AI has surpassed cloud computing as the dominant tech trend in the Middle East. Despite the hype around public cloud, on-prem infrastructure remains crucial for cost control, data compliance, and hosting vital applications. Observability tools bridging on-prem and cloud are indispensable for managing hybrid environments effectively and ensuring business resilience.
Until AI broke through to become the most talked about tech trend, cloud computing was arguably top of mind for technologists in the Middle East. With leading analyst firms like McKinsey projecting that public cloud could help drive as much as US$183 billion in value for the Middle East by 2030, it would seem that an ‘all cloud’ future is an inevitability. And while we can certainly expect cloud adoption to continue to increase, the retained relevance of on-prem infrastructure should not be downplayed.
“As more companies adopt or opt to stick with a hybrid model, there is a growing need for a holistic approach to observability, one capable of handling fulsome visibility. Merely observing the cloud is insufficient; it is a necessity, not a convenience, to be able to monitor and manage both cloud and on-prem environments seamlessly from anywhere.”
– Cullen Childress, Senior Vice President of Product at SolarWinds
On-prem infrastructure is crucial to controlling cloud spend and adhering to data regulations. This is partly driven by the rise of AI, as AI solutions are often accompanied by increasing cloud costs and massive workloads that cannot all be on the cloud. Additionally, on-prem systems often house applications that enterprises aren’t quite ready to move to the cloud but remain vital to their business processes. Recent Gartner research suggests that through 2027, up to 50% of critical applications will reside outside of centralized public clouds. As a result, there is a growing movement to return some workloads and data to private data centers while continuing to distribute environments across both public and private clouds. Consequently, it’s critical that IT teams are armed with solutions that account for both on-prem and cloud infrastructure.
Hybrid on-prem and cloud environments offer vital benefits, from robust security and greater data control to easier compliance management and more flexible customization options. However, they are also notoriously difficult to manage and monitor due to unique challenges ranging from immiscible tools to limited visibility into system interdependencies. Add to this the ever-present IT skills shortage — something that nearly half of UAE IT decision makers say is one of the main threats to their business — and the challenges only escalate.
In the face of this complexity, it’s no longer enough to solely use the conventional monitoring tools our industry has long relied on for security, efficiency, performance, and resource allocation, in isolation. As organizations evolve from monitoring to observability, the adoption of more sophisticated and holistic tools enables them to proactively manage hybrid technology environments, mitigate the heightened risks of downtime, improve team productivity, safeguard service delivery, and strengthen business performance.
By providing comprehensive, single-path insights into every facet of the IT ecosystem — from applications, networks, and databases to multi-cloud, on-prem data centers, and other devices — observability solutions reduce complexity and help IT teams understand residual impacts across the full stack. In contrast to traditional monitoring, observability is proactive and holistic. It provides teams with explanations, not just alarms.
Whether an organization’s data resides in the cloud, on-prem, or a blend of both, observability tools not only provide an eagle-eye view of system health but can also anticipate future problems. This enables businesses to take preemptive action rather than reacting to issues as they arise. The result? A smoother, more reliable service for customers and less need for constant troubleshooting.
As the tech world is increasingly hybridizing, purely cloud-based operations may soon be the exception rather than the rule. A holistic tool that offers a panoramic view of the technology stack is not an option anymore — it’s a necessity.
To put it simply, any observability solution that doesn’t account for on-prem is incomplete.
For businesses to thrive in today’s digital world, understanding and managing on-prem, cloud, and hybrid infrastructures will be key. While cloud migration is likely to remain an IT priority, enterprises should be wary of trading short-term innovation for long-term, scalable solutions. Remember, where the enterprise is today is not where it will be in ten years. Therefore, it’s vital to choose an observability solution that can keep up with modern, distributed environments as they (and the organization) evolve.
As more companies adopt or opt to stick with a hybrid model, there is a growing need for a holistic approach to observability, one capable of handling fulsome visibility. Merely observing the cloud is insufficient; it is a necessity, not a convenience, to be able to monitor and manage both cloud and on-prem environments seamlessly from anywhere.
Enterprises aren’t ignoring the evergreen benefits of on-prem systems — and they shouldn’t ignore the importance of full, continuous visibility into them, either.
Keep this in mind as you find your way through the complexities of technology’s future. Yes, the future is hybrid cloud, so on-prem infrastructure and the tools to manage it remain fundamentally important. Observability tools can be your enterprise’s secret weapon for driving efficiency and innovation — without missing a beat.
About the Author – https://www.linkedin.com/in/cullenchildress/
Cullen Childress, a seasoned Technology and Product Management Executive, excels in developing and leading innovative solutions. With expertise in product planning, roadmap development, and go-to-market strategy, he drives success in startup and growth environments. Skilled at team building and scaling, he optimizes impact and revenue across diverse technology platforms. His global experience includes markets in the US, Europe, and Asia, making him adept at navigating international landscapes. Highly analytical and strategic, Cullen maximizes efficiency and innovation to propel organizations forward.
