# Managing Cloud Costs with Distributed Clouds Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2022-08-02 Category: TECHNOLOGY Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/technology Meta Title: The Importance of Avoiding Vendor Lock-In in Cloud Computing Meta Description: Discover how Ridge's unified distributed cloud offers architectural flexibility to build a custom cloud solution that fits your needs and budget, going URL: https://financedigest.com/managing-cloud-costs-with-distributed-cloudshtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/theres-a-fine-1736815515092-compressed.jpg) ![Jonathan Seelig at Ridge](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/jonathan-seelig-450x456-1736815515120-compressed.jpg) _By_ **_Jonathan Seelig_** _at Ridge_ As is true for any technology purchase decision, flexibility and competition are the way to go and vendor lock-in should be avoided. A vendor that knows that it [needs to compete for your business every](https://www.financedigest.com/10-secrets-every-entrepreneur-needs-to-thrive-in-2023.html "10 Secrets Every Entrepreneur Needs to Thrive in 2023") single day does a better and cheaper job for you than a vendor who knows you can’t leave. So while the logic behind reducing vendor lock-in is pretty easy to understand, what is its specific relationship to [cloud computing](https://www.financedigest.com/how-hybrid-cloud-computing-offers-the-best-of-all-worlds.html "How hybrid cloud computing offers the best of all worlds")? **Going Beyond the** [Public Cloud](https://www.financedigest.com/the-new-fangled-normal-of-working-from-home-to-push-the-public-cloud-service-market.html "The “New-Fangled” Normal of “Working from Home” to Push the Public Cloud Service Market") As more and more [computing shifts to the cloud](https://www.financedigest.com/the-value-of-cloud-computing.html "The Value of Cloud Computing"), “cloud budget” is becoming “IT budget.” It’s no longer a line item, but rather THE line item. But after more than a decade in which cloud [computing](https://www.financedigest.com/embracing-cloud-computing-how-and-why-organisations-are-set-to-invest-more-in-cloud-computing-in-2023.html "Embracing Cloud Computing: How and why organisations are set to invest more in cloud computing in 2023") was synonymous with large public cloud infrastructure, many businesses are now discovering that one size does not fit all. While the hyperscale public cloud model is an attractive proposition for a large number of customers, there are many existing and planned use cases and [business models](https://www.financedigest.com/learning-from-the-disrupters-how-finance-brands-can-build-transformative-business-models.html "Learning from the disrupters – how finance brands can build transformative business models") for which the traditional local data centers and MSPs are a better fit. The reasons vary —  in some cases, it’s the [need for absolute separation of their data](https://www.financedigest.com/three-reasons-finance-professionals-need-get-grips-big-data.html "Three reasons why finance professionals need to get to grips with big data"). In other cases, it’s related to [governance and regulations](https://www.financedigest.com/gecko-governance-launches-compliance-solution-for-ico-market-following-approval-by-isle-of-man-regulator.html "GECKO Governance Launches Compliance Solution For ICO Market Following Approval by Isle of Man Regulator"). And in other cases, customers require customizations [related](https://www.financedigest.com/what-are-the-main-challenges-related-to-banks-processing-customer-calls.html "What are the main challenges related to banks processing customer calls? ") to their unique application and network architectures. The next step in the IT evolution is to figure out how to manage cloud computing [costs while supporting](https://www.financedigest.com/5-ways-to-support-your-employees-during-the-cost-of-living-crisis.html "5 ways to support your employees during the cost of living crisis ") legacy applications, cloud migration, and cloud-native [applications.](https://www.financedigest.com/european-patent-applications-hit-record-high-in-2023.html) They may have a computing strategy that is partially on-premises, partially bare-metal, and with full [hybrid cloud](https://streaklinks.com/BJCe_YwOztZoqMb2JgrWOW-V/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ridge.co%2Fcloud-solutions%2Fhybrid-cloud%2F) capabilities across multiple continents. And so they need a cloud provider that [offers architectural flexibility](https://www.financedigest.com/britain-urges-banks-to-offer-mortgage-flexibility-in-cost-of-living-crisis.html "Britain urges banks to offer mortgage flexibility in cost-of-living crisis") to build a cloud customized for their needs and budget. **Introducing The Cloud That Goes Where You Go** To address the challenge, a new cloud paradigm has emerged: a unified distributed cloud, such as that offered by [Ridge](https://streaklinks.com/BJCe_YooqEoRRKuMwQEQjBWN/http%3A%2F%2Fridge.co%2F), in which workloads are spun up in thousands of locations across the globe. In this architecture, existing local [data center and on-premises capacity is transformed into modern PaaS offerings](https://www.financedigest.com/aon-data-empowers-unica-to-offer-flood-insurance-for-5-2bn-canadian-peril.html "Aon data empowers Unica to offer flood insurance for .2bn Canadian peril"). Data centers with private cloud or virtual data center offerings can easily start to offer modern, cloud-native PaaS services, such as [managed Kubernetes](https://streaklinks.com/BJCe_YkPT-l39lLOCQn7Fgiu/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ridge.co%2Fplatform%2Frks%2F), containers, and object storage.  