Multicloud adoption is no longer the future, with currently up to 89% of organizations leveraging multiple cloud providers to meet their varied needs in 2025, according to Statista. But many of these deployments are met with lack of experienced IT teams and unplanned and lack proper architecture, leading to a haphazard approach.
In this blog post, we’ll explore:
- The upsides and downsides of a Multicloud approach
- The evolving landscape of cross-cloud services
- Tips for successfully navigating the complexities of Multicloud implementation
I. Understanding Multicloud Adoption
Multicloud adoption is becoming increasingly common. However, in many cases these Multicloud deployments are unintentional, where organizations have a primary cloud provider like AWS and a few other clouds used by different departments. Without adequate planning, this approach can lead to inefficiencies and operational challenges.
How We Accidentally Got Here
Forget the myth that companies are choosing Multicloud strategies. This shift isn’t driven by grand design but by the pragmatic decisions of IT teams striving to leverage the best tools available.
Why? Because each cloud provider offers unique strengths. AWS excels in computing power, Azure integrates seamlessly with Microsoft services, and Google Cloud leads in data analytics. Organizations are naturally gravitating toward a Multicloud approach to harness these specialized capabilities.
Moreover, the risk of vendor lock-in looms large. High-profile incidents like those involving Cloudstrike and UniSuper have underscored the risks of relying too heavily on a single provider. As a result, many companies are diversifying their cloud portfolios to mitigate such risks and ensure greater flexibility and resilience.
The Challenges of Multicloud Deployment
Operating in a Multicloud environment poses unique challenges. Each cloud provider has its own set of security, operations, governance, and observability capabilities. Organizations using multiple cloud providers end up juggling these different features, resulting in increased complexity and costs. Without careful management, the rise in the number of cloud-based systems can tip the balance in the wrong direction, lowering the value and diminishing returns on investments in cloud technologies.
II. Moving Towards Cross-Cloud Services
Recognizing the need to address the complexities of Multicloud, many companies in the industry are moving towards cross-cloud services like SuperCloud and Metacloud. These services aim to create a logical architecture that sits above existing public clouds and provides common services such as security, governance, and financial operations (FinOps). While this approach offers a potential solution, each company’s cross-cloud platform will be bespoke, tailored to their specific requirements.
The Evolution Towards a Cross-Cloud Platform
The future of cloud (and Multicloud) lies in the development of a cross-cloud platform. This platform aims to facilitate Multicloud deployment by productizing the various components that make up the SuperCloud or Metacloud. The goal is to create a more turnkey solution, simplifying the configuration and management process. The ultimate vision is a deployment model where applications run seamlessly across multiple platforms, bridging the gap between different clouds and allowing for efficient collaboration.
III. Managing Complexity for Success
To successfully navigate Multicloud adoption, organizations need to address the complexity challenge. A key aspect to this is proper architecture planning and design. It’s essential to understand the specific requirements and leverage a customized stack of tools, ensuring a tailored approach. And organizations must aim to streamline operations by reducing redundancies in security, operations, governance, and observability tools. By consolidating toolsets, organizations can minimize complexity and optimize budget allocation.
Empowering Developers with Best-of-Breed Technology
One of the benefits of Multicloud adoption is the ability to leverage best-of-breed technologies across different cloud providers. To enable developers to use innovative tools, organizations must foster a culture that encourages the selection of the best database, AI systems, and other technologies. By removing limitations tied to a specific cloud provider, developers can optimize their workflow and drive innovation.
Multicloud adoption is likely inevitable, so navigating its complexities is crucial
By understanding the challenges associated with Multicloud deployments, exploring the potential of cross-cloud services, and managing complexity and costs through proper planning and consolidation, organizations can unlock the true value of Multicloud implementation and empower developers with best-in-class technology. While the path to a comprehensive Multicloud environment may still be evolving, with careful consideration and strategic decision-making, organizations can embark on a successful Multicloud journey, capitalizing on the benefits of this transformative technology.
N2W: Supercloud backup and DR for your Multicloud and Cross-Cloud environment
Managing backups across multiple clouds without specialized tools is like trying to juggle a few swords while riding a unicycle. It’s a precarious balancing act that demands precision, agility, and the right tools.
With the ever-growing sophistication of cloud infrastructures, N2W offers a seamless and efficient solution, ensuring that your data is protected and accessible at all times. Its intuitive interface and robust automation capabilities simplify backup and recovery processes, enabling you to navigate across cloud platforms with ease.
Whether you’re juggling AWS, Azure, Wasabi or all three, N2W streamlines operations, saving you time, money, and headaches. Its policy-driven backup and near-instantaneous restore ensure manual processes are removed and human error is minimized. Its high level of security and compliance features guarantees your data’s safety, allowing you to focus on what really matters: innovation and growth.
And enterprises can ensure their storage costs aren’t going to surprise them. By implementing transparent VM-based pricing, incremental snapshot technology, and flexible cold storage options, N2W enables organizations to optimize their backup strategies efficiently. This approach allows for significant reductions in storage and licensing expenses, with some customers experiencing up to 92% savings.
N2W’s cross-cloud compatibility ensures that businesses can maintain cost-effective and scalable backup solutions, regardless of their cloud infrastructure. In a Multicloud world, N2W is your trusted partner in keeping your data secure and readily available at all times.
Try our Enterprise Plan free for 30-days.
Dive Deeper with Our Cross-Cloud Guide
If you’re ready to tackle a forward-thinking, seamless, automated Multicloud strategy, we have a quick Cross-Cloud Backup Essentials Guide.
You’ll learn:
- How to be sure your cloud strategy is future-proofed, leveraging Supercloud principles to maximize security, optimize costs and most importantly prevent downtime with immediate, full, healthy recoveries.
- The smart way to search for the tools that meet your pain-points. What should you be looking for in a cross-cloud management tool? Does it provide scalability, cost-savings and compliance?
- The Supercloud foundation and establish much-needed skills to easily implement cross-cloud operations for resiliency and with transparent pricing.
📺 Prefer video?
Watch David’s original talk here:
David Linthicum is a globally recognized thought leader, innovator, and influencer in cloud computing, AI, and cybersecurity. He is the author of over 15 best-selling books, over 7,000 articles, and over 50 courses on LinkedIn Learning. He is also a frequent keynote speaker, podcast host, and media contributor on topics related to digital transformation, cloud architecture, AI, and cloud security.
