Optimizing hybrid cloud computing with an MSP

In 2026, companies continue to build their future in the cloud. And they are turning to managed service providers (MSPs) to shepherd their journey—particularly en route to hybrid cloud computing.

Hybrid cloud architecture has become key for organizations to take a “best of both worlds” approach to their IT environments. Organizations can get the flexibility and elasticity of public cloud resources as they experience peaks and valleys in demand. At the same time, they can get the data security and control their industry requires by placing some applications and data in a private cloud. This allows for an ideal combination: agility and scalability without sacrificing data security and control. According to IT research firm Gartner Inc., 90% of organizations will adopt a hybrid cloud approach through 2027. 

As a result, companies increasingly view hybrid cloud as a final destination, not a waystation. “Hybrid is not the transition. It is the baseline,”  Knowledge Hub Media noted.

What is hybrid cloud computing?

Hybrid cloud architecture combines IT environments between at least one public cloud (e.g., Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, or Google Clouds) with a private cloud or on-premises data center.  A hybrid cloud computing approach allows data and applications to be shared, enabling workloads to run in the most suitable environment for security, compliance, and cost-efficiency reasons. 

So, for example, a bank might run its customer-facing portal in a public cloud to enable business scale and fluctuations in demand. But the bank may use private cloud architecture to run its deposit systems and loan servicing, to better align with regulatory controls and data sovereignty (where “sovereignty” means that data is subject to the laws of the country or region where it is physically collected, stored, or processed).

Hybrid cloud architecture allows companies to achieve data privacy and control enabled by private clouds while also getting access to the elasticity, scalability, and on-demand use model of public clouds.

Why deploy hybrid cloud computing with an MSP?

But hybrid cloud architecture creates complexities. That’s why many organizations recognize that they cannot achieve cloud success on their own. According to Integris trust and spending survey data, that may be why 40% use managed services for help with hybrid cloud computing, and 44% say their primary benefit in working with an MSP is the reduced burden of managing IT environments.

And according to respondents, the reasons for choosing cloud models are more about operational efficiency (54%), increased agility (53%), and enhanced security (52% than about reducing costs (41%).

Managing multiple IT environments—with a holistic view of them—can be challenging. Further, integrating legacy environments with cloud-native ones requires understanding of the implications—from conflicting languages to data integrity to gaps in cybersecurity and more.

So, many are turning to IT managed services to create a successful hybrid cloud setup without incurring cybersecurity risk. They’re also finding it strategic in addressing performance, backup and disaster recovery, cloud sprawl, and runaway cost concerns. In what follows, we explore the compelling proposition of hybrid cloud, and why MSPs are often on the front lines, helping organizations build and maintain their public and private cloud architecture.

Key ways MSPs address cloud management needs

Cloud complexity. Most internal IT teams weren’t built to manage the level of sprawl that can come with having infrastructure and data in public and private clouds—and communicating with one another. Securely connecting data and applications between private and public clouds can be challenging without guidance from an MSP that understands the security, networking, storage, and performance concerns of connecting these environments.

Cloud security. Connecting data and applications between clouds opens the door to misconfiguration, overly permissive identity/access management policies, and an inability to track threats in an expanding attack surface. MSPs can tighten controls with multifactor authentication, conditional access to data and applications, and zero-trust architecture. Further, MSPs excel at continuous monitoring, eyeing systems for anomalies and  establishing compliance reporting for key regulations (including Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC).

Cloud cost optimization. According to Capgemini data, 76% of organizations exceeded their public cloud budgets (by 10% on average), and 59% say that cloud waste is a major problem. Runaway costs are a key reason that many organizations have chosen to move some workloads from public clouds to private ones.

In addition to reallocating workloads, organizations should adopt a methodology that ensures return on investment. This cloud cost management practice is known as FinOps, where organizations use a framework to optimize cloud spending and curb waste. According to Deloitte, some companies can experience as much as a 40% reduction in costs with FinOps approaches.

Mitigating downtime, ensuring performance. MSPs understand how to create a hybrid cloud architecture that performs well and minimizes costly downtime. With continuous monitoring, they can quickly identify small performance degradations before they result in a major incident.  MSPs can also test disaster recovery plans regularly to ensure recovery in the face of an event.

Why MSPs can make the difference in the journey to hybrid cloud architecture

Organizations historically have turned to hybrid cloud architecture to gain flexibility they lacked by using private clouds alone. But without the right governance and oversight, hybrid cloud can usher in complexity, cost overruns, and security gaps.

MSPs can make the difference between success and failure in hybrid cloud deployments because of their attention to all the domains that matter in implementation.

“Hybrid cloud is very complex,” said Jayson Saumer, a product specialist at Integris. “MSPs are often better situated than pure cloud providers to integrate public cloud with private cloud systems and tailor solutions for individual clients.”

MSPs reduce complexity by standardizing architecture across private cloud infrastructure and public cloud platforms. They centralize monitoring and implement consistent configuration, security protocols, and automation practices. The result is improved visibility into all environments with fewer outages and faster issue resolution—enabling internal IT teams or other members of the business to focus on strategy rather than troubleshooting.

MSPs also bring financial discipline through FinOps practices. Hybrid cloud environments frequently suffer from overprovisioned resources and unpredictable spending. MSPs introduce workload right-sizing and proper allocation, budget forecasting, and continuous optimization.

Third, MSPs strengthen cybersecurity and disaster recovery throughout the hybrid environment. By implementing zero-trust architecture, MFA, and continuous monitoring to reduce breach risk, MSPs can best position organizations to proactively address threats. They also align environments with regulatory frameworks, improving compliance posture and resilience.

Finally, MSP-led hybrid cloud creates a scalable foundation for innovation. With infrastructure stabilized and optimized, organizations can deploy new applications, support expansion, and accelerate AI and analytics initiatives without adding operational chaos.

If you want to learn more about how Integris can support your journey to hybrid cloud and how Integris can help, click here.