What is Cross-Cloud?
Cross-cloud is the use of multiple cloud platforms or services to run a single application/workload or different parts of an application. Unlike multi-cloud, which describes an environment that uses multiple cloud service providers, cross-cloud refers to an application or workload that uses multiple cloud service providers (CSPs) and transfers data seamlessly across those CSPs.
Benefits and Challenges of Cross-Cloud
Cross-cloud computing enables organizations to make best-fit decisions based on a variety of factors—such as location, availability, latency, and others—for each application or workload, reducing the trade-offs required for those dimensions. However, ensuring that workloads are deployed consistently, efficiently, and cost-effectively across the different clouds can require complex and time-consuming integration and management. Furthermore, ensuring that data and applications are protected across different cloud environments, and maintain compliance with all applicable regulatory requirements, requires a strong governance framework and security controls. Cost is another factor to consider. Data transfer fees, including egress fees, can make moving data out of one cloud into another cost-prohibitive.
Cross-Cloud and Supercloud
Supercloud offers one approach for managing cross-cloud deployments. A supercloud, which sits above CSPs, provides a layer that connects across clouds. It provides an interface for the allocation, migration, and termination of resources across different availability zones or CSPs and creates a network that ties these resources together.
Suggested Reading and Related Topics
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- Cloud migration: Read about cloud migration, including different cloud migration approaches such as rearchitecting and refactoring, as well as challenges to avoid.
- Cloud cost management: Explore the ins and outs of keeping your cloud costs under control.