Everything on Hybrid Cloud & Edge Computing

To design a hybrid cloud solution with Hyper-Converged Infrastructure (HCI) on-premises and in the cloud, including archiving and vaulting in the cloud, the solution must ensure seamless integration, scalability, and security. Below is a high-level architecture and approach:

1. Hybrid Cloud Architecture with HCI

On-Premises HCI:

• Infrastructure: Utilize HCI solutions like VMware vSAN, Nutanix, or Microsoft Azure Stack HCI for on-premises workloads. These solutions combine compute, storage, and networking into a single system, providing high performance and easy management.
• Use Case: On-prem HCI can host mission-critical applications and data requiring low latency, high performance, or regulatory compliance.
• Management: Implement centralized management through a unified dashboard like VMware vCenter or Nutanix Prism to manage both on-prem and cloud resources.

Cloud HCI:

• Infrastructure: Extend your on-prem HCI infrastructure to the cloud using solutions like VMware Cloud on AWS, Azure VMware Solution, or Nutanix Clusters on AWS/Azure. This extension allows you to easily scale workloads into the cloud when needed.
• Use Case: Use cloud HCI for burst capacity, disaster recovery, or hosting workloads that benefit from cloud-native services.
• Integration: Ensure seamless integration between on-prem and cloud environments, with consistent policies and operations.

2. Archiving in the Cloud:

• Cloud Storage Solutions: Use cloud storage services like AWS S3 Glacier, Azure Blob Storage (Cool or Archive tiers), or Google Cloud Archive Storage for long-term data archiving.
• Data Lifecycle Management: Implement policies for automatic tiering of data from hot storage to archival storage based on usage patterns and compliance requirements.
• Backup and Archival Tools: Use tools like Veeam, Commvault, or native services (AWS Backup, Azure Backup) to manage the backup and archiving process, ensuring data is securely stored and easily retrievable.

3. Vaulting in the Cloud:

• Vault Solutions: Leverage cloud-native vault services like AWS Glacier Vault, Azure Key Vault, or Google Cloud Key Management for secure and compliant storage of sensitive data and encryption keys.
• Access Control: Implement strict access controls using Identity and Access Management (IAM) policies to restrict who can access the vault and what actions they can perform.
• Compliance & Security: Ensure the vaulting solution meets regulatory requirements such as GDPR, HIPAA, or PCI-DSS by using encryption (in-transit and at-rest), audit trails, and multi-factor authentication.

4. Hybrid Cloud Data Management:

• Data Replication: Implement real-time or scheduled data replication between on-prem HCI and cloud environments to ensure data availability and redundancy.
• Data Protection: Use cloud-native services for data protection, including snapshot management, automated backups, and disaster recovery solutions.
• Monitoring and Optimization: Deploy monitoring tools like VMware vRealize Operations, Azure Monitor, or AWS CloudWatch to monitor performance, costs, and security across the hybrid environment.

5. Security Considerations:

• Encryption: Encrypt data at rest and in transit across the hybrid cloud. Use customer-managed keys stored in cloud vaults for added security.
• Identity & Access Management: Implement a robust IAM solution that enforces least privilege access across both on-prem and cloud environments.
• Compliance: Ensure the entire hybrid environment complies with relevant industry standards and regulations.

6. Integration and Automation:

• Orchestration Tools: Use automation tools like Terraform, Ansible, or VMware vRealize Automation to manage and orchestrate the deployment, scaling, and configuration of the hybrid cloud environment.
• API Integration: Leverage APIs for seamless integration between on-prem HCI and cloud services, enabling automated workflows and data management processes.

7. Cost Management:

• Cost Monitoring: Use cloud cost management tools like AWS Cost Explorer, Azure Cost Management, or third-party tools like CloudHealth to monitor and optimize cloud spending.
• Hybrid Licensing: Consider licensing models that allow for hybrid deployments, maximizing cost-efficiency for both on-prem and cloud resources.

Conclusion:

This hybrid cloud solution with HCI on-prem and in the cloud, combined with cloud archiving and vaulting, provides a scalable, secure, and efficient infrastructure. It ensures high availability, robust data protection, and compliance with regulatory requirements while offering flexibility to scale resources as needed.