Why is cloud repatriation on the rise?

Cloud technology is a field that never stands still for long. As dynamism goes, it's up there with AI and Real Madrid.

This means that for every advance, there's a setback. We're not quite in the world Bob Dylan described where "every time you stop and turn around / Something else just hit the ground". The picture, however, is indubitably mixed.

Take the increasing prevalence of cloud repatriation. This is where companies shift their cloud operations either to private clouds or back to on-prem data centres.

This might seem like a blow for the cloud. If people are changing course, does that mean the cloud hasn't delivered on its promise?

Well, the cloud isn't and never has been a silver bullet. Its advantages are many – but it needs to be implemented well if it's going to help businesses grow.

Our view is that the current move towards cloud repatriation isn't an argument against cloud adoption. It's an argument for a well-managed migration in the first place.

But before we make that case, let's find out more about cloud repatriation – what it is and why it's happening.

What is cloud repatriation?

The language of the cloud comes from the language of migration. Just as a person or group might migrate from one place to another, so businesses migrate from on-premise data centres to the cloud.

Repatriation is the same. When describing the movement of people across the world, it means someone has moved back to their country of origin, whether voluntarily or through force. In the cloud world, repatriation means upping sticks and taking your operations from the cloud back to an on-premise data centre – or to a private cloud.

Why is it happening?

Cloud repatriation is a complex issue – and there's no one reason for it to be happening.

That said, we believe there are three main drivers – drivers that reveal that the problem is more with individual cloud journeys rather than the public cloud itself.

1. Data sovereignty is an increasing priority for businesses

Many enterprises are concerned about data sovereignty – and with good reason. If you handle and share data in different territories, you need to make sure that you're compliant with the laws of each country.

This can be a logistical headache and some businesses believe it can be handled better on-site or through a purely private cloud.

But blaming this on public cloud providers is a bit like blaming the construction industry for your faulty guttering. The problem is the individual customer journey – not the cloud itself.

2. Broadcom's acquisition of VMware

At the end of 2023, global tech firm Broadcom took over VMware. Straight away, it made some big changes, removing free products, replacing perpetual licenses with subscriptions and scrapping second-party data centres.

This has led to many cloud-native firms becoming cloud-homeless. It's an unfortunate and unpredictable turn of events that is a key driver of the current move towards cloud repatriation.

3. Cloud shock

Marketing for cloud solutions tends to focus on the cloud in the abstract. The cloud can do this, do that and the other. It can unlock cost savings, scale easily and probably de-age you too.

The problem with this is that it omits a crucial part of the process: the migration itself.

You see the same issue in conversations about AI. "Friend – or foe?" the commentaries go. But the real question is: "What is it good for and how can you make sure you're using it well?"

There's no point chucking your workloads into the cloud and hoping for the best. Too often, the result is cloud shock: the equivalent of going on holiday and finding you've racked up roaming charges to make your eyes water.

In other words, you need to plan carefully before migrating. You need to know it will help you smash your business goals – not just be a decorative add-on.

The answer? In our view, it's not cloud repatriation. It's high-quality cloud consultancy. And if you want to know who can give you that – well, here's looking at you, kid.

What's the answer?

We're not denying that these are real problems that businesses face. But the move towards cloud repatriation isn't always well-advised. It's like giving up on solar panels because a cowboy builder did a bad installation job.

Still, the facts of the matter are undeniable. More and more businesses are abandoning the public cloud and either heading to a private solution or repatriating to an on-prem solution.

But is this a problem of the cloud in general or does it only reflect the failings of individual customer journeys? As Alan Flower, leader of Cloud Native & AI Labs at HCLTech, has said:

"When clients express a desire to move away from their current cloud providers, it's not so much a statement of repatriation, it's more a statement about their current journey has perhaps failed or not been as successful [as anticipated]."

At Ascend Cloud Solutions, we can help businesses migrate successfully the first time around. But if they do find themselves hamstrung or disappointed, we can help them to move to a private or hybrid solution.

Don't let this wave of cloud repatriation lead you to think that the cloud hasn't delivered on its potential. In fact, it's a powerful argument for getting cloud migration right – and more often than not, that's best achieved by bringing an expert in from the outside.

A good cloud consultant will plan and execute your migration in a way that minimises disruption, unlocks cost savings and aligns with your business goals. Get it right with the help of a reputable consultant and you won't be looking back any time soon.

At Ascend Cloud Solutions, we've executed more cloud migrations than you've had hot dinners. Get in touchtoday to find out more about our cloud consultancy services.