What is Cloud Bursting?

Cloud bursting is a technology that enables on-demand scaling of applications and workloads between a private cloud and a public cloud. The basic idea behind cloud bursting is to host an application or workload on a private cloud, and then transfer the load to a public cloud during periods of high demand. The public cloud acts as an extension of the private cloud, providing additional compute and storage resources as needed. This allows organizations to cost-effectively manage spikes in demand, while still maintaining the security, control, and performance of their private cloud infrastructure.

The private cloud is typically managed by the organization’s IT department and offers the benefits of in-house management, such as increased control, security, and customization. The public cloud, on the other hand, is managed by a third-party provider and offers the benefits of scalability, cost-effectiveness, and ease of use.

In order to implement cloud bursting, organizations must first identify the workloads and applications that are likely to experience spikes in demand. These workloads and applications must be designed to be portable and able to run in both the private and public cloud. This typically involves the use of cloud-agnostic technologies such as containers, microservices, and API gateways.

Once the workloads and applications have been identified and designed, the next step is to establish a connection between the private and public cloud. This connection is typically established using cloud bursting software, which acts as a bridge between the two clouds and facilitates the transfer of workloads and data.

When a spike in demand occurs, the cloud bursting software automatically transfers the load to the public cloud, where it can be quickly and easily scaled to meet the increased demand. The public cloud provides the necessary resources, such as CPU, memory, and storage, to handle the increased load.

Once the demand subsides, the cloud bursting software transfers the load back to the private cloud, where it can be managed more cost-effectively. This allows organizations to avoid the costs associated with maintaining excess capacity in the public cloud, while still ensuring that they have the resources they need to meet their business requirements.

There are several benefits to using cloud bursting, including increased scalability, cost-effectiveness, and improved application performance. By leveraging the resources of both the private and public cloud, organizations can cost-effectively manage spikes in demand and ensure that their applications and workloads are always available and performing optimally.

In conclusion, cloud bursting is a powerful technology that allows organizations to cost-effectively manage spikes in demand and maintain the performance, security, and control of their applications and workloads. By leveraging the resources of both the private and public cloud, organizations can ensure that their applications are always available and performing optimally, no matter the demand.