How is Cloud Integration Carried Out

Many enterprises have now started adopting cloud computing to enhance their business and manage it better. Cloud services such as the hybrid cloud are provided by third party vendors. Hybrid cloud is a term used for describing integration of two or more clouds, be it private, community or public. These remain separate entities but are bound together for gaining the benefit of multiple deployment models. Basically, cloud refers to the integration of infrastructure, which enables elasticity and scalability. The integration of infrastructure takes place from the dominions of security and delivery, which ensures comprehensive and secure delivery chain, aimed at increased performance and reliability. However, the question is how to carry out the integration successfully and flawlessly. The process of cloud integration can be broken down in to a simple layered structure, discussed below:

1. Network Integration

At this level of cloud integration, the aim is to normalize connectivity and provide optimized network traffic between two disconnected networks. This is applicable mostly to IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service) cloud integration as connectivity is now available through secured network tunnels. Network integration allows you to transfer data and applications within different networks through secure communication and manage the process as well.

2. Resource Integration

Resource integration is the layer where integration is carried out virtually. The computing and storage resources are integrated with systems in the data centers of your service provider. This form of integration helps you in keeping a check and evaluating the performance of your resources, thus allowing you to maintain statistics of actionable performance and its status.

3. Elasticity Integration

This type of cloud integration is closely associated with resource integration, but more so in terms of flexibility of resources. Here, elasticity integration basically refers to expansion or contraction of your resources, such as storage or network, in accordance with your requirement.

4. Control Integration

This layer is specifically used when you are attempting SaaS (Software as a Service) integration with a private cloud or with the traditional data center models. The main focus of this layer of cloud integration is on integrating processes such as authentication and access of services. This is carried out for the purpose of maintaining control over security and delivery of the services provided.