Cloud
Hybrid cloud explained for small business
When to keep servers on-prem, what belongs in Microsoft 365 or Azure, and how hybrid setups stay secure and supportable.
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What hybrid means
Hybrid cloud mixes on-premises systems (file servers, accounting apps, printers, legacy databases) with public cloud services like Microsoft 365 and Azure. Most Melbourne SMEs are already hybrid — even if nobody labelled it that way.
What usually stays on-prem
Line-of-business apps with strict latency needs, large local media archives, specialised hardware integrations, or licensing that cannot move yet. The goal is not “cloud everything” — it is placing each workload where it is reliable, secure, and cost-effective.
Connectivity and identity
Hybrid works when identity is unified — typically Entra ID with synced or federated accounts — and remote access uses VPN or zero-trust rather than exposed RDP on the open internet. Scan open ports after any firewall change.
Planning a move
Migrate in waves: email and files first, then apps, then retire redundant servers. Document dependencies so print servers, scanners, and SQL backends are not orphaned mid-project.
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