Why cross-cloud DR
Most organisations protect against data center failure by using multiple regions within one cloud. For the most critical services, some go further and keep a recovery environment in a second cloud, independent of the first provider’s control plane and network.
The network requirement
Cross-cloud DR depends on keeping data replicated between platforms. A private cloud-to-cloud connection provides predictable bandwidth for replication and a secure path for it.
Make workloads portable
- Package applications in containers.
- Define infrastructure as code for both clouds.
- Use databases and storage that can replicate across environments.
Plan the switch
Document how traffic moves to the DR cloud: DNS changes, routing updates, application configuration. Keep runbooks current.
Test
Run failover exercises on a schedule. Measure recovery time and fix gaps.
Right-size the commitment
Cross-cloud DR adds cost and complexity. Reserve it for the services whose downtime would be most damaging.
Discuss cross-cloud resilience with our team.
