HYBRID CLOUD STRATEGIES FOR ENTERPRISE SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT: A COMPARATIVE STUDY

Abstract

As enterprises increasingly adopt cloud computing, the hybrid cloud model—integrating on-premises infrastructure with public and private clouds—has emerged as a strategic solution to balance flexibility, cost-efficiency, and security in software development. This comparative study explores the effectiveness of hybrid cloud strategies in enterprise software development, analyzing various architectures, deployment models, and integration techniques. The research examines key drivers behind the adoption of hybrid cloud solutions, including the need for scalable resources, enhanced collaboration, and compliance with regulatory requirements. It also investigates the challenges organizations face, such as data security, latency, and the complexity of managing a distributed environment. Through case studies and empirical data, this study compares the performance, cost implications, and security measures of hybrid cloud strategies against traditional on-premises and pure cloud environments. It highlights best practices for implementing hybrid cloud in software development lifecycles, emphasizing the importance of robust DevOps practices, containerization, and orchestration tools like Kubernetes. The findings suggest that while hybrid cloud offers significant advantages in flexibility and resource optimization, successful implementation requires careful planning, robust security protocols, and continuous monitoring. This study provides actionable insights for IT leaders and software developers, guiding them in selecting and optimizing hybrid cloud strategies to meet the dynamic demands of enterprise software development.