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Bringing it Home Exploring Cloud Repatriation with Dell APEX

by | Mar 3, 2023

Bringing it Home: Exploring Cloud Repatriation with Dell APEX

Despite the enormous growth of cloud providers, at least 80% of respondents to a 2021 IDC questionnaire reported repatriating their cloud workloads back to on-prem. The same report also showed that repatriation increases when public cloud costs rise, and that 70% of enterprises are now using a multi-cloud solution.

Cloud repatriation is when companies move their data and applications away from a public cloud provider to a private data center. This might initially seem counter-intuitive, given how we’ve been bombarded with statistics over the last few years about how cloud solutions make more sense. But technological advancements have put many on-prem solutions on par with major cloud providers’ offerings.

One such advancement is Dell APEX, a console-based SaaS solution to deploy, manage, and maintain your clouds, whether on-prem or public.

Let’s take a look at why companies might be repatriating their cloud solutions, when it makes sense to do so, and how Dell APEX can help smooth out the process.

Benefits of on-prem/private clouds

Now that the cloud computing industry has matured, we can see factors that were not apparent several years ago. One key observation covered in this Andreessen Horowitz article is that cloud costs start to eat away at margins when companies become large. Cloud computing seems to deliver early in the lifecycle but becomes burdensome later.

This was impossible to know when companies first started migrating to public cloud infrastructures.

Other benefits of private clouds include:

  • Increased visibility
  • Better data protection, essential for companies in the healthcare industry
  • Increased security
  • More control
  • More options

When it makes sense to repatriate

Several elements combine to make the need to repatriate an urgent one. The first is complexity.

Using too many cloud providers result in scattered applications that become a nightmare to manage. The slightest error across a distributed solution could take days to troubleshoot, with no guarantees the solution will be found.

To solve this, complex observability solutions must be installed, further adding complexity and costs.

Consistency of experience is another factor driving repatriation. As companies scale and spread themselves across providers, users face a growing inconsistency of platforms. This can lead to reduced productivity and increased frustration.

Costs can spiral quite severely out of control when a company scales to a large enough size.

And Vendor lock-in is another crucial element that might indicate the need to repatriate.

The Dell APEX story

Dell recognized this problem and provided two options:

  • Providing a consistent experience across cloud providers or
  • Assisting with repatriating by making the initial cloud setup a breeze

One of the appeals of cloud providers has been the “pay for what you need” model, also known as Opex. Setting up such a solution on-prem wasn’t previously possible without complex financing terms. Companies had to invest heavily in infrastructure that was difficult to scale because it meant moving servers and adding immense human effort every time someone needed more computing power.

Dell APEX has configured its on-prem solution so that you type in the requirements — similar to how it’s done on any other cloud platform — and then Dell takes care of it for you. You simply fill in the requirements you need, then increase those requirements whenever you’re ready to scale.

Overview of Dell APEX features

APEX streamlines the process of configuring and deploying IT infrastructure.

The service provides a console-based self-service catalog where customers can select the Dell hardware, software, and services they need. Billing is usage-based, and commitments are flexible. Proactive analytics lets customers identify potential maintenance issues before they flare up, reducing downtime.

Users can upgrade any time they want to, and the deployment process is a breeze.

If you are deploying privately, the APEX console even provides information about on-the-ground logistics, such as whether the site has parking, and its power supply details, to ensure we quickly and easily integrate with your existing technology to maximize efficiency when your team is ready to deploy.

If you choose a colocation deployment option, Dell takes care of the rest, and you only get a single bill.

Dell APEX use cases and success stories

As an enterprise-ready solution, Dell’s APEX has already seen several significant brands use its repatriation and cloud consolidation services to reduce costs and complexity. For example, NG Bailey, an engineering and services company in the UK, recently switched to Dell APEX to reduce its costs and improve its IT management.

At CoAction, we have likewise assisted a customer with cloud repatriation using Dell APEX, and managed to immensely reduce their costs and overall complexity due to this integrated tool.

Cloud repatriation makes sense for many workloads

Now that more data exists about cloud costs for larger corporations and those whose growth has slowed, it’s clear that a more cohesive connection between cloud providers is needed. Or an entirely on-prem solution.

Dell APEX makes this transition simple, and CoAction can help any enterprise determine which workloads are a good fit and ensure an swift, error free migration.

To learn more about how we can help you carry out a cloud repatriation with minimal disruption, contact us today!

About Thomas Napolitano
Don't let Thomas Napolitano's serious expertise in cyber security fool you - when he's not busy safeguarding digital assets, you might find him on the racetrack, pushing his limits in high-speed competitions. With a need for speed that rivals Ricky Bobby himself, Thomas knows that in racing and in cyber security, success is all about staying ahead of the curve. So buckle up and get ready to race towards a safer digital future with Thomas and CoAction!