In the interview with Mario Istuk, Chief Sales Officer at RIS AG in Cologne.

XOAP, a brand of RIS AG, supports small and medium-sized enterprises in particular with a comprehensive solution portfolio to manage their own client and server systems on-premises and on leading cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure or GCP for effective collaboration, thus making the most of the potential of hybrid IT infrastructures. The latter refers to a combination of local (on-premises) systems and the use of cloud resources. It is an environment in which companies can access both internal resources such as physical data centers, employee PCs, personal notebooks, etc. and external services in the “Internet cloud”. Hybrid IT infrastructures enable companies to respond flexibly to changing requirements. They can use sensitive data or certain applications on in-house storage media while simultaneously benefiting from the scalability and cost advantages of the cloud. We will discuss these diverse opportunities and, of course, challenges surrounding heterogeneously designed IT infrastructures, reducing complexity, accelerating deployment, as well as related security aspects in detail with Mario Istuk below.

DIGITAL FUTUREmag: The cloud topic has been a growth market for many years. Gradually, almost all business decision-makers are giving the green light for such web solutions. Are there still good reasons for you to operate IT infrastructures 100% on-premises, i.e., literally in the building?

Mario Istuk: Yes, there are. Although cloud solutions offer many advantages, local infrastructures can make sense in certain cases. It is important to note that the decision between a local infrastructure and the cloud depends on many factors. Often, a hybrid solution that combines local and cloud resources is the best choice to meet a company’s individual requirements. With XOAP, customers can master this with their existing staff.

DIGITAL FUTUREmag: What benefits does managing a hybrid IT infrastructure offer compared to purely local or exclusively cloud-based methods?

Mario Istuk: Managing a hybrid IT infrastructure that includes both local and cloud resources offers several advantages compared to purely in-house operated computers or exclusively cloud-based approaches. The most important benefits are as follows:

Flexibility and scalability: A hybrid infrastructure enables companies to leverage certain cloud advantages, such as the ability to scale systems, networks, or processes in terms of performance. At the same time, they maintain control over critical or sensitive applications or data operated locally. Companies can scale resources up or down in the cloud as needed, while simultaneously maintaining their on-premises infrastructure for specific requirements.

Data protection and security: By using a hybrid infrastructure, companies can operate critical data and applications locally while outsourcing less sensitive or non-regulated data to the cloud. This enables better data security management and simultaneously meets any compliance requirements.

Cost optimization: Hybrid infrastructures allow companies to optimize spending. By using the cloud, they can take advantage of pay-as-you-go models—purchasing products without needing to subscribe to recurring payments—and reduce investments in expensive on-premises hardware. At the same time, local resources can be used for specific workloads requiring higher performance or lower latency. This eliminates the need to continuously rent cloud resources.

High availability and fault tolerance: A hybrid infrastructure enables companies to improve redundancy and fault tolerance. They can combine on-premises and cloud resources to create a high-availability architecture. If a component fails, traffic can be redirected to another to ensure continued technical operations. This enhances the resilience of all connected storage media.

Migration of legacy systems: For companies with outdated yet still-used computer software or hardware, a hybrid infrastructure can facilitate gradual constructive transition processes in data processing systems. This means retaining older on-premises systems while simultaneously moving new applications and services to the cloud. This reduces migration complexity and minimizes the risk of business disruptions.

However, managing a hybrid IT infrastructure also requires targeted planning and thoughtful integration to ensure seamless interaction between components. It is essential to strike the right balance between on-premises and cloud resources to meet company-specific requirements. With XOAP, users reduce the complexity of deploying and configuring a hybrid IT infrastructure.

DIGITAL FUTUREmag: Can significant problems or challenges arise during a hybrid implementation, and if so, how can they be addressed?

Mario Istuk: The problem here is the transition, in other words the interface between “infrastructure or platform” teams and “operations”. The knowledge transfer of technologies is a huge problem, which XOAP solves straight away by creating the interface and the necessary standards.

DIGITAL FUTUREmag: What factors, such as different workflows in stationary or online contexts, should be taken into account when making the decision?

Mario Istuk: When deciding whether certain workflows should be executed in a local or cloud environment, various aspects need to be considered.

1. Performance requirements
2. Scalability and flexibility
3. Collaboration and access
4. Costs and cost-effectiveness

It is important to conduct a thorough analysis of workflows and their requirements from the outset in order to make the best decision. With XOAP, customers can access a variety of best practices and get started using templates for a wide range of use cases and approaches.

DIGITAL FUTUREmag: How can companies ensure that data and applications in a hybrid IT infrastructure can be transferred and integrated seamlessly and securely between different environments?

Mario Istuk: It is important to take a holistic approach from the outset and pay attention to the following points when selecting technologies, software and tools:

Security and encryption:
Are my in-house developed methods or tools used encrypted and do they meet the necessary standards?

Identity and access management:
Can I control who has access to my environment both internally and externally?

Monitoring and supervision:
Do I have a central overview of my hybrid infrastructure without having to build complex infrastructures?

All these points and more are covered in our solutions, providing customers with standards for managing and deploying these environments.

DIGITAL FUTUREmag: Which tools or technologies are best suited for effective monitoring of hybrid IT infrastructures and why?

Mario Istuk: XOAP: You have an interface and are able to manage and deploy both servers and workstations ("Workplaces") in your data center as well as on various cloud platforms.

DIGITAL FUTUREmag: What are the first concrete steps for a customer who decides to use your solutions?

Mario Istuk: The customer can get started in just a few steps and deploy various templates, use cases, and other resources at the push of a button. This means they don’t need to make any preparations to start using XOAP.

DIGITAL FUTUREmag: How long does implementation take, and what should the client absolutely be prepared for?

Mario Istuk: This depends on the specific use case, but they can immediately start managing their various environments. They don’t need to worry about infrastructure, hardware, or other components. The customer can focus on their business and benefit from the service of infrastructure and workplace provisioning.

DIGITAL FUTUREmag: Thank you for this in-depth and thought-provoking insight.