Cloud orchestration is a critical component of modern IT infrastructure, particularly for businesses that use cloud services. It makes it easier to manage complex cloud environments by automating tasks such as provisioning, deployment, and resource management.
Today, we will explore the fundamentals of cloud orchestration and how it promotes agility, scalability, and cost efficiency in cloud-based systems. Keep reading, to learn more.
What Is Cloud Orchestration
Cloud orchestration is the automated and coordinated execution of tasks within a cloud environment, such as resource provisioning, application deployment, and workflow management. Organisations that use cloud orchestration tools can easily manage complex cloud environments and adapt to changing business requirements. Cloud orchestration helps streamline operations by automating repetitive tasks and ensuring consistency across different cloud services.
Now, before we go deeper into the concept of cloud orchestration, you might want to look at another aspect of the cloud management process. One of these is cloud provisioning, which is necessary for efficiently allocating and managing cloud resources.
For more information, check out our previous article, “Cloud Provisioning: What It Is and How It Can Benefit Businesses“.
Models and Approaches
There are two known models of cloud orchestration: the single-cloud and multi-cloud approaches.
A single-cloud strategy relies on a single cloud provider for all computing requirements. This approach typically involves using a single cloud platform, such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud Platform (GCP). Businesses can also allocate workloads to the most cost-effective cloud platform based on data storage, computing power, and network bandwidth needs.
A multi-cloud strategy, on the other hand, involves integrating the strengths and capabilities of multiple cloud providers and selecting the best platform for each application. This approach allows for greater flexibility and the ability to experiment with new technologies, services, and features offered by various providers, fostering an innovative culture and helping organisations in staying ahead of the competition.
The main difference between single-cloud and multi-cloud strategies is how cloud providers are utilised. In a single-cloud strategy, businesses rely on a single provider for all of their cloud needs, whereas in a multi-cloud strategy, they combine the strengths of multiple providers to improve performance and efficiency.
Each approach has advantages and disadvantages, and organisations must carefully assess their requirements and weigh the trade-offs before making a decision. A single-cloud strategy offers simplicity and potential cost savings, whereas a multi-cloud strategy promotes innovation and flexibility, but may also add complexity and management overhead.
Tools and Platforms
Cloud orchestration tools and platforms are designed to automate and coordinate the management of cloud resources. They simplify the handling of complex cloud environments, integrating multiple services and processes into a unified system¹². Here are some of the top cloud orchestration tools and platforms:
- New Relic: Best for optimising cloud-based application performance.
- Cyclr: Creating powerful integration workflows with minimum effort and low engineering overhead.
- Cloudify: Interoperability fostered through a single pane of glass consolidated view of cloud infrastructure.
- ActiveBatch: Provides a layered, architectural approach to workload automation.
- IBM Cloud Orchestrator: Enhanced data management and governance capabilities.
- CloudHealth: Simplifies cloud operations with transparency that enhances compliance, governance, and financial accountability.
- Microsoft Azure Automation: Cloud process automation and management solution across Azure and non-Azure ecosystems.
- AWS CloudFormation: Easy setup, deployment, and management of AWS resources in a repeatable manner.
- Red Hat Ansible: Enterprise framework for building, deploying, and managing automation at scale.
- BMC Multi-Cloud Management: Creating a seamless experience across multi-cloud environments.
These platforms manage the deployment, operation, and scaling of cloud-based applications and infrastructure. The benefits of cloud orchestration platforms include enhanced efficiency through automation, reducing manual workload and error. They provide a streamlined approach to resource management, ensuring optimal use of cloud services.

What is Cloud Automation vs Cloud Orchestration?
To put it simply, cloud automation involves the automation of specific tasks, whereas cloud orchestration connects multiple automated tasks to streamline IT processes. Thus, it means that the cloud orchestration process automates a collection of cloud automations.
On their blog, Red Hat explained the main differences between both automation processes using the following example:
- Cloud Automation: In this process, tasks related to cloud management are automated, requiring little to no human involvement for them to function. As a result, procedures become more repeatable and scalable. Automating server instances to shut down after a task is finished is an example of cloud automation.
- Cloud Orchestration: In this process, multiple automated tasks are coordinated into higher-order workflows so that they can serve a specific function or process. One example of cloud orchestration is synchronising OS upgrades with the necessary load balancer updates. Another example is coordinating the deployment of new infrastructure, which includes changes to firewall rules and on-premise network routing.
The analogy of a musical orchestra and its conductor is frequently used to explain this distinction: if cloud automation instances are like individual musicians in an orchestra, then cloud orchestration is the conductor. To enable the orchestra to function as a cohesive unit, the conductor assists each musician in playing their part at the proper time and intensity.
Automation can handle individual tasks just fine, much like a musician playing their part. In cloud environments, however, where automation is used to support various organisational functions, coordination is required to guarantee that various automated task types cooperate to support a larger process.
Benefits of Cloud Orchestration
The benefits of cloud orchestration include improved efficiency, scalability, and reliability, as well as the ability to streamline complex workflows and optimise resource allocation. Additionally, cloud orchestration can help organisations adapt quickly to changing demands and ensure consistent performance across all automated processes.
Aside from that, here are the numerous advantages of cloud orchestration:.
- Efficiency: Cloud orchestration improves the efficiency of resource utilisation and eliminates over-provisioning.
- Monitoring and Alerting: It provides capabilities to monitor, alert, and report on unexpected conditions to diagnose root causes.
- Simplified Data Integrations: Cloud orchestration simplifies data integrations and automatically applies policies for governance and security.
- Management of Dependencies: It manages dependencies across clouds to ensure proper execution of tasks.
- Reduced Costs: Cloud orchestration reduces overall costs while accelerating the delivery of services.
- Automated Management: It automates the management and coordination of complex hybrid environments.
- Elimination of Provisioning Errors: Cloud orchestration eliminates provisioning errors.
- Self-Service Provisioning: It enables self-service provisioning of services without the need for IT intervention³.
- Standardisation: Cloud orchestration helps IT organisations reduce manual, repetitive work, better standardise their deployments and operations, and accelerate delivery.
These benefits make cloud orchestration a valuable tool for businesses looking to optimize their cloud operations. Furthermore, cloud orchestration allows for better resource utilisation and cost efficiency by automating resource allocation and scaling. Overall, implementing cloud orchestration can lead to increased productivity and agility in managing cloud environments.
Another important component of cloud service management is security.
To achieve this, you can use cloud access control. This set of policies, procedures, and technologies can assist you in establishing a secure cloud environment by managing and limiting access to cloud-based systems and data.
See our post, “Cloud Access Control: What It Is and How It Works“, for additional information on this.
Conclusion
To sum up, cloud orchestration is essential to making complex cloud environment management easier. It improves agility, scalability, and cost efficiency by automating tasks related to provisioning, deployment, and management, enabling businesses to fully utilise cloud technology.
Cloud orchestration can be a handy tool for organisations looking to maximise their cloud infrastructure and maintain their competitiveness in the ever-changing market landscape of today.
Want to improve the efficiency of your company’s cloud environment management?
Axle Networks IT Managed Services offers robust cloud management solutions tailored to your specific needs. With our team of experienced professionals, you can rest assured that your cloud-based resources and data will be protected from unauthorised access and potential security threats.