60 VIEWPOINT AI integration is bridging the gap between on-premises infrastructures and the cloud ALEXANDER LEFTEROV: TIGER TECHNOLOGY The evolution of hybrid cloud storage and services Hybrid cloud solutions emerged 10 years ago as a response to the limitations of traditional on-premises data centres, which were the dominant form of IT infrastructure for many organisations. Initially, local storage infrastructure was designed to support specific workloads, but scaling them up to meet ever-growing data demands was often a slow, cumbersome and expensive process. Then, the advent of cloud storage changed this paradigm by offering highly scalable, on-demand resources that could be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection. The cloud has also introduced a whole new class of services, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, that were previously impossible or very difficult to integrate with on-premises workflows. So far, these services require incredibly high computing power, which is either impossible to perform on existing local infrastructure or requires a significant investment in hardware – an issue the cloud easily solves. Despite the benefits, many organisations remain hesitant to move all their IT infrastructure to the cloud, particularly those with mission-critical data in finance, healthcare, surveillance or the media and entertainment industry. The cloud is a fundamentally different storage infrastructure that requires significant planning and effort, which can increase the risk of workflow disruptions for them. Concerns over security, privacy, regulatory compliance, or the possibility of latency, lack of connectivity and data loss represent further challenges to complete migration to the cloud and drive businesses with a more conservative or cautious approach to stay as they are. This is where the hybrid cloud model comes in. The objective of hybrid cloud storage products is to facilitate seamless data services across multiple data centres, co-locations, edge locations and public cloud infrastructures. These solutions can be delivered through various means, including hybrid cloud storage platforms, data transfer appliances, hyperconverged solutions, storage arrays, softwaredefined storage products or data management solutions. At Tiger Technology, we have pioneered the development of hybrid cloud data file services, specifically designed for on-prem-first hybrid workflows. It is an infrastructure approach that prioritises continuity of on-premises workflows and treats the cloud as an enhancer that can be removed without disruption, rather than a primary enabler of digital transformation. This empowers businesses to combine the benefits of the cloud with the control, security and familiarity of their on-premises storage. “ Hybrid cloud will be the means to extract further value from organisational data that is set to grow exponentially”
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