What are Multi-Cloud Management Tools
Multi cloud management tools are software solutions that simplify and streamline the management of multiple cloud environments. They provide a centralized platform to monitor, optimize, and control cloud resources across various providers.
Benefits of Using Multi Cloud Management Tools
- Simplified Management: Multi-cloud management tools provide a unified interface, allowing you to provision, configure, and monitor resources across different cloud providers from a single platform. This streamlines workflows and reduces the risk of human error.
- Improved Visibility and Cost Optimization: This visibility enables data-driven decisions for optimizing resource allocation and identifying cost-saving opportunities. You can identify underutilized resources in one cloud that can be balanced by workloads in another, potentially leading to cost savings.
- Enhanced Security and Compliance: Multi-cloud management tools can help automate security best practices, enforce compliance standards, and provide centralized logging and monitoring for security events. .
- Increased Agility and Scalability: Multi-cloud environments allow you to leverage the specific strengths of different cloud providers. Management tools can automate deployments and scaling processes across these platforms, enabling you to react faster to changing business needs.
- Reduced Vendor Lock-in: By providing a layer of abstraction between your workloads and the underlying cloud infrastructure, multi-cloud management tools help reduce vendor lock-in. This gives you greater flexibility to migrate workloads between cloud providers if needed.
10 Best Multi Cloud Management Tools
There are several different multi-cloud management tools available on the market. Here are 10 of the most popular options:
1. Cisco CloudCenter
Similar to IBM’s offering, Cisco CloudCenter facilitates managing and orchestrating workloads across various cloud platforms. It provides a unified view for resource control, alongside automation and orchestration functionalities for streamlined cloud operations.
Features:
- Unified view for resource control across various cloud platforms.
- Automation and orchestration functionalities for streamlined cloud operations.
Advantages:
- Simplifies management and orchestration of complex workflows across clouds.
- Automates routine tasks, improving operational efficiency.
- Well-suited for managing large-scale deployments in multi-cloud environments
2. Tanzu CloudHealth
Cost optimization reigns supreme with Tanzu CloudHealth. It boasts a comprehensive suite for managing your cloud expenses, including allocation, insightful reporting that helps identify potential savings, and chargeback functionalities for cost accountability.
Features:
- Comprehensive suite for managing cloud expenses.
- Granular cost allocation and insightful reporting for identifying savings opportunities.
- Chargeback functionalities for cost accountability across departments.
Advantages:
- Provides deep cost visibility across your multi-cloud environment.
- Helps pinpoint areas for cost optimization and eliminate cloud waste.
- Promotes cost awareness and accountability within your organization.
3. Scalr
This tool prioritizes automation for provisioning, scaling, and healing your cloud resources. Scalr helps organizations achieve optimal utilization of their cloud infrastructure, ensuring you get the most out of your cloud investment.
Features:
- Automated provisioning, scaling, and healing for cloud resources.
- Automated scaling policies based on real-time demand.
Advantages:
- Ensures optimal resource utilization and prevents overspending.
- Automatically scales resources to meet fluctuating application demands.
- Improves application performance by providing adequate resources when needed.
4. IBM Multicloud Manager
Designed for seamless management and governance of workloads across multiple cloud platforms. It offers a unified view for all your resources alongside tools for provisioning, maintaining strict governance policies, and ensuring compliance with regulations.
Features:
- Unified view for managing workloads across multiple cloud platforms.
- Tools for provisioning, governance, and compliance.
- Robust features for maintaining strict security controls.
Advantages:
- Simplifies management of workloads in a multi-cloud environment.
- Enforces governance policies and ensures compliance with regulations.
- Ideal for organizations with stringent security and compliance requirements.
5. Flexera’s Comprehensive Cloud Management Platform
This platform transcends mere cloud management. Flexera’s comprehensive cloud management platform empowers you to automate and optimize your cloud resources across various providers. Gaining a unified view, you can streamline control and maximize the efficiency of your cloud environment.
Features:
- Unified view across all cloud providers for centralized management.
- Automated provisioning, scaling, and healing of cloud resources.
