What is Cloud Infrastructure?

Cloud infrastructure is the set of components that support cloud computing environments. Key elements of cloud infrastructure include compute, storage, networking, and virtualization technologies.

Many organizations have adopted cloud computing because it provides them with vital tools to support their digital transformation projects. The ability to rapidly provision and deprovision resources in cloud environments enhances the scalability and agility that companies can achieve.

Core Components of Cloud Infrastructure

Compute Resources

Compute resources provide the processing power required to run applications in the cloud. Some key elements of cloud compute include:

• Cloud Instances: Organizations may deploy resources to the cloud in various ways. Common examples include virtual machines (VMs), containerized applications, and serverless applications.
• Virtualization and Containerization: Virtualization allows virtualized computing resources — such as VMs or containers — to run as software on top of the host server. VMs are hosted by hypervisors, while containerized applications are hosted by Docker and similar solutions.
• Serverless Computing: Serverless computing abstracts away the management of the environment where applications are run. Serverless applications are deployed to the cloud, and the cloud provider offers access to computing power, storage, and other resources. 

Storage Solutions

Companies need access to storage in the cloud to host files or the data used by their applications. Important concepts in cloud storage include:

• Various Storage Types: Cloud providers offer a variety of different storage options to support their customers. These include object, block, and file storage   AWS S3 is an example of an object storage solution 
• Data Redundancy: Availability is a key selling point of the cloud, and this includes ensuring that users have consistent access to their data and that it is protected against potential loss. Cloud providers replicate data across multiple locations, and these redundant copies ensure that users can access their data even if a system goes down.
• Tiered Storage Options: Storage, like other elements of cloud environments, is not one-size-fits-all. Cloud providers commonly offer different tiers of storage, enabling customers to balance cost against accessibility and other factors.

Networking and Connectivity

Cloud environments are heavily dependent on virtualized networking since each cloud customer needs their own isolated network despite sharing the same physical infrastructure. Some key elements of cloud network infrastructure include:

• Software-Defined Networking (SDN): SDN defines network infrastructure and routing at the software level, creating an overlay on top of physical infrastructure. This allows cloud providers to enable dynamic, programmatic control of the network,  offering their customers distinct networks for segmentation in the cloud.
• Load Balancing and CDNs: Cloud providers need to ensure that users have low-latency access to their cloud resources. Load balancers and content delivery networks (CDNs) host redundant copies of data and applications to ensure efficient access.
• Hybrid and Multi-Cloud Networking: Hybrid and multi-cloud deployments may divide cloud infrastructure over multiple public and private environments. These should be connected by virtual private networks (VPNs) or similar solutions to ensure that data can move securely from one site to another.

Virtualization and Abstraction Layer

Cloud environments use virtualization to host many VMs on a single server and to virtualize network infrastructure. Some important parts of the virtualization layer include:

• Hypervisors: Hypervisors are software that allows VMs to run on top of a physical host. They’re responsible for managing access to the host’s resources and isolating users from one another.
• Container Orchestration Platforms: Container orchestration platforms like Kubernetes enable containerized applications to be hosted and run in cloud environments. These containers use their host’s operating system kernel but are bundled with all of the system libraries and dependencies that they would need to run in any environment.
• Infrastructure as Code (IaC): IaC implements resource provisioning and configuration as code that can be executed to set up new systems. This increases agility by enabling automated provisioning and reduces the potential for configuration errors. 

Cloud Infrastructure Models: Choosing the Right Approach

Public Cloud Infrastructure

Public cloud environments are operated by a third-party provider and include solutions such as AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud. These solutions take advantage of economies of scale to offer improved scalability, flexibility, availability, and cost benefits to their users. Customers can spin up or take down resources on an as-needed basis and pay based on their usage.

One major limitation of public cloud environments is that they are multi-tenant where customers share the same infrastructure with other customers. While public cloud workloads are isolated using virtualization technology, this has potential privacy and security implications. Additionally, the fact that the underlying infrastructure is owned and managed by the cloud provider can limit customers’ visibility into and control over their cloud deployments.

Public cloud environments are well-suited to workloads that need its advantages (scalability, flexibility, availability, etc.) and have limited data privacy concerns. For example, an organization may host its website and public-facing web applications on the public cloud.

Private Cloud Infrastructure

Private clouds deploy cloud infrastructure within an organization’s own data center or that of a trusted partner using solutions such as OpenStack. With greater control over the deployment environment, private cloud users can better implement data security and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.

However, private clouds lack some of the advantages provided by public cloud environments. For example, if an organization has to purchase and operate all of the underlying infrastructure, these private clouds can cost more than pay-per-usage public cloud deployments. Additionally, a company may lack the resources required to implement the same level of availability and scalability as possible with a public cloud provider.

Private clouds are well-suited to workloads where security, privacy, and compliance are of paramount importance. For example, an organization may choose to host apps processing data protected under HIPAA or PCI DSS to simplify compliance management.

