Cloud management tools enable organizations to manage the multi-cloud with ease. They provide governance, brokering and automation of resources, and life cycle management across seven functional areas. These include:
- Service request management
- Provisioning and orchestration
- Inventory and classification
- Cost management and resource optimization
- Backup and disaster recovery
- Cloud migration
- Security, identity, and compliance
There are plenty of cloud management software vendors on the market. Today, we’ll go over the cloud management tools Gartner vendor strengths and cautions.
1. CloudBolt
Founded in 2012, CloudBolt handles a wide range of cloud management tasks. It focuses on provisioning and orchestration needs in complex, heterogeneous cloud environments.
Strengths
- Handles brownfield environments better than its competitors.
- The software is nimble and focused. It gives users a satisfactory time to value.
- CloudBolt is a mature and stable product and has a track record of working in large and complex environments.
Cautions
- CloudBolt doesn’t have a SaaS (Software as a Service) option. It may not be ideal for organizations that don’t want to host their own cloud management platforms.
- It doesn’t offer some functionality natively. These include cost management and resource monitoring and optimization.
2. Embotics
Founded in 2006, Embotics focuses on improving support for DevOps, expense management, workload placement, and containers. The product is an installed platform an organization can host in the cloud or configured on-premises.
Strengths
- The tool is particularly strong in large on-premises virtualized environments.
- It has rapid time to value and enables organizations to deploy rapidly.
- Gartner clients have high regard for the company’s customer support.
Cautions
- