Cloud computing has revolutionized how businesses operate, providing flexibility, scalability, and reliability. However, when it comes to failover strategies, an important question arises: Is failing over from one cloud provider to another always the best solution?

Dave Bermingham, Senior Technical Evangelist at SIOS Technology, in a recent discussion with Swapnil Bhartiya, sheds light on the complexities of cross-cloud failover. Bermingham notes that while it might seem like a good idea in theory, in practice, it can introduce significant challenges.

According to Bermingham, “Failing over from one cloud provider to another is not always feasible. It can introduce significant complexity.” One of the key issues is that different cloud providers often have vastly different architectures and service offerings. Differences in network configurations, data handling policies, and compliance requirements can pose major obstacles to seamless failover.

Another major challenge lies in workload dependencies. If workloads are tightly coupled to a specific cloud provider’s proprietary services, migrating them during a failover scenario may require substantial re-engineering. This could lead to increased costs and operational complexity, potentially outweighing the intended benefits.

Alternatives to Cross-Cloud Failover

Given these challenges, Bermingham suggests that other high-availability strategies might be more practical. “In such cases, the complexity and cost might outweigh the benefits, making other high availability strategies like multi-region failover within the same provider more practical,” Bermingham adds.

By leveraging a multi-region setup within the same cloud provider, businesses can still achieve high availability while avoiding the difficulties associated with cross-cloud migration. This approach ensures that workloads remain within a familiar environment, reducing the need for extensive reconfiguration and compliance adjustments.

Rethinking Disaster Recovery: Why Cross-Cloud Failover Isn’t Always the Best Strategy

While cross-cloud failover may seem like a robust solution for disaster recovery and high availability, it is not always the most viable option. The complexity and costs associated with differences in infrastructure, compliance, and proprietary services can make it impractical. Instead, businesses should consider alternative strategies, such as multi-region failover within the same cloud provider, to ensure seamless continuity and optimal performance.

Guest: Dave Bermingham (LinkedIn)
Company: SIOS Technology
Show: Data Driven