Multi-cloud strategies promise flexibility and risk mitigation but introduce operational complexity. Understanding the implementation maturity is critical.
Multi-Cloud Motivations
- Risk mitigation: Avoid single provider dependency
- Best-of-breed: Use optimal service from each provider
- Compliance: Data residency and sovereignty requirements
- Cost optimization: Leverage competitive pricing
- M&A heritage: Inherited from acquired companies
Assessment Framework
1. Architecture Review
- Workload distribution rationale
- Portability of applications
- Data synchronization approach
- Network connectivity design
2. Operational Maturity
- Unified monitoring and observability
- Consistent security controls
- Common deployment pipelines
- Cost management across providers
3. Team Capabilities
- Skills across multiple platforms
- Operational runbook coverage
- On-call expertise distribution
- Training and certification
Common Pitfalls
- Accidental multi-cloud without strategy
- Duplicated services across providers
- Inconsistent security policies
- Underestimated operational complexity
- Hidden costs from data transfer
Key Takeaway: Multi-cloud done well is strategic. Multi-cloud done poorly is just complexity. Assess whether the implementation matches the stated strategy.