• Hybrid cloud, explained: What it is, what it isn’t, and why having a plan matters in 2026 Jenny Evans Speed & agility Risk & compliance Jan 12, 2026 Jenny Evans Share article Twitter share LinkedIn share Facebook share Copy URL The mandate to leverage data and AI for operational gain is forcing businesses to reckon with growing complexity in their IT infrastructure. • As a result, leaders are now asking: What is hybrid cloud, and what role will it play in our company’s future? • Increasingly, companies rely on a mix of public and private cloud infrastructure services, as well as systems they own and operate themselves. • Done right, this hybrid architecture lets organizations connect on-premises solutions that still support mission-critical workflows to the growing number of cloud-based systems, while also enabling quicker and more seamless access to AI, edge computing, and other frontier technology - all while maintaining strong, consistent security across the entire IT landscape. • But many struggle to achieve these benefits. • For 52% of businesses, hybrid cloud is a top infrastructure management challenge, according to the2025 Cloud Complexity Survey.

Article Summaries:

  • The mandate to leverage data and AI for operational gain is forcing businesses to reckon with growing complexity in their IT infrastructure. As a result, leaders are now asking: What is hybrid cloud, and what role will it play in our company’s future? Increasingly, companies rely on a mix of public and private cloud infrastructure services, as well as systems they own and operate themselves. Done right, this hybrid architecture lets organizations connect on-premises solutions that still support mission-critical workflows to the growing number of cloud-based systems, while also enabling quicker

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