How is a hybrid cloud defined?

A hybrid cloud is defined as a computing environment that combines public and private clouds, allowing for greater flexibility and more deployment options. This model enables organizations to use a mix of on-premises infrastructure, private cloud services, and public cloud services to meet their specific business needs.

The flexibility of a hybrid cloud architecture allows for the secure handling of sensitive data in a private cloud environment while taking advantage of the scalability and cost-effectiveness of public cloud services for less sensitive operations. This combination allows businesses to optimize their resources and improve their overall operational efficiency, as they can move workloads between private and public clouds as needed.

In contrast, the other definitions involve limitations that do not align with the principles of a hybrid cloud. For instance, a cloud that operates entirely in a local environment suggests a private cloud with no connection to public cloud resources, while storing data on-premises only focuses solely on local storage without leveraging cloud benefits. Lastly, relying solely on traditional data centers negates the advantages of cloud computing, such as scalability and elastic resource provisioning, which are essential characteristics of the hybrid cloud model.