Now more than ever, organizations want to make hybrid connections to the cloud. Hybrid strategies are important for organizations, and the right approach can support the next decade of digital transformation initiatives, according to Randy Rowland (pictured, left), chief operating officer of Cyxtera Technologies Inc.

“We live in a cloud-first world, and so we’ve got to be able to be responsive and be able to deliver capacity on demand and to allow our customers to dynamically connect to each other so they can start to consume these valuable services,” said Randy Rowland (pictured, left), chief operating officer of Cyxtera. “That’s really what we’re doing at Cyxtera.”

Rowland and Holland Barry (pictured, right), field chief technical officer of Cyxtera, spoke with industry analyst Dave Vellante during the Dell Technologies World 2022 event, an exclusive broadcast on theCUBE, SiliconANGLE Media’s livestreaming studio. They discussed the connection between data centers and hybrid cloud architectures. (* Disclosure below.)

Agile cloud needs more data architecture

The initial industry reaction to cloud capabilities, for some companies, was that the new architecture would eliminate the need for data center operations. But as it played out, cloud increased the need for data centers, according to Rowland.

“When a company starts to deploy and leverage more cloud, they need a place to land their digital infrastructure hub where they can make connections to all the different cloud solutions they’re going to consume, and they’re using their own internal resources at the same time,” he said.

Matching applications and venues to the best platform, one that uses the strengths to the greatest advantage, is the strategy behind the hybrid cloud approach. Drivers, such as cost, performance, security and data sovereignty, dictate the most appropriate platform, according to Barry.

“In terms of the drivers behind making a venue change, cost is one of the biggest ones that we see, and performance and security follow close after,” he stated.

Versatility, mobility and customization are key to leveraging available cloud and hybrid technologies Rowland added.

“We are trying to build a set of LEGOs to allow you to assemble your ultimate hybrid IT solution, including traditional colocation with great partnerships, access to a rich ecosystem of technology providers, access to cloud on-ramps, and also have the ability to switch,” he explained. “If you start with one cloud provider and you find something more cost-efficient or architecturally built, we can facilitate that switch.”

Here’s the complete video interview, part of SiliconANGLE’s and theCUBE’s coverage of the Dell Technologies World event:

(* Disclosure: TheCUBE is a paid media partner for Dell Technologies World. Neither Dell Technologies Inc., the sponsor for theCUBE’s event coverage, nor other sponsors have editorial control over content on theCUBE or SiliconANGLE.)

Photo: SiliconANGLE