Multicloud orchestration is a strategic approach that enables businesses to manage and integrate services from multiple cloud providers, such as AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, IBM Cloud, and others. Unlike a simple multicloud architecture, where services are used separately, orchestration promotes the intelligent, automated and standardized coordination of cloud resources.
This model brings clear benefits: reduced dependency on a single vendor, on-demand scalability, enhanced security, and optimized costs. However, operational complexity increases, requiring a robust strategy to avoid data redundancy and integration failures.
Below, you will find:
- Strategic benefits of multicloud orchestration
- Strategies for choosing the best multicloud providers
- Multicloud orchestration tools
- Best practices for implementing multicloud orchestration
Strategic Benefits of Multicloud Orchestration
Multicloud orchestration goes beyond simply using different cloud providers. It allows companies to coordinate resources, distribute workloads intelligently, and leverage the best that each environment offers.
By adopting this approach, significant advantages can be achieved that directly impact efficiency, security, and business continuity, which include:
1. High Resilience and Availability
By distributing workloads across different clouds, your company avoids single points of failure. A classic example: if AWS is experiencing instability, part of the operation can be shifted to Azure without end-users noticing.
2. Compliance and Data Sovereignty
Companies operating across multiple regions can store data locally, complying with laws such as GDPR or LGPD. Orchestration enables directing sensitive data to specific data centers, reducing legal risks.
3. Innovation with Freedom of Choice
Providers like Google Cloud excel in machine learning and big data. Azure, on the other hand, offers native integration with the Microsoft ecosystem. Orchestration allows choosing the best services from each vendor and combining them smoothly.
Strategies for Choosing the Best Multicloud Providers
1. In-Depth Analysis of Business Needs
Multicloud orchestration requires strategic alignment between IT and business. Questions that must be answered:
- Do your applications require low latency?
- What is the volume of data transacted per second?
- Are there seasonal usage peaks?
- Is there a requirement for external auditing or certifications such as PCI-DSS, ISO 27001?
These answers help map the organization’s critical resources and select providers that meet them with excellence.
Practical example: a fintech may use AWS to scale its user base quickly but keep sensitive customer data on Azure due to compliance requirements with the Central Bank.
2. Technical and Commercial Evaluation of Providers
The analysis should consider both technical and commercial aspects:
Technical:
- Network and storage performance
- API integration capabilities
- Offers for containers, functions, and managed services
- Support for DevOps, CI/CD, monitoring, and security
Commercial:
- Pricing models: hourly, pay-as-you-go, or reserved instance?
- Discounts for prolonged use or high volume
- SLA offered and penalties for non-compliance
- Ease of upgrade and migration
Tip: Many providers offer cost calculators (AWS Pricing Calculator, Azure Pricing Calculator) that can be used to simulate real scenarios.
3. Compatibility, Interoperability, and Portability
Effective orchestration depends on the ability of environments to speak the same language. Prioritize solutions with:
- Support for open standards (OpenStack, Kubernetes, OCI)
- Compatibility with multicloud tools (Ansible, Helm, Prometheus)
- Portability of workloads without dependency on proprietary technologies
Example: By using containers with Kubernetes, you ensure that a cluster can be migrated from AWS to Azure with minimal code changes.
Multicloud Orchestration Tools
For multicloud orchestration to be efficient, it is essential to use tools that automate processes, integrate different providers, and facilitate resource management in distributed environments. These solutions help reduce operational complexity, increase visibility over cloud assets, and provide greater control over costs and performance.
Here are some of the main tools used by companies adopting the multicloud strategy, seeking agility, standardization and governance in their IT environments.
1. Terraform (HashiCorp)
Terraform is an Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tool that allows for automated infrastructure creation and management. It works with specific "providers" for each cloud, enabling the orchestration of multiple environments with a single code.
- Advantage: standardization of infrastructure
- Practical application: create VMs on AWS, databases on GCP, and storage on Azure—all in the same script.
2. IBM Cloud Orchestrator
More robust and enterprise-focused, IBM Cloud Orchestrator enables:
- Automating IT workflows
- Integrating public, private, and hybrid clouds
- Creating reusable service catalogs
Ideal for companies with a strong on-premises legacy that are gradually migrating to the cloud.
3. Google Anthos and Azure Arc
These platforms facilitate Kubernetes cluster management across multiple environments, including on-premises.
- Anthos: centralized management with unified security policies
- Azure Arc: extends Azure resources to physical servers or other cloud providers
Best Practices for Implementing Multicloud Orchestration
Successfully implementing multicloud orchestration requires more than just choosing the right providers. It is necessary to adopt best practices that ensure governance, security, and operational efficiency from the outset. Below are essential guidelines for a structured and sustainable implementation.
1. Governance from the Start
Establish clear policies for:
- Access and permissions
- Costs by project or department
- Monitoring and auditing
2. Automate Everything You Can
Automation reduces human errors, accelerates deliveries and facilitates rollback. Use CI/CD pipelines with continuous integration between multiple clouds.
3. Continuously Monitor
Tools like Datadog, New Relic, and Prometheus allow for real-time monitoring of service performance, availability and security.
Multicloud orchestration is a competitive differentiator for companies seeking innovation with control. By integrating different clouds intelligently, your company:
- Gains agility and independence
- Reduces risk of failures and unnecessary costs
- Maintains flexibility to always choose the best solution
But success depends on planning, governance, and proper use of tools. With a strategic approach and focus on business needs, your company can turn the complexity of multicloud into a real advantage.
However, achieving these results requires technical knowledge, planning, and the right tools. Prime DB Solutions specializes in multicloud data and infrastructure solutions, offering full support, from defining the ideal architecture to continuous optimization of environments. If your company is looking for expert guidance to transform multicloud complexity into a competitive advantage, talk to Prime DB Solutions and find out how we can help your operation reach new heights.