What is a multi-cloud strategy?
3 minute read
Phoenix Software
October 2nd, 2025
Many organisations have a single cloud provider. However, when outages happen, disruption follows. That’s why more and more organisations are adopting multi-cloud strategies to provide resilience and strengthen agility. But what exactly is a multi-cloud strategy?
The single-cloud approach puts all digital assets in one basket. While this offers simplicity in management and potentially lower costs initially, it creates a single point of failure that can bring down operations when issues arise.
The multi-cloud approach strategically distributes workloads across multiple cloud providers. When one provider experiences problems, critical systems continue running on alternative platforms.
Playing to each provider’s strengths
Amazon Web Services (AWS) offers a broad range of cloud services and a large global infrastructure. It is established, reliable, and well-suited for organisations that want access to an extensive service catalogue and proven scalability. AWS supports everything you need to build and run Windows-based applications including Active Directory, .NET, and all supported versions of Windows Server and SQL Server. They also have key capabilities in the AI area, a clear benefit for organisations looking to modernise
Microsoft Azure provides extensive benefits for businesses already using Microsoft technologies. Its seamless integration with Windows Server, Microsoft 365, Dynamics, and security tools enables organisations to manage their IT environment more efficiently. Azure also leads in hybrid cloud, compliance, and AI innovation, making it a strong choice for enterprises that want flexibility, security, and maximum value from their existing investments.
The benefits: why multi-cloud makes sense
Avoiding vendor lock-in
When you’re heavily dependent on one cloud provider, switching becomes complex and costly. Multi-cloud strategies give you negotiating power and the flexibility to adapt when your business needs change or when better options become available.
Cherry-picking the best services
Multi-cloud lets you combine the right platform with the right workloads.
Building resilience against outages
If a cloud provider experiences an outage, multi-cloud architectures can keep your business running. This redundancy is particularly crucial for mission-critical applications that can’t afford downtime.
Multi-cloud vs. hybrid cloud: clearing up the confusion
These terms get used interchangeably, but they’re actually very different:
- Multi-cloud uses multiple public cloud providers
- Hybrid cloud combines public cloud with on-premises infrastructure
You can absolutely have both, a hybrid multi-cloud approach that combines on-premises infrastructure with multiple public cloud providers. It offers maximum flexibility but can increase complexity, so it’s important to ensure that the right management structure is in place for all platforms.
Your multi-cloud journey starts here
Our specialists are here to support you with everything multi-cloud. Get in touch to find out more.
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About the author
Phoenix Software
Phoenix enables digital transformation in the workplace, empowering UK public sector organisations to innovate and transform with cloud and hybrid infrastructures, data, AI, security, and collaboration tools. By understanding its customers’ goals, Phoenix delivers outcome–focused IT solutions that make a difference to the lives of employees, service users, and communities.
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