4 reasons to not go multicloud: data storage, vendor lock-in, and multicloud security

Public clouds are here to stay. More than that, the cloud computing landscape is shifting towards multicloud, with more than 80% of organizations already utilizing multiple cloud providers.

The vast majority of businesses are evolving into hybrid, multicloud infrastructures for a number of reasons, but that doesn't mean it's the best course of action for your organization. That starts with knowing where your limits are and what people, processes, and technology you need to make a multicloud solutions successful. Here are four tips to help you decide if a multicloud strategy is right for your organization.

Regardless of what storage choices you make, it’s important to keep an eye out for data silos in your organization. They come in many forms (like standalone regional databases, block storgae, and data warehouses), and they should be taken seriously, as they can really hamper the productivity of your organization. Some leaders fear that by having data stored in multiple locations, they'll have no single source of truth. Another common obstacle for many leaders is keeping your data synced across platforms.  

These are valid concerns if you don't have the right technology and processes to mitigate those risks. Two examples of technologies that could mitigate the risks of data silos are ETLs and data lakes.

There are two types of decision makers: satisficers and maximizers. Satisficers are very decisive and works to find the quickest, most comprehensive solution they can without it having to be perfect. A maximizer spends more time studying and designing a solution that checks all their boxes.

Multicloud technology is still in its infancy. There are a lot of services and features aren't yet dialed in that make communication between the platforms simple and easy. So it requires time, budget, and knowledgeable staff to create those connections and develop a "perfect" multicloud solution.

If you don't have enough time, the right budget, or a staff with the skills to develop that fully-integrated multicloud strategy, finding a solution that checks most of the boxes within your budget and skill constraints is totally fine.

Security issues and data breaches occur when little details are overlooked. Cloud-based systems are inherently distributed and replicated horizontally. Scale systems like these are more complex and need more coordination and integration. It’s critical to get the small things right in your multicloud security strategy because each point of coordination and integration is a potential point of failure (and can be very costly). 

To stay on top of the entire threat landscape and your attack surface, leaders should talk to analysts, their support team, and engineers often. Once you hear enough stories across the board, you’ll start seeing patterns emerge. Keeping your ear to the ground is an incredibly valuable strategy for protecting your organization.

This is even more important if you start adding more than one cloud provider to the mix. It requires to you be deliberate about your multicloud security strategy: how you plan to find or develop the right talent, which platforms or features provide the best protection for your specific solutions, and the multicloud security tools you need to monitor and alert you to multicloud security incidents before or as they happen.

When it comes to building a successful multicloud strategy, progress isn’t always linear. You may need to experiment for a while before you figure out a really solid system for your organization’s needs. But if you stay focused on your goals, the effort will definitely be worth it.