Understanding Cloud Bursting: Benefits and Usage

Cloud bursting is an application deployment technique that allows an organization to run an application in a private cloud or data centre and burst into a public cloud when there is a spike in demand for computing capacity. This hybrid cloud deployment model provides flexibility and scalability to handle peaks in IT demand. The private cloud is the primary means of deployment, with overflow traffic directed to a public cloud without service interruption.

Cloud bursting can be triggered automatically or manually based on high usage demands. It offers cost efficiency, flexibility, and business continuity benefits, making it suitable for non-critical applications that handle non-sensitive information.

How Does Cloud Bursting Work?

Cloud bursting is a dynamic and efficient approach to managing computing capacity in hybrid cloud environments. It enables organizations to seamlessly scale their applications by utilizing additional resources from the public cloud when their workload exceeds the capacity thresholds of their private cloud.

Cloud bursting operates based on workload patterns and capacity thresholds. IT administrators establish these thresholds for applications running in the private cloud. When the workload capacity nears its limit, the system automatically triggers the bursting process, seamlessly switching the workload to the public cloud. This ensures that the application can continue running without disruption and can handle increased traffic and demand.

There are different methods by which cloud bursting can be implemented:

1. Distributed Load Balancing: In this approach, applications are designed to operate between the private cloud and the public cloud. The load balancer distributes the workload across these environments based on capacity utilization. When the private cloud nears its threshold, the load balancer automatically redirects traffic to the public cloud, ensuring optimal resource allocation.
2. Automated Bursting: Automated bursting involves setting policies and rules that define how the bursting process is handled automatically. When the workload surpasses the private cloud’s capacity threshold, automation triggers the migration of the application to the public cloud. This approach eliminates the need for manual intervention and ensures quick and efficient scaling.
3. Manual Bursting: Manual bursting requires manual provisioning and deprovisioning of cloud services and resources. When the workload exceeds the private cloud’s capacity threshold, IT administrators manually allocate additional resources from the public cloud to handle the increased demand. While this approach provides more control and customization options, it also requires proactive monitoring and human intervention.

Each approach to cloud bursting has its own advantages and considerations. Regardless of the method, cloud bursting enables organizations to leverage the benefits of both private and public clouds, optimizing resource allocation and ensuring smooth application performance.

Comparing Cloud Bursting Methods

Benefits and Challenges of Cloud Bursting

Cloud bursting offers several advantages for organizations looking to optimize their cloud computing environments. One major benefit is cost savings, as cloud bursting allows for pay-as-you-go pricing and optimized resource utilization. This means that businesses can efficiently scale their computing capacity and only pay for the resources they actually use, resulting in significant cost savings.

Another advantage of cloud bursting is flexibility. With this approach, organizations can quickly adjust their computing capacity to meet fluctuating demands. Whether there’s a sudden surge in traffic or the need to handle a high-volume workload, cloud bursting enables businesses to seamlessly switch between private and public cloud resources, ensuring continuous operations and satisfying performance requirements.

However, there are challenges that need to be considered when implementing cloud bursting. Security and data protection are critical aspects that must be addressed to safeguard sensitive information. Organizations need to ensure that proper measures are in place to protect data when moving between different cloud environments. Networking is another challenge, as establishing low-latency and high-bandwidth connections between public and private clouds requires careful planning and implementation.

Additionally, compatibility and integration issues may arise due to discrepancies in cloud environments and the limited availability of management tools. It’s important for businesses to assess these challenges and work closely with cloud service providers and IT experts to design a robust and secure cloud bursting architecture that meets their specific requirements.