What is Cloud Orchestration? Models, Tools and More

Cloud Orchestration: A Quick Overview

To say the least, it is all about coordinating all the tools, APIs, and procedures in a business’s cloud setup. The sync is achieved using automation and is mainly focused on making sure that entire IT operations are properly synchronized.  

The method requires using automation, but it’s not similar to automating CloudOps. Orchestration occurs by properly aligning required resources, security standards, mechanisms for deploying the configuration, and scheduling so that tasks run and end appropriately.

Counted among the highly tedious cloud management techniques, it involves heavy computing and utilization of instances altogether. However, it’s still recommended because it can handle multi and hybrid Clouds simultaneously.

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The Importance 

As cloud adoption continues, the utilization of microservices and container-based apps also grows. Based on the type of IT infrastructure, containerized apps & services can exist in a million for a single application.

With these two resources, the developer community needed end-to-end automation of application implementation and management over the cloud, as manual handling was out of the question. This is where cloud orchestration comes into action.

As it is fully automated and can handle a broad set of dependencies, app maintenance and deployment become a little less tiring. Hybrid Cloud orchestration works well, wherein it will handle public as well as private architectures – based in Cloud – separately.

Adoption of this technique is also preferred because it saves a great deal of overhead. With fully automated actions, fewer teams and reviews are required for IT infrastructure management.

Lastly, experts recommend using orchestration to reduce your IT support team’s effort while keeping errors on the lower end. As tasks are automated, management takes less time, and errors won’t take place.

Cloud Orchestration Models

1. SaaS 

One of the most common software-delivery models, Software As a Service follows a license-based approach. SaaS-based tools are offered as demanded and are entirely controlled by the provider. End-users can avail of the tool by paying a subscription fee. This model demands hardly any installation or set-up.

Examples - Netflix, Dropbox, or Gmail

2. IaaS

Infrastructure As A Service platforms offer IT infrastructural assets on demand. The services provided by IaaS are mainly related to IT fractures. For instance, network, servers, VMs, and storage. End-users can subscribe to an IaaS tool and consume resources according to the need of the hour. There is no fixed cost involved. As resources are consumed, payment is made.

Example - AWS EC2 and Digital Ocean

3. PaaS

PaaS, or Platform as a Service, provides full-fledged cloud development platforms that you can use to develop customized applications. As one uses these platforms, they don’t have to be worried about the licensing of the tools used.

Examples - AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud.

Cloud Automation and Orchestration – What Are The Differences?

We previously mentioned that many of us consider cloud automation and orchestration the same because they are closely linked. But, clearly, they are not the same. As you know them better, you will be able to understand where and how these two interchangeable concepts stand miles away.

Cloud automation is a part of the orchestration procedure as it’s performed in multiple sets of automation. As one performs orchestration, different aspects and tasks are automated, so that cloud applications remain functional and active.

Automation focuses on one aim at a time. For instance, web server initiation automation means having full focus on initiating web servers automatically. Cloud orchestration has a higher aim than automation as it keeps an eye on the entire IT ecosystem of an organization.  

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Pros Of Cloud Orchestration

Let’s talk about the pros first, which are many.

• The practice is a great way to gain deeper insights into key work processes and control them by planning the automation.
• It permits you to generate standard reusable procedures so that you can create stagnant and high-performing workflows.
• The generation of repeatable processes saves a huge deal of management time. Also, when mundane tasks are fully automated, developers have the freedom to focus on other key workflows.
• Of course, the risk of human errors and operational delays is very less as you use cloud orchestration.
• A few reviews and redo take place, and an application will be ready to introduce in the market in less time. For an organization offering a wide range of cloud tools, this makes a huge difference as it can launch more apps in less time.
• Orchestration permits developers to define compliance and parameters with specific details.

The Drawbacks

• It’s not everyone's cup of tea. Try it only when you’re skilled and experienced in orchestration.
• Get ready to deal with never-ending events of dependencies as tedious cluster deployments are part of its implementation.
• Keep in mind that not every orchestration tool is security concerned. You either pick a pre-optimized tool or get ready to put efforts into security optimization.

Successful orchestration is not possible unless there is highly strong internet connectivity.

Weight down the pros and cons wisely, and then make a choice.

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Best Cloud Orchestration Tools

Now that you’ve understood the concept and figured out the advantages of deploying it for your organization, it’s time to learn about the practicality of the concept, i.e., how you can actually start benefitting from it.

1. IBM Cloud Orchestrator

Do you love policy-based tools? Try this IBM product and enjoy seamless integration, configuration, and deploying experience as you manage your workflow. It works fine for private & public architecture alongside hybrid Cloud configurations.

The solution provides a wide range of pre-built tools to monitor resource usage. Also, it can track the resources' overheads in real time. Two packages are offered, and both are highly customized and support automation in full swing.

2. AWS CloudFormation

If you’re using AWS as a cloud provider, CloudFormation is a great choice to make for multicloud orchestration as it can handle end-to-end development, provisioning, and management of AWS services in a sequential manner.

3. Microsoft Azure Automation

The platform offers Azure Resource Manager as an orchestration tool and is equipped enough to explain the essential infrastructure setup and management requirements in JSON files. The tool also provides an ARM template that uses declarative syntax, just like AWS CloudFormation.

The tool works great for Linux and Windows, which is a great thing. Both platforms provide a highly heterogeneous deployment approach. It’s a great tool for eliminating the redundant use of money and resources.

4. Terraform

Developed by Hashicorp, it is an easy-to-use tool that Managed Cloud services via HCL. Along with management, it enables end-users to build and modify the infrastructure. It assists in launching multiple versions of an infrastructure. As an open-source IaaS tool, it’s loved by many and offers support for more than 200 platforms.

5. Kubernetes

Lastly, we – as a top API Security Platform promoting cybersecurity – recommend Kubernetes, and as we all know, it’s one of the most preferred orchestration tools for Docker containers.

This open-source tool can automate Linux container processes easily. The tool brings high-end automation capabilities for container-based applications. It assists greatly in their deployment, scaling, and management.

Summary

Cloud native orchestration, when used in a skilled manner, aims to streamline the complicated CloudOps by integrating automation. The key purpose of this concept is to save a huge deal of time and money while managing the infrastructure through and through.

Orchestration, even though it works at the backend, is the secret behind properly managed IT processes. However, the tediousness involved in the task demands the use of some reliable tools that can handle automation and take care of API security as well.