第13章ハイブリッドマルチクラウドのデジタルソリューション開発

Hybrid cloud models are extremely common architectures for big consumer companies. Netflix, for example, in 2008, adopted the hybrid cloud model by combining on-premises database structures to store big movie files and then utilizing Amazon Simple Storage Service (Amazon S3) to distribute data across cloud servers. They can manage their resources through built-in tools such as AWS Local Zones, which bring services closer geographically to a user. It is necessary for Netflix, as a streaming service provider, to adopt hybrid cloud models due to the amount of traffic and geography it covers on a daily basis, as well as to ensure user’s smooth movie-watching experience.

Similar to hybrid cloud structures, a multicloud solution involves meshing several different computing environments to form a flexible working environment. Multicloud’s main difference is that it is exclusively a combination of more than one public or private cloud system, compared to hybrid cloud, which is a combination of cloud and on-premises. The benefits of multicloud systems include automation and scalability, risk reduction, competitive pricing, and robust security.

One of the cloud system’s biggest advantages is the system’s reliance on cloud infrastructure, which allows developers to effectively distribute workloads among infrastructures and leverage resources based on geographical patterns and peak usage time. In the long run, collecting data regarding the application’s performance also allows complete automation in managing the multicloud infrastructure, which allows for convenience in controlling and optimizing the company’s application.

One of the reasons why cloud systems became increasingly popular over the years is because of the low cost of acquiring and maintaining cloud systems. With a multicloud system, an organization is motivated to shop around and choose multiple vendors for the best price. Different providers offer different services for different prices; there are enough cloud service providers today that an organization typically has many options to choose from.

By having access to multiple cloud vendors, the utilization of multicloud structures allows companies to maintain uptime in cases of data breach or system failure. If one vendor fails, the organization can switch to a different one. A vendor can also act as a complete backup in case the system needs a complete reboot.

In a multicloud system, each cloud vendor manages its infrastructure. Services such as AWS and Azure offer access, keys, and secured network management. Multicloud architecture leverages this difference in security features between vendors to act as layers of a secured system, preventing a complete breakdown of the environment.

With all the benefits that multicloud solutions offer, some challenges must be considered to mitigate risk and optimize the budget. Similar to hybrid cloud solutions, multicloud system networks can be hard to design due to the increasing complexity of the network as multiple cloud systems are connected. Furthermore, the complete reliance on cloud infrastructure requires dependence on the vendor’s services and constraints, making it hard to unify systems or migrate workloads between different clouds. Organizations must consider these problems to mitigate risk and maximize profit when developing multicloud solutions. Typically, users rely on both hybrid and multicloud systems rather than selecting one over the other.

A mashup typically describes a web-based application hybrid that combines features from two or more web sources to create a new service. These features communicate with the use of API, which are sets of protocols and tools that serve as a middleman between different software applications, allowing information to transfer between them. Cloud utilization allows complete virtualization of these multiservice web applications through vendors offering centralized tools and operations that support assembling and managing multiple sources; hence, the emergence of cloud mashups.

To understand cloud mashups, consider how news websites function. News providers typically get weather updates from Weather.com (or other sites) and gather other information, such as updates about stocks, shares, currency rates, and even additional news items from sites such as Reuters. The end product is a practical example of a mashup of multiple component parts. Cloud mashups have become increasingly popular over the years because of the plethora of public information that the service offers and the convenience of managing services completely through the cloud.

Cloud mashups effectively allow developers to pick and combine different information from public sources and make their applications. It is extremely beneficial due to how much it enhances users’ experience while promoting collaboration between services. However, due to its dependency on the API structure of the service, the discontinuation of a service can cause many applications to break down. This lack of scalability becomes a concern for cloud mashups, and constant upkeep is necessary for applications that depend on using public services as a means to collect and display information.