Choosing the Right Cloud for Your Business

Cloud computing today is like navigating a maze. Public, private, hybrid, and multi-cloud – they all sound compelling, each promising their own mix of performance, security, and flexibility. But let’s be honest, making the right choice choosing the right cloud, is one of the biggest strategic decisions any organisation will face. Not only is there the issue of cost and skills exposure, but also being ‘locked-in’ or committed to a single solution or provider, none of which are fully exposed in a simple ‘cloud first’ strategy.

When I’m working with clients, I always say: the technical specs are only part of the story. What really matters is aligning your cloud decisions with your business goals – while avoiding vendor lock-in and those hidden budget surprises that can turn an attractive price tag into a long-term headache.

So, in this blog, I’m sharing my take on how to make informed, grounded choices. 

I’ll walk through the current cloud landscape, highlight the financial realities of cloud migration, and share what I’ve learnt about placing workloads in the right environment – all while keeping control through good governance.

Key Takeaways from My Experience:

• Put your workloads first. Think performance, data sensitivity, compliance – not just industry trends.
• Look beyond the upfront price. Data egress charges, API calls, management tools (and skillsets) – they all add up.
• Hybrid cloud gives you choice. Stay flexible while keeping control of sensitive or legacy workloads and if we get this bit right, less tools and a single control pane is possible.
• Centralised governance is a must. Keep control across multiple environments without overcomplicating admin.
• Stay adaptable. Revisit your strategy regularly to align with changing business needs.

My View on the Cloud Options
Public cloud platforms are brilliant for scalability and pay-as-you-go pricing. But if your workloads are steady and predictable, watch out – you might find yourself with runaway costs, especially once data transfer fees kick in.

Private cloud, on the other hand, puts you in a less scalable but more solid control. For companies handling sensitive data or with predictable usage, this model often makes more sense – especially when customisation and governance are top priorities.

Then there’s hybrid cloud – the approach I recommend most often. You keep your critical workloads close, while using public cloud for flexibility. It’s the best of both worlds.

Multi-cloud adds another layer: spreading your risk across providers. It’s a great way to avoid vendor lock-in, but it does bring complexity. You’ll need the right tools and skills to manage it well.

In the early days of the cloud, the dream was freedom and flexibility. But let’s be honest – most providers today want to keep you locked in. That’s why it’s so important to stay in control of your cloud decisions and cost aside, while the tools that a single cloud provides are impressive, they often stop portability. Last year for example, I met the CTO of a very large organisation who had spent the last five years getting buy in from the board on cloud, moved everything to Azure, redeveloped their applications only to then realise that the only place those applications can now run…. was the single platform that they were developed on.

What I Recommend Clients Consider First
Start with a proper workload assessment. I always push for a “workload-first” approach, not the ‘cloud first’ view that I am often presented with – one that considers what each application really needs, how are they being accessed and what they mean to the business before making any platform decisions.

Data gravity is another critical factor. When data volumes are large, moving them between clouds gets costly and slow. Keep the workloads close to the data when performance matters.

Don’t underestimate the hidden costs. I’ve seen too many businesses fall into the trap of focusing only on hourly rates, then get stung by transfer charges, API calls, or specialised tooling needs…. oh and the biggest use of data egress?…that would be off platform backups for most.

Security and compliance requirements also vary wildly. You need to match the right cloud model with your specific obligations – whether that’s GDPR, ISO standards, or sector-specific regulations.

And don’t forget about architecture. Distributed systems might benefit from broad cloud coverage, but if you’re running something more centralised, hybrid might give you the best control and performance balance.

The Realities of Cloud Migration
Here’s the truth: lifting and shifting legacy VMs into the public cloud is usually the most expensive way to run them. I say this a lot to clients – just because it’s in the cloud doesn’t make it cheaper or better.

Sure, reserved instances and savings plans offer discounts, but they reduce flexibility – which is part of what makes cloud attractive in the first place.

Instead, I encourage clients to automate resource management wherever possible. Let the tools do the work of right-sizing and scaling. That’s how you avoid waste.

Also, schedule regular cost reviews. It’s surprising how often we uncover idle services, unused capacity, orphaned data or smarter design options that can trim the bill significantly.

Ultimately, it’s about making informed, pragmatic choices – especially for workloads that don’t need the elasticity of the cloud. Often, they’re cheaper and more efficient to run elsewhere.

Why I’m a Big Believer in Hybrid Cloud
Hybrid cloud gives us freedom. You get the control of private infrastructure and the agility of the public cloud – and that’s a powerful combination.

With hybrid, you’re not locked into rigid service tiers. You’re free to choose the best environment for each workload, based on cost, performance, and compliance.

Nutanix is a key enabler here. Their platform allows seamless workload movement across on-prem, private cloud, and major public cloud providers like Azure, AWS, and GCP – all with a unified management pane and without the need to setup different networks and security profiles in each location.

And when it comes to resilience, hybrid shines. You can design systems to eliminate single points of failure and build robust DR capabilities. That’s real business continuity.

Placing Workloads Where They Belong
There’s no one-size-fits-all in cloud strategy. It’s about “right workload, right platform.” For me, that means digging into the technical and commercial requirements of each application.

Performance matters. If an app is data-heavy, keep it near the data source. That reduces latency and keeps egress charges down.

As cloud offerings evolve, so should your strategy. Pricing changes, business goals shift – stay agile. Reassess often and adjust your plans accordingly.

Tools like those from Nutanix simplify hybrid management, giving you the insight and control to make data-driven decisions – without compromising performance or governance or limiting your ability to redistribute your licensing should your requirements change.

Getting Governance Right
Today’s cloud control planes have changed the game. We can now apply consistent security, compliance, and management across platforms – without needing a dedicated admin for each environment.

Governance tools help you manage complexity. They give you visibility and enforce policies across your whole cloud estate – something I recommend for every client working in multiple environments.

And let’s not forget about skills. You need people who can manage these hybrid setups – and automation to reduce the workload. Training and tools go hand in hand.

ET Works, Your Cloud Transformation Partner
Cloud success comes from experience and independence. At ET Works, we bring both. Our team has the technical depth and vendor-neutral approach to help you make smart, sustainable choices.

We offer a full suite of services – from cloud architecture and migration to cyber security, data platforms, and modern workplace transformation. But what sets us apart is how we align IT decisions with business goals.

If you’re ready to build a flexible, future-ready cloud strategy, let’s talk. Get in touch to see how we can help your business move forward with confidence.

Final Thought
The most resilient cloud strategies are built to adapt. Focus on workload needs. Stay flexible. And never lose sight of the business case.

If you get those things right, you’ll unlock the real promise of cloud computing – and avoid the pitfalls that trip up so many others.