Hybrid Cloud Infrastructure

Hybrid clouds combine public and private clouds into a single deployment. This enables an organization to take advantage of the benefits of each, placing low-risk resources in the public cloud and more sensitive ones in the private cloud.

However, implementing a hybrid cloud infrastructure can be more complex than one hosted only on a single platform. Companies need to ensure that data and workloads are portable across environments and that they can effectively monitor and manage their diverse environments. Security and management tools designed for or available in one environment may not work in the other, creating visibility silos and potential security gaps.

Multi-Cloud Strategies

Multi-cloud infrastructures use several cloud providers, potentially including a combination of multiple public clouds and a private cloud. This approach enables an organization to select the environment that is best suited to a particular cloud workload and helps to protect against vendor lock-in.

However, like hybrid clouds, multi-cloud deployments can be complex to operate since they require expertise in configuring, managing, and securing multiple providers’ platforms. Each public cloud has its own infrastructure and set of configuration settings that must be set up correctly to protect against potential data breaches and other attacks.

Using unified management and monitoring tools that can span across different cloud environments is crucial for maintaining security and performance.

Cloud Service Models

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) provides cloud users with access to virtual resources, including compute, storage, and networking. The cloud customer can deploy VMs in their environment, and pays for resources that they use. Some examples of IaaS services in the public cloud include AWS EC2, Google Compute Engine, and Azure VM.

Platform as a Service (PaaS)

Platform as a Service (PaaS) deployments provide customers with an environment where they can develop and run applications without the need to manage the operating system and underlying infrastructure. These environments provide developers with the tools needed for creating and running their applications, and are designed to improve development efficiency. Some examples of PaaS services include Heroku, Google App Engine, and AWS Elastic Beanstalk.

Software as a Service (SaaS)

Software as a Service (SaaS) applications are applications created and managed wholly by another organization. These are available based on a subscription model, and the user is only responsible for their own configurations and data within the app. Examples of SaaS applications include Microsoft 365, Salesforce, and Google Workspace.

Evaluating and Selecting Cloud Infrastructure Solutions

Making the move to the cloud can provide significant benefits for an organization. However, it’s important to choose a cloud environment that meets the company’s needs. Some key steps include:

• Identifying Business Objectives: Cloud infrastructure should be designed to help the business. Before evaluating potential solutions, the company should identify the intended use cases for the cloud and the expected benefits of a cloud migration.
• Defining an Assessment Framework: Based on these business goals, the organization can define a framework for assessing potential solutions. These could include functional requirements, security considerations, and the cost of various solutions.
• Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) Analysis: Different clouds have varying TCO due to the potential need to buy and operate infrastructure for a private cloud or pay for services on a public cloud. When calculating TCO, it’s important to consider both capital and operational expenses (CapEx and OpEx) and the varying tiers of service available with public cloud.
• Benchmarking and Testing: Application performance and scalability are common drivers of cloud migrations. Each potential solution should be benchmarked against key criteria to determine which offers the optimal fit for a workload.
• Compliance Considerations: Private clouds may be more compliant than public clouds, and public clouds can have a range of compliance considerations. For example, data localization requirements in laws such as the GDPR could limit the providers an organization could use or where data can be hosted in their networks.

Security and Compliance in Cloud Infrastructure

Advanced Security Architectures

Many organizations struggle with securing their cloud environments. Some key security strategies to mitigate this risk include:

• Identity and Access Management (IAM): IAM solutions centralize the management of an organization’s identity management and access controls in a single solution. Consolidating IAM across cloud environments helps organizations maintain consistent security and implement IAM best practices like least privilege.
• Zero Trust Security: The zero trust security model requires explicit verification of each request and implements the principle of least privilege (POLP). Implementing zero trust across public and private cloud environments reduces the risk of data breaches and other threats due to compromised accounts.
• Data Encryption and Key Management: Cloud data breaches are a common occurrence, often due to incorrect security configurations. Encrypting data in the cloud and using secure key storage solutions, such as Hardware Security Modules (HSMs), is critical for managing encryption keys securely in cloud environments, reducing the risk of exposure and enhancing regulatory compliance.

Compliance Frameworks and Standards

When deploying and operating cloud environments, organizations must also consider their compliance responsibilities and security best practices. Some key considerations include:

• Data Privacy Laws: Many jurisdictions have data privacy laws, such as the GDPR and CCPA, that mandate certain protections for customer data. Companies will need to understand their responsibilities under these laws and how to effectively implement them in the cloud.
• Industry-Specific Regulations: In addition to general data privacy laws, companies may be subject to industry-specific regulations and standards, such as HIPAA and PCI DSS. These ensure that companies are properly protecting certain types of data, such as healthcare information or payment card data.
• Standards and Best Practices: While not mandatory, resources such as the Cloud Security Alliance (CSA), Cloud Controls Matrix (CCM), and the NIST CSF include cloud security best practices. Implementing these can enhance an organization’s cloud security posture and simplify regulatory compliance.

