Hybrid Cloud: the best of on-premises and cloud, together.
Hybrid cloud is an architecture where some workloads run in your office or data centre and others run in a public cloud like Azure or AWS - with a secure, private connection between them. It is the right model when you have on-premises workloads you cannot or do not want to move, but you need cloud capacity for backups, disaster recovery, remote work, or specific cloud-native services. North Star designs and manages hybrid cloud environments for BC and AB businesses that need the flexibility without the complexity.
What is a hybrid cloud architecture?
In a hybrid cloud setup, your on-premises servers and your cloud resources are connected by a private, encrypted link - typically an Azure ExpressRoute, AWS Direct Connect, or a site-to-site VPN - so traffic flows securely between them without going over the public internet. Your staff and applications see both environments as one network. Common hybrid cloud patterns include using the cloud for backup and disaster recovery while keeping primary workloads on-premises, running cloud virtual machines for burst capacity during busy periods, hosting customer-facing applications in the cloud while keeping internal databases on-premises, and using cloud identity (Azure Active Directory / Entra ID) to manage users and devices in both environments. North Star handles the network design, cloud configuration, identity integration, and ongoing management so you get the intended benefits without the operational complexity.
What North Star delivers.
Secure private link between your office and the cloud.
Site-to-site VPN or dedicated private connection (ExpressRoute / Direct Connect) provisioned and managed by North Star. Traffic between on-premises and cloud stays off the public internet.
Single identity across on-premises and cloud.
Azure AD / Entra ID synchronisation or AWS IAM Identity Centre configured so your users log in once and access both on-premises and cloud resources without separate credentials.
Cloud as the target for on-premises backups and DR.
Use cloud storage for immutable backup targets and cloud VMs for disaster recovery. Recover on-premises workloads in the cloud when your site is unavailable.
Unified monitoring across on-premises and cloud resources.
A single pane of glass for performance, security, and cost across your entire hybrid environment - not separate consoles for each side.
Optimise cloud spend while keeping on-premises costs stable.
Hybrid cloud can save money compared to a full cloud migration, but only with disciplined cost controls on the cloud side. North Star reviews cloud spend monthly.
What buyers ask before they sign.
Who should consider hybrid cloud instead of moving fully to the cloud?
Hybrid cloud suits businesses that have recent investments in on-premises hardware they do not want to retire yet, specific applications that perform better on-premises (high-throughput database workloads, for example), or genuine data residency requirements. It is also common as a transitional state during a phased cloud migration.
Is hybrid cloud more expensive than being fully in the cloud?
It depends. If you have recently purchased on-premises hardware, hybrid cloud lets you amortise that investment while adding cloud capabilities. In the long run, a well-designed full cloud environment is often more cost-effective, but the transition cost matters. North Star produces a three-year total cost of ownership comparison during the assessment phase.
What is the difference between a site-to-site VPN and ExpressRoute / Direct Connect?
A site-to-site VPN runs over your existing internet connection and is suitable for most SMBs. ExpressRoute (Azure) and Direct Connect (AWS) are dedicated private circuits that bypass the internet entirely and offer guaranteed bandwidth and lower latency. They cost more but are appropriate for high-volume workloads or regulated environments.
Can North Star manage both the on-premises and cloud sides of a hybrid environment?
Yes. North Star manages hybrid environments as a single engagement: monitoring, patching, security, and cost management across both on-premises and cloud components.
How long does a hybrid cloud design and setup project take?
The design and connectivity setup typically takes two to six weeks. If cloud workloads are being deployed at the same time (disaster recovery, burst capacity), add the time for those workloads. North Star provides a project timeline during the assessment phase.
Ready to design your hybrid cloud environment?
Tell us about your environment and we will come back with a scoped proposal in two business days. No obligation, no pressure.
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