Hybrid Cloud: is a cloud computing environment which uses a mix of on-premises, private cloud and third-party, public cloud services with orchestration between the two platforms to perform distinct functions within the same organisation. By allowing workloads to move between private and public clouds as computing needs and costs change, hybrid cloud gives businesses greater flexibility and more data deployment options. Therefore, an organisation can maximise their efficiencies by employing public cloud services for all non-sensitive operations, only relying on a private cloud where they require it and ensuring that all of their platforms are seamlessly integrated.

Hybrid cloud models can be implemented in a number of ways:

• Separate cloud providers team up to provide both private and public services as an integrated service
• Individual cloud providers offer a complete hybrid package
• Organisations who manage their private clouds themselves sign up to a public cloud service which they then integrate into their infrastructure