Best Practices for Securing Cloud Environments

Some best practices for securing cloud environments against cyber threats include the following:

• Network Segmentation: Network segmentation divides the network into isolated segments, protecting against lateral movement of threats within an organization’s environment. Microsegmentation takes this a step further, placing each server or application inside its own trust boundary, which is an essential component of a zero trust security architecture.
• Continuous Monitoring: Public cloud environments are publicly accessible, meaning that attackers can rapidly and stealthily steal sensitive data after gaining access. Continuous monitoring and threat detection help an organization identify and respond to threats before they cause significant damage to the business.
• Incident Response and Disaster Recovery Planning: Advance planning is essential to effective incident response and disaster management. Since cloud environments differ significantly from on-prem environments, incident response and disaster recovery plans should be updated to include cloud environments.

Cloud Infrastructure Migration and Modernization

Moving data and workloads to the cloud can be a significant and complex undertaking. Some important steps in a cloud migration and modernization strategy include:

• Assessing Cloud Readiness: Workloads deployed in on-prem environments can have varying levels of cloud readiness. For example, monolithic applications with many on-prem dependencies may be less suited to a transition to the cloud than a more modular, standalone application.
• Develop a Phased Migration Strategy: Cloud migrations are complex, and an organization may identify issues during the migration process. Planning the migration in phases reduces the potential for downtime and other impacts on the company and its customers.
• Refactor Applications for Cloud-Native Architectures: Taking a “lift and shift” approach to cloud migration, where on-prem applications are simply redeployed in the cloud, doesn’t enable the organization to take full advantage of cloud benefits. Refactoring applications to be cloud-native makes them more flexible, scalable, and cost-effective in the cloud.
• Manage Data Migration and Synchronization: Moving data to the cloud could take some time, especially if the organization is moving large databases and other substantial data stores. The organization should implement a plan for data migration that includes plans for synchronizing data between on-prem and cloud environments as needed.
• Minimize Downtime: Cloud migrations can cause downtime if the deployment is not carefully planned and synchronized. Duplicate copies of applications should be deployed to the cloud and then cut over in a controlled manner to minimize downtime.

Benefits of Cloud Infrastructure

Most companies have some level of cloud adoption due to the various benefits it provides for its users. Some of the most common include:

• Scalability and Flexibility: Cloud environments offer access to resources on an as-needed basis. This enables an organization to rapidly scale its cloud infrastructure to handle sudden surges or gradual growth.
• Cost Efficiency: Cloud customers are only billed for the resources that they use on a pay-as-you-go basis. This can be more cost-effective since otherwise companies may need to operate oversized infrastructure to ensure that it can handle surges in demand.
• High Availability and Disaster Recovery: Public cloud providers duplicate their customers’ data and workloads across multiple geographically distributed locations. This helps to ensure high availability and protects against downtime due to localized disruptions.
• Global Accessibility: Public cloud infrastructure is designed to be highly accessible from around the world. This helps to support distributed companies or ones with remote workforces.

Future Trends in Cloud Infrastructure

Various emerging and future trends have the potential to transform how companies use cloud infrastructure. Some of the most significant include:

• Edge Computing: Edge computing moves processing power to the network edge in Internet of Things (IoT) devices and their gateways. These devices preprocess data before sending it to the cloud, reducing latency and the volume of data sent to and processed by cloud servers.
• Multi-cloud and Hybrid Cloud Strategies: The majority of cloud users have embraced hybrid and multi-cloud deployments. These enable an organization to better customize its cloud usage at the cost of additional complexity and security challenges.
• AI and Machine Learning Integration: Artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) are rapidly growing more sophisticated. Cloud environments can be used to train and host these tools, or companies may use them to optimize and manage their cloud deployments at scale.
• Quantum Computing in the Cloud: While large-scale quantum computing is still a thing of the future, it is rapidly coming. Soon, quantum computers may be accessible from cloud service providers, expanding what can be done with the cloud.
• Confidential Computing: Confidential computing is an emerging approach that aims to protect data while it is in use, offering enhanced privacy and security. It is particularly relevant for industries with stringent data protection needs, such as finance and healthcare.

Embracing Cloud Infrastructure for Business Success

Many organizations have adopted cloud computing, but each cloud environment has its own advantages and disadvantages. Many of the traditional benefits of the cloud — scalability, availability, and cost-effectiveness — are particular to public clouds, which suffer from weaker security. On the other hand, private clouds offer a higher level of control and security at the cost of reduced scalability and flexibility.

When designing a cloud deployment, it’s important to ensure that cloud infrastructure meets the needs of the business. Hybrid and multi-cloud deployments have become more popular due to their customizability, but they are more complex to monitor, manage, and secure.
Cato SASE Cloud offers consistent visibility and protection across on-prem, private cloud, and public cloud environments. Learn more about the benefits of SASE and how it can enhance the security of your organization’s cloud deployment.