All of this is done programmatically and through modern APIs, allowing business-critical applications — such as databases — to run in specific locations without [needing to purchase services](https://www.financedigest.com/top-5-seo-services-you-need-to-succeed-in-2022.html "Top 5 SEO Services You Need To Succeed In 2022") from the hyperscalers. With this model, users get a cloud customized for specific locality requirements. With the accelerated pace of [digital transformation](https://www.financedigest.com/redefining-the-human-touch-with-data-driven-digital-transformation.html "Redefining the human touch with data-driven digital transformation"), companies are looking for ideal [cloud](https://www.financedigest.com/unlocking-financial-efficiency-with-cloud-finops-a-guide-for-cfos-and-startups.html) architectures to satisfy their evolving requirements. Businesses looking for a highly-localized cloud to support a rapidly growing set of applications, such as IoT, automation, or other location-sensitive applications, are able to deploy using a cloud architecture that best suits their needs and offers low latency, maximal security, and [data control](https://www.financedigest.com/dollar-buoyant-as-robust-u-s-data-keep-fed-hawks-in-control.html "Dollar buoyant as robust U.S. data keep Fed hawks in control"). As a result, they build an optimized [cloud computing](https://www.financedigest.com/tomorrows-world-how-cloud-computing-will-impact-the-financial-services-sector-in-2016.html "TOMORROW’S WORLD: HOW CLOUD COMPUTING WILL IMPACT THE FINANCIAL SERVICES SECTOR IN 2016") strategy, taking advantage of existing and available infrastructure in the location — or multiple locations — of their choosing. **[Flexible Clouds](https://www.financedigest.com/kings-secure-technologies-adopts-agile-flexible-cloud-reporting-access-granular-real-time-financial-information.html "Kings Secure Technologies Adopts Agile and Flexible Cloud Reporting for Access to ‘Granular Real-time Financial Information’") = Optimized Budgets** One of the core principles of a distributed [cloud is to avoid being vendor locked onto any single cloud platform](https://www.financedigest.com/solgari-releases-gdpr-mifid-ii-compliant-sms-service-as-part-of-integrated-omni-channel-cloud-communications-platform.html "Solgari releases GDPR & MiFID II Compliant SMS service as part of Integrated Omni-Channel Cloud Communications platform").  If your application can ONLY run on a single [cloud because you have used proprietary technologies](https://www.financedigest.com/the-benefits-of-adopting-cloud-technology-in-the-finance-industry.html "The benefits of adopting cloud technology in the finance industry"), then you won’t be able to optimize your spend. In today’s world, open protocols for [application building enable businesses](https://www.financedigest.com/from-sec-edgar-to-business-applications-exploring-an-alternative-to-manual-data-extraction.html "From SEC EDGAR to Business Applications: Exploring an Alternative to Manual Data Extraction") to engineer, architect, and code applications so that they are not locked into a specific cloud and can run in multiple locations. Obviously, the more flexibility you have in terms of where you’re able to run that application, the more flexibility you’ll have to [generate an optimal budgetary framework for a given application](https://www.financedigest.com/cardstack-launches-application-to-simplify-access-to-token-generation-events.html "Cardstack Launches Application to Simplify Access to Token Generation Events"). Standards such as Kubernetes and the S3 protocol are the leveling tools that [create that flexibility to do not just application performance and functionality but also to manage](https://www.financedigest.com/aon-announces-agreement-to-acquire-risk-management-firm-creating-a-comprehensive-cyber-risk-management-advisory-group.html "Aon announces agreement to acquire risk management firm, creating a comprehensive cyber risk management advisory group") your budget. **The Economies of Locality** While hyperscalers benefit from economies of scale, a unified distributed cloud takes advantage of the economies of locality and distribution.  It enables application owners to utilize a global [network of service providers instead of relying on the availability of computing resources in a specific location](https://www.financedigest.com/hermes-extends-parcelshop-network-with-doddle-locations.html "HERMES EXTENDS PARCELSHOP NETWORK WITH DODDLE LOCATIONS"). By facilitating interoperability with existing infrastructure, the unified distributed cloud empowers enterprises to deploy and infinitely scale applications anywhere they need, even when they need [edge computing](https://streaklinks.com/BJCe_YUHB_YDFDqtMw6kjnkw/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ridge.co%2Fcloud-solutions%2Fedge-cloud%2F).  And with the growing adoption of cloud-native applications to serve new markets, it is a flexible infrastructure that helps [businesses to control](https://www.financedigest.com/national-world-launches-new-ad-manager-platform-powered-by-danads-empowering-businesses-to-take-control-of-their-advertising.html "National World launches new ad manager platform, powered by DanAds, empowering businesses to take control of their advertising") their budget while adapting to change and facilitating expansion. **About Ridge** Ridge is a flexible [cloud that’s anywhere you need](https://www.financedigest.com/asset-management-needs-to-catch-up-and-catch-on-to-the-cloud.html "Asset management needs to catch up and catch on to the cloud") to be. Ridge converts any underlying infrastructure into a cloud-native platform. Whether you need to deploy in a specific location, private data center, on-prem server, edge micro-center, or even in a multi-facility [hybrid environment](https://www.financedigest.com/quest-gains-momentum-as-growth-of-devops-open-source-and-hybrid-database-environments-fuels-adoption-of-modern-database-management-solutions.html "Quest Gains Momentum as Growth of DevOps, Open Source and Hybrid Database Environments Fuels Adoption of Modern Database Management Solutions"), Ridge Cloud expands your footprint without limits. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---