The Rise of Cloud Repatriation - What is it and How Will it Save Your Migration Strategy?

What is cloud repatriation?

In the simplest terms, cloud repatriation is when a business makes the decision to move its workloads and data from the public cloud to another environment. This could involve shifting your resources back to on-premise data centers, or opting for a private cloud environment.

Research has suggested this is a fairly common tactic. The 451 Alliance Datacenters 2021 survey, which encompassed more than 600 firms, found that nearly half (48%) of respondents had transferred a workload away from the public cloud in the past year.

Nearly nine out of ten (87%) companies in this group had moved onto a self-managed infrastructure, and 85% of those opted to use their own data center.

While there has been a lot of discussion about growth in cloud repatriation, there’s also debate about just how significant a trend it is.

What's beyond any doubt is that every business making a significant commitment to cloud computing should be aware of repatriation, so you know the options available if you decide to make adjustments to your IT strategy.

Why repatriate from the cloud?

Cloud repatriation can be a demanding process. If you already have business-critical data and workflows running on the public cloud, moving those resources on-premises or into a private cloud environment can be complex and potentially costly.

It's crucial, therefore, to make sure you have clear and compelling reasons to go ahead with repatriation.

Problems with your vendor

One of the most common motivations for any business to step back from the public cloud is dissatisfaction with a vendor.

If you experience significant lapses in service, workflow inefficiencies or security concerns, you might decide the best course of action is to cut your losses and move your essential data and applications to a different environment.

It's also possible that your supplier will encounter problems within their own company that force them to cease operating with little or no notice. While this may be unlikely, it's an eventuality you should be ready for.

You can mitigate these risks by taking a diligent approach to vendor assessment. Ask any potential partner to provide proof of the service and results they've delivered for other clients, and make sure you're happy with their security and disaster recovery protocols.

The wrong strategy

Cloud repatriation could prove necessary if it becomes clear that you selected the wrong strategy when planning your transition of key resources off-premises.

There are many types of cloud migration strategies to choose from, all with unique advantages and drawbacks. Rehosting, also known as 'lift and shift', is the simplest approach, but you could find that trying to replicate your legacy on-premise environment in the cloud leads to operational problems and inefficiencies further down the line.

It's important to allow sufficient time for research and planning, and to acknowledge that not all workloads are well-suited to the cloud. If this only becomes clear after you've completed a migration, repatriation could be something you'll need to consider.

Cost

Cost is a frequently cited benefit of cloud computing. However, depending on the unique nature and needs of your business, being reliant on the public cloud could prove to be financially inefficient in the long term.

Learn more: How to Calculate the Cost of Cloud Migration 

While you might not have to think about the capital expenditure and maintenance costs associated with on-premise infrastructure, you do need to consider the many possible financial implications of retaining a vendor to manage your complex cloud workloads.

Also, remember that provider fees are likely to change over time.

Flexibility

Repatriation is an option if your cloud migration doesn't pan out exactly as you had hoped. However, it's also worth noting that recent growth in businesses moving away from the public cloud could reflect a desire for flexibility, rather than dissatisfaction with existing services.

According to 451 Alliance, some industry commentators view the repatriation trend as evidence of how diverse the cloud landscape has become, with businesses taking advantage of the range of options available to them.

You may have found that public cloud services are ideal for many aspects of your business, but private cloud, on-site hosting or other solutions are preferable for workflows that involve particularly sensitive data or have unique security demands.

In this case, repatriation could help to optimize your IT infrastructure and ensure that every element of it is tailored to your needs.