How to Build Hybrid Cloud Networks: A Comprehensive Guide with Best Practices
In today’s evolving IT landscape, hybrid cloud networks have become the go-to solution for organizations seeking to combine the scalability of the public cloud with the control and security of private infrastructure. Hybrid cloud networks allow businesses to take advantage of both environments, offering flexibility, cost-effectiveness, and improved performance. However, building and managing a hybrid cloud network comes with unique challenges, including security, connectivity, and workload optimization.
In this blog, we’ll explore how to build hybrid cloud networks, address the common challenges, and highlight best practices for ensuring seamless operation across both on-premises and cloud infrastructures.
What is a Hybrid Cloud Network?
A hybrid cloud network connects on-premises data centers and private clouds with public cloud environments like AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP), I like to call them “the big 3”. This setup allows businesses to distribute workloads across different environments while maintaining centralized control.
Hybrid cloud networking enables organizations to:
Optimize costs by running less critical workloads on public cloud infrastructure while keeping sensitive data on-premises.
Scale resources dynamically to handle fluctuations in demand without overprovisioning.
Enhance disaster recovery and redundancy by leveraging multiple environments.
Key Components of a Hybrid Cloud Network
To successfully build and manage a hybrid cloud network, it’s essential to understand the key components involved:
Network Connectivity:
Establish secure and reliable connections between on-premises environments and the cloud. This can be done through:
VPNs (Virtual Private Networks): Encrypt traffic over the internet.
Direct Connect (AWS), ExpressRoute (Azure), or Interconnect (GCP): These services provide dedicated connections for improved performance and security.
Cloud Resources:
Public cloud platforms like AWS, Azure, and GCP provide scalable compute, storage, and networking resources. For hybrid cloud networking, virtual private clouds (VPCs) and virtual networks (VNets) allow you to segment cloud resources.
On-Premises Infrastructure:
Your physical data centers and private cloud setups (such as VMware) serve as the private environment in a hybrid cloud. This is where sensitive workloads or legacy systems may remain.
Security Controls:
Implement strong security measures like encryption, identity management, and firewall protection across both environments.
Orchestration and Management:
Tools such as Kubernetes or hybrid cloud management platforms help manage workloads across both public and private environments, automating resource allocation, scaling, and monitoring.
Steps to Build a Hybrid Cloud Network
1. Assess Your Infrastructure Needs
Before jumping into a hybrid cloud model, assess your current infrastructure and business needs. Determine which workloads should remain on-premises and which can be moved to the cloud. Consider factors like data sensitivity, compliance requirements, and latency concerns. I always recommend putting things in “the cloud” that make sense. More and more companies are becoming “cloud first”, which I think is a good thing.
2. Establish Network Connectivity
The foundation of any hybrid cloud network is secure and reliable connectivity between the two environments. You have several options:
Site-to-Site VPN: For organizations looking for cost-effective solutions, a site-to-site VPN can be used to securely connect on-premises data centers to the cloud. However, VPNs over the public internet may suffer from latency and bandwidth limitations.
Dedicated Connections (AWS Direct Connect, Azure ExpressRoute, GCP Interconnect): For mission-critical applications that require high throughput and low latency, consider using a dedicated network connection. These services provide more consistent performance than internet-based connections.
Existing WAN Solutions: If an enterprise is already leveraging a WAN connectivity solution, such as SDWAN or DMVPN, most networking vendors provide some sort of cloud-native/cloud-ready solution that integrates (as a VM) right into the preferred cloud provider’s environment via the cloud provider’s marketplace.
3. Implement Security Measures
Security is paramount in hybrid cloud networks, where data moves between multiple environments. Key best practices include:
Encryption: Encrypt data both in transit and at rest. Use SSL/TLS for data traveling between on-premises and cloud networks.
Identity and Access Management (IAM): Implement role-based access control (RBAC) to restrict access to critical cloud resources. Utilize multi-factor authentication (MFA) for added security.
Firewall and Intrusion Detection: Use cloud-native security features, such as AWS WAF, Azure Firewall, or GCP Security Command Center, to monitor and block malicious traffic. Third-party firewalls and tools are available if you need more robust options than the native cloud offerings. I prefer third party vendors due to the cloud-native ones aren’t quite robust enough for enterprise-level protection (maybe one day, sigh).
4. Use Hybrid Cloud Management Tools
Managing workloads across multiple environments can be complex. Hybrid cloud management tools streamline operations by automating deployment, resource scaling, and workload balancing. Some popular options include:
Kubernetes: Kubernetes allows you to manage containerized applications across on-premises and cloud environments, ensuring consistency and scaling.
VMware on AWS: For organizations that use VMware, this service allows seamless integration between VMware-based private clouds and AWS, with full compatibility across both platforms.
5. Implement Network Segmentation
Segment your network based on the criticality and sensitivity of your applications. By doing so, you can isolate sensitive data from public cloud traffic and apply distinct security policies. Hybrid clouds should have a clear demarcation between different network zones (e.g., production, development, testing environments).
6. Monitor and Optimize
Regular monitoring is essential for hybrid cloud networks. Use tools such as AWS CloudWatch, Azure Monitor, or GCP Cloud Operations to monitor the performance, costs, and security of your hybrid cloud infrastructure. You should also:
Optimize Workloads: Regularly evaluate where your workloads should reside to optimize costs and performance. For instance, high-performance computing workloads might benefit from cloud elasticity, while sensitive databases might remain on-premises.
Cost Management: Keep an eye on your cloud spending using cost management tools like AWS Cost Explorer or Azure Cost Management. Move workloads between environments to balance cost-efficiency with performance.
Best Practices for Building a Hybrid Cloud Network
Prioritize Security: Ensure data moving between environments is always encrypted, and apply strict access controls across all environments.
Leverage Automation: Use automation tools for orchestration and scaling across hybrid environments, reducing the need for manual intervention.
Maintain Compliance: Hybrid environments often span regions with different compliance requirements. Ensure that your network complies with industry standards like GDPR, HIPAA, or PCI DSS.
Ensure High Availability: Implement failover strategies and redundant connections to ensure your hybrid network remains operational even during outages or disruptions.
Centralized Management: Use a centralized management platform to simplify operations, allowing you to manage both cloud and on-premises environments from a single dashboard.
Conclusion
Building a hybrid cloud network allows organizations to benefit from the flexibility of public cloud services while maintaining the control and security of on-premises infrastructure. By following best practices such as ensuring secure connectivity, leveraging automation tools, and implementing strong security controls, you can create a seamless, scalable, and efficient hybrid cloud network that supports your organization’s evolving IT needs.