A hybrid IT infrastructure refers to an environment that is created by an appropriate combination of the Cloud and traditional infrastructure. Businesses, SMBs in particular, prefer a hybrid approach to streamline their IT infrastructure for greater control, enhanced security, and faster access to on-premise infrastructure, while reaping the great advantages of the Cloud computing, for instance – enhanced agility, reduced costs, and better flexibility.

The best part of a hybrid approach is that its implementation is quick and hassle-free, the features that best suit to small and medium-sized enterprises that always look for cost-effective and seamless IT solutions for their businesses.

Why is a hybrid the best approach for SMBs?

The choice of Cloud and on-premise has often been tossed by most small and medium-sized businesses. But the choice should be made on the basis of whether the business is a matured entity or a startup. In fact, new businesses or startups choose to go with the Cloud way as they haven’t invested in the traditional IT infrastructure yet, thus can move to either way that best suits their business needs; while keeping the budget on a top priority. The case is not the same with well-rooted enterprises who have already invested a huge amount in on-premise IT infrastructure. They often choose to stick with their existing infrastructure just because of the investment they have made in it.

But this is not the congenial approach to address the intricate IT scenario that small and medium-sized enterprises face nowadays.

Top IT infrastructure challenges before small & medium-sized businesses

A recent study has revealed the following challenges that small and medium-sized businesses face today.

The big takeaways:

• 59% of enterprises are concerned about security, compliance, and privacy issues for their IT infrastructure.
• 32% of enterprises are concerned about integration with the existing infrastructure
• 30% of businesses are waiting for technologies to mature
• 27% Consider other investments of more important
• 27% of businesses are concerned about performance

This report gives us insights as for how a majority of businesses are concerned about security, privacy, and regulatory compliance. And the second top challenge before SMBs is to get all aspects of their IT infrastructure to work together, which won’t be considered as a big challenge if enterprises prefer to stick with either the Cloud or on-premise IT infrastructure. In fact, these enterprises are looking to take most of their existing IT infrastructure, while combining amazing capabilities of the public cloud.

The aforementioned data clearly says as to why a hybrid way is so vital for SMBs that offers an increased security and performance that come from on-premise systems while reaping the great advantages of the Cloud such as – quick deployment of the application, low infrastructural expenses, and scalability.

The study also states that how a hybrid approach gives SMBs IT agility and scalability, thus boosting the overall performance. The data given below shows how SMBs by embracing hybrid approach outperformed their peers who haven’t embraced hybrid yet.

The big takeaways:

• SMBs having hybrid approach have 6.3 X more improved application performance.
• 3.8 X more likely to have the lower expense for storage.
• 45% more likely to reduce the amount of downtime.
• 2X more likely to have an increased capability to grow capacity.

We can clearly see that these businesses with a hybrid IT approach are more than 6-times likely to have improved performance and 2-times likely to be able to flourish. These enterprises are also more likely to reduce downtime. These are ample reasons to support my argument to choose a hybrid approach rather than choosing any one from on-premise and cloud infrastructure. The study shows that small and medium-sized enterprises having a hybrid IT approach to get a number of advantages that enables them to have a top-notch high performing IT infrastructure that would eventually help them achieve their business goal. But at the same time, small and medium-sized businesses should follow below-mentioned practices.

• SMBs should understand their Cloud infrastructure requirements.
• They should also understand their current technology requirements.
• They should get their in-house systems ready for a hybrid environment
• They should create an IT infrastructure that would be suitable today and tomorrow as well.
• SMBs should make on-premise and the Cloud work together.

You can contact a professional to help you with finding the perfect Hybrid Cloud Hosting provider.