- Optimization tools for maximizing resource utilization.
Advantages:
- Streamlines control and reduces complexity in multi-cloud environments.
- Automates routine tasks, freeing up IT resources for strategic initiatives.
- Optimizes resource allocation for cost savings and improved performance.
6. Morpheus Data
This platform stands out for its user-friendly, no-code approach. Morpheus simplifies cloud management and reduces the complexities of scripting, making it accessible to users of all technical backgrounds.
Features:
- User-friendly, no-code interface for easy cloud management.
- Drag-and-drop functionalities for simplified automation.
Advantages:
- Makes cloud management accessible to users of all technical backgrounds.
- Reduces reliance on scripting, saving time and resources.
- Empowers non-technical users to participate in cloud management tasks.
7. CloudBolt
This tool aims to streamline cloud deployments through automation and orchestration. CloudBolt offers a self-service portal, empowering users to request and provision cloud resources independently, increasing agility and reducing reliance on IT teams.
Features:
- Automation and orchestration for streamlining cloud deployments.
- Self-service portal for users to request and provision cloud resources.
Advantages:
- Increases agility by enabling self-service cloud provisioning.
- Reduces reliance on IT teams for routine cloud resource requests.
- Fosters a more agile development environment for faster time-to-market.
8. Nutanix Xi Beam
Specializes in cloud cost management. Nutanix Xi Beam provides a robust set of tools for cloud cost visibility, allowing for insightful optimization strategies. It also offers functionalities for establishing proper governance to ensure responsible cloud spending.
Features:
- Robust set of tools for cloud cost visibility and optimization.
- Cost allocation and granular insights into cloud spending patterns.
- Functionalities for establishing proper cloud governance.
Advantages:
- Provides detailed cost insights to identify areas for optimization.
- Offers automated recommendations for cost savings and resource efficiency.
- Helps establish responsible cloud spending practices through governance tools.
9. IBM Turbonomic
Focuses on application resource management within your multi-cloud environment. IBM Turbonomic helps optimize application performance, reduce cloud costs by ensuring efficient resource allocation, and maintain compliance with relevant regulations.
Features:
- Application resource management for multi-cloud environments.
- Intelligent allocation of resources based on real-time application demands.
Advantages:
- Optimizes application performance by ensuring resources are allocated efficiently.
- Reduces cloud costs by preventing overprovisioning of resources.
- Maintains application health and ensures consistent performance across clouds.
10. CloudZero
CloudZero focuses specifically on the cost management aspect of multi-cloud environments, rather than offering a broader range of multi-cloud management features.
Features:
- Aggregates cost data from various cloud providers and platforms.
- Provides detailed breakdown of cloud resource costs.
- Enables allocation of cloud spending by tags, metadata, or telemetry.
- Consolidates cost data from multiple sources into one platform.
Advantages:
- Gain insights into overall multi-cloud spending.
- Identify and eliminate cost inefficiencies.
- Optimize resource usage based on cost breakdown.
- Manage all cloud costs from a single platform.
Read: Top 5 Best Low-Code Development Platforms
How to Choose the Right Multi Cloud Management Tool
Selecting the right multi cloud management tool depends on your specific needs and requirements. Here are some factors to consider when making your decision:
- Your cloud environment: Consider the number and type of cloud platforms you are using. Some tools are better suited for specific cloud providers.
- Your budget: Multi-cloud management tools can vary significantly in cost. Determine how much you are willing to spend on a tool.
- Your needs: Identify the most important features you need in a multi-cloud management tool. This could include cost optimization, automation, security, or compliance.
- Ease of use: Consider how easy it will be for your IT staff to learn and use the tool.
- Security Considerations: When evaluating multi-cloud management tools, prioritize features that enhance the security of your cloud resources e.g. Identity and Access Management, Data Encryption, Security Configuration Management, Security Logging and Monitoring and Compliance Management
Conclusion
Choosing the right multi cloud management tool depends on your specific needs. Our Top ten contenders offer features like unified cost management, automated deployments, and centralized security.
