. Security and operational inefficiency: Managing separate billing, distinct security protocols, and individual management tools for each cloud can lead to chaos and create potential security gaps.
For further insights into managing complex application architecture, read our post on building micro-frontends with Angular.
Why Azure is the focal point of preference
Microsoft has significantly invested in positioning Azure as the ideal control plane for managing any cloud environment. Here is the reason why companies are making it their hub.
1. Hybrid Cloud expertise and Azure Arc
This is where Azure has its greatest differentiator. A lot of enterprise organizations have tremendous investments in-house that they cannot just discard. Azure offers unmatched solutions like the deep integration of on-premises environments with Azure Arc. Azure Arc allows you to attach any server, Kubernetes cluster, or data service (on-prem or other cloud) to Azure.
When in place, the Azure portal offers a unified pane of glass to manage, govern, and secure all these resources. This feature brings a disjointed/disordered IT estate to a coherent, manageable one.
2. Enterprise-level Security and Compliance
Security is not an option in the case of large corporations. The number of certifications in different industries (over 100), with the most compliance certifications held by Azure in the areas of healthcare, government, and finance.
Microsoft Defender Cloud and Azure Sentinel security solutions follow a similar pattern to provide an integrated experience to understand, protect, and respond to threats within your hybrid multi-cloud.
3. Close Ties with the Microsoft Ecosystem
To a huge number of companies, their IT backbone is Microsoft. Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure Active Directory) is the most used identity and access management service. Because it is tightly integrated, Microsoft Entra ID can be a convenient addition to Microsoft 365 and other enterprise products of the company (i.e., Active Directory), which makes it a logical and natural option to choose for companies that already use them and want to improve their infrastructure. This reduces tensions, thereby significantly streamlining the multi-cloud adoption process.
4. Streamlined Management and governance
Azure offers an extensive line of management and governance capabilities that are not native to the Azure cloud. Azure Policy helps you manage rules and configurations in all of your hybrid and multi-cloud environments.
Azure Cost Management is able to present a complete view of your spending in Azure and across multiple clouds and easily optimize your budget. This centralised system eliminates the issue of tool sprawl and also minimises administrative overheads, allowing IT professionals to focus on innovation and not on building and maintaining.
Conclusion: A Single Control Plane for All Your Clouds
Multi-cloud is here to stay, but that does not mean the future of IT lies in a situation in which managers are juggling five different management consoles. It focuses on consolidating management and governance to create a more streamlined and secure environment. Azure, with its distinctive capabilities in hybrid management, unified security, and seamless interoperation with the extended Microsoft ecosystem, has emerged as the all-embracing control plane of the multi-cloud world.
It allows companies to avail of the best services offered by each cloud in the market, whilst offering control and consistency through one source of trusted hub. By engaging an Azure development partner, businesses are guaranteed that their multi-cloud landscape is streamlined, safe, and well-integrated, giving them the means to scale and innovate without the burden of complexity.
