The self-driving data center
Despite such deficits, hybrid cloud management tools already
bring many advantages, the analyst sums up: "Basically, they are
automation and orchestration platforms." Users can use it to automate
manual tasks or tasks described by script, for example requesting, changing or
setting up standardized cloud services. In addition, many tools made it
possible to orchestrate the execution of such "tasks" across
different cloud platforms. In doing so, they often bind other automation tools,
for example for configurationmanagementor provisioning. Forrester uses a
reference model to illustrate how broad the range of functions of current
hybrid cloud management tools is today (see graphic).
Forrester's reference
model for a "Hybrid Cloud Management Solution" shows the wide range
of functions of such solutions.
Hybrid Cloud Management: The study results in detail
In the study , Forrester compares eleven leading providers of hybrid cloud management solutions based on 32 individual criteria. A group of four companies made it to the top: RightScale, CliQr, Dell and Scalr. Above all, the analysts praise the clear focus on the needs of software developers (GUI designs, APIs, etc.) as well as the self-service and management functions across cloud platforms.
Just behind, but still in the "Leaders" area, are
IBM , VMware and Red Hat. These providers have been competing in the
infrastructure and virtualization management market for years. In the Hybrid
Cloud Management segment, it is now primarily a matter of clear differentiation.
Forrester describes their offerings as "very strong solutions". They
are mainly used by IT professionals who want to both set up and manage a cloud
infrastructure and who see the hybrid cloud as an extension of existing private
cloud resources.
Microsoft, HP and BMC end up in the middle
The management products from Hewlett-Packard do not do quite
as well Enterprise(HPE), BMC and Microsoft. The Forrester experts position her
in the Strong Performers group. BMC, for example, has greatly improved its
admin portal, cost monitoring and configuration management features. The
solutions are particularly suitable for companies that have already invested
heavily in BMC products. HPE, on the other hand, is more likely to take the
approach of enabling customers to set up an OpenStack-based private cloud. The
HPE Helion CloudSystem plays a central role in this. Finally, Microsoft
combines good developer features with configuration management and automation
tools in its Windows Azure Pack. Forrester has not yet taken into account the
Azure Stack , which was recently presented as a technical preview .
A bit behind in the challenger segment
("Contender") is Citrix with its product "Lifecycle
Management". The visually appealing tool for multi-cloud management is
primarily designed for managing Citrix's own "CloudPlatform" and
other Citrix applications.
COMPUTERWOCHE and TECCHANNEL invited leading cloud providers to the "Cloud Readiness 2015" round table to discuss the results of the study of the same name and to look into the cloud and digitization future. Read the key messages from the participants.