How a multi-cloud solution can deliver an innovative and agile IT infrastructure

For many, cloud-based computing is nothing new. Whether it’s online shopping, email, banking, file sharing or streaming services, cloud technology pretty much underpins every aspect of our lives. For companies too, the attraction of cloud technology to transform business operations is obvious… scalable, flexible, the rapid deployment of services, cost-effective and high availability…the list goes on.

A gathering cloud systems challenge

With airlines and airports also utilizing new cloud-based technologies for a hybrid mix of public cloud services and on-premises infrastructure (private cloud), their use for managing complex global business functions was expected to make things easier.

Instead, it’s become a major headache.

With airlines operating in many different countries and using multiple regional cloud providers, managing a hybrid cloud landscape has become increasingly more difficult. Individual cloud vendors, operating as a global network of ‘islands’, have introduced the potential to generate significant complexity, given each has its own hardware, processes and schedules. So instead of transforming business operations, the challenge now facing IT departments with a multiple-vendor cloud strategy is how to manage a cloud infrastructure that looks increasingly like a spaghetti junction. And as the growth in data migration continues, spurred by the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), managing a fragmented network of cloud providers is only set to become more complex.

The pioneering multi-cloud solution

Against this background, and in keeping with our approach to choosing best-of-breed technology solutions, SITA has partnered with Alkira, a pioneer in network infrastructure-as-a-service and a Gartner-recognized vendor, to help deliver a multi-cloud networking capability.

Built into SITA Connect Go, our flagship SASE (secure access service edge) solution, the Alkira-based multi-cloud solution allows simple cloud integration within all networking environments, including the tandem adoption of cloud providers. It securely inter-connects with the third-party cloud environments provided by business partners, whose Individual services are managed behind the scenes through a customized ecosystem that is tailored to specific business and technical requirements.

Benefits of multi-cloud networking

The capabilities of multi-cloud networking include:

• Actionable insights for networking and security across multiple cloud platforms, and between cloud and on-airport and off-airport environments;
• Avoiding single vendor dependency with the ability to switch providers without major disruption;
• Delivering an innovative and agile IT infrastructure that enables new cloud providers to be integrated into an existing cloud ecosystem, while driving accelerated cloud adoption and innovation;
• Built-in system resilience should a cloud provider experience an IT outrage;
• Flexible financing models based on bandwidth requirements, delivered for a monthly subscription, and;
• Best-of-breed service providers adopted for each different task, whether for storage, data analytics or machine learning.

The integrated multi-cloud solution

SITA’s Multi-Cloud addresses the hurdles of managing complexity and visibility by providing a unified cloud networking topology and a centralized portal, while integrating with SITA Connect Go SASE solution. It provides seamless access to airline-specific applications through SITA’s secure global infrastructure, with the ease and simplicity that cloud computing is intended to deliver.

For more details about how SITA Connect Go Multi-Cloud can transform your operations, please contact your Account Manager.