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How to go Multi-Cloud and Why

The landscape of cloud computing in the UK is undergoing a significant transformation, with 84% of businesses now adopting a cloud smart approach by strategically placing workloads across multiple environments. This shift reflects that one size doesn’t fit all, and different cloud providers offer unique and varied advantages for specific business needs.

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The Business Case for Multi-Cloud

The adoption of multi-cloud strategies continues to accelerate, with 89% of organisations now employing multiple cloud providers. This trend is particularly pronounced in the UK, where the use of multiple public clouds is projected to increase dramatically from 11% today to 46% within the next three years.

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  • Performance and Cost Benefits

UK businesses prioritise performance (55%) and cost management (53%) as the primary drivers for their cloud deployment choices. A multi-cloud approach enables organisations to optimise costs by selecting the most cost-effective provider for specific workloads while maintaining high performance standards. This flexibility has become crucial as cloud spending is projected to rise by an average of 10% this year.

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  • Risk Mitigation and Resilience

Using multiple cloud providers reduces the risk of downtime and service interruptions. If one provider experiences an outage, others can maintain operations, ensuring business continuity. This diversification also mitigates vendor lock-in risks, giving SMEs more bargaining power and flexibility to switch providers if needed

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  • Innovation and Specialisation

Different cloud providers excel in specific areas, whether it's artificial intelligence, data analytics, or specialised industry solutions. Multi-cloud adoption enables SMEs to access vendor-specific capabilities they would otherwise struggle to leverage, for example hosting web applications on AWS while running Exchange servers on Azure.

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Overcoming Implementation Challenges

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  • Skills and Expertise Gap

The complexity of managing multi-provider environments represents a significant challenge, particularly for SMEs. Each major cloud provider has unique architectures, services, and management tools, requiring specialised knowledge. This skills gap is particularly pronounced in operational cloud management, where the complexities and intricacies differ significantly from one brand to another, with 78% of SMEs citing this as a top challenge.

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  • Cost Control and Optimisation

While cost optimisation is a key driver for multi-cloud adoption, managing expenses across multiple platforms requires careful attention. About 49% of cloud-based businesses struggle to control cloud costs, with 54% citing lack of visibility as a primary factor.

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  • Integration and Security

With cyber threats increasing rapidly, security must be a priority. Operating in a multi-cloud environment expands the attack surface, introducing new security challenges. SMEs must adopt robust security strategies that include standardising security policies across platforms and enhancing visibility through centralised monitoring tools.

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Implementation Strategy

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  • Assessment and Planning

Begin with a thorough workload assessment to identify the optimal placement for different applications and data. For each workload consider factors such as:

  • Performance requirements

  • Scaling implications

  • Data sovereignty

  • Compliance obligations

  • Cost dynamics

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  • Building the Right Team

Assemble the right combination of expertise and consider partnerships with managed service providers to bridge any skills gaps:

  • Specialist skills in each of the relevant Cloud providers and technologies

  • Expertise in integrating and managing multiple environments

  • Cyber security vigilance techniques

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  • Phased Implementation

Start with a pilot project to test the multi-cloud approach before expanding. This allows organisations to:

  • Validate the business case

  • Identify potential challenges early

  • Build expertise gradually

  • Refine processes based on real-world experience

 

Governance and Management

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Implement a unified cloud management platform to maintain visibility and control across all environments. This approach helps organisations:

  • Monitor and optimise costs

  • Ensure consistent security policies

  • Maintain compliance standards

  • Automate routine tasks

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Looking Ahead

 

The trend toward multi-cloud adoption shows no signs of slowing, with multi-cloud models expected to increase from 19% to 26% over the next three years in the UK. Organisations that successfully implement multi-cloud strategies position themselves to improve cost and risk management, enhance security, and leverage innovation across different platforms.

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For UK SMEs considering multi-cloud adoption, the key to success lies in careful planning, appropriate expertise (whether internal or external), and robust management tools. While the journey may present challenges, the benefits of increased flexibility, enhanced security, and optimised costs make multi-cloud an increasingly attractive option for businesses looking to maintain competitive advantage in the evolving digital landscape.

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