As organizations continue the trend of hybrid cloud environments (combining on-premises infrastructure with public and private cloud solutions) managing data movement becomes a crucial consideration. According to the Flexera 2024 State of the Cloud Report, 73% of organizations deploying multi cloud have deployed hybrid cloud infrastructure. Ensuring that data is transferred securely, reliably, and cost-effectively can be complex, but vital for maintaining operational efficiency and safeguarding sensitive information.
Security is the first priority when moving data between different environments. With hybrid setups, data often crosses multiple network boundaries, exposing it to potential vulnerabilities. Encrypting the data using transfer protocols such as AES-256 and SSL/TLS to secure it as it moves across the network mitigates these risks. Granular access controls, audit trails, and authentication should be implemented to ensure that only authorized users can access data, protecting it both in flight and at rest. Monitoring traffic for unauthorized attempts further bolsters security.
Reliability is key to ensuring business continuity. In hybrid environments, the complexity of managing diverse systems and platforms can sometimes result in outages or disruptions. Implementing automated data movement tools that provide fault tolerance and retries in case of failures can help provide needed resilience. Monitoring systems that track data flows and alert administrators to any issues can proactively identify potential disruptions. Ensuring that data is regularly backed up and stored across multiple locations (preferably with redundancy) improves reliability.
Cost Efficiency in hybrid environments hinges on optimizing how and when data is moved. Storing and transferring large amounts of data between clouds/on-premise can incur significant costs. To reduce these, consider implementing data lifecycle management, ensuring that less frequently accessed data is moved to lower-cost storage solutions, such as cold or archival storage. Additionally, planning data transfer during off-peak hours can help minimize bandwidth and consumption costs.
A managed file transfer solution such as XCOM adds significant value to a hybrid environment by ensuring secure, reliable, and efficient data movement across on-premises and cloud-based systems. Hybrid environments often involve a mix of legacy infrastructure, private clouds, and public cloud services, creating complexities in data integration and security. Implementing a tool such as XCOM can help streamline these operations by offering centralized control, automation, and encryption, reducing the risk of data breaches and compliance violations. They also enhance visibility and tracking, allowing organizations to monitor file transfers in real time and troubleshoot issues proactively. If you would like to learn more about how an MFT solution can improve your hybrid IT environment. Please check out our website for XCOM Data Transport to learn more.