Content Resources > The Alternative Cloud™

The cloud market is dominated by a handful of large companies but there's innovation and growth using alternative cloud vendors.

Migrating to the cloud is a massive undertaking for any business, but for small and medium size businesses, it’s particularly difficult. According to Nicole Henderson, research analyst at 451 Research, one of the biggest challenges these businesses face is understanding all of the available options in the cloud market and choosing the “best execution and venue for their workloads and applications.”

For some companies -- okay, most companies -- one cloud provider just isn’t enough. Whether to avoid vendor lock-in, to take advantage of best-in-breed offerings, for redundancy, or to optimize costs, organizations are using multiple clouds to meet their specific needs, according to Liam Eagle, Research Director at 451 Research.

The public cloud has come a long way in a relatively short amount of time. In fact, according to Melanie Posey, Research Director for Cloud and Managed Services Transformation at 451 Research, it’s entering its teen years (sure, but who’s counting?). And if there’s one thing some teenagers are known for, it’s “drama and complexity,” she says.

The term alternative cloud provider is more nuanced than it seems. One of the first to coin the term, Liam Eagle, Research Director at 451 Research, defines an alternative provider as any public cloud provider that isn’t a hyperscaler; for instance, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud Platform, and Microsoft Azure. And that’s where the nuance comes in because not every alternative provider can be a credible alternative to what the hyperscalers offer.

Whether it's to support remote operations or simply make their businesses more agile, many companies have recognized the growing need to migrate to the cloud. But the challenge now is choosing the right provider.

Ned Bellavance outlines the current cloud provider landscape and discusses why you should choose a provider that is simple, reliable, and affordable. Selecting a cloud provider is a business decision. As you consider a cloud provider for your next project, remember that the alternative cloud could be the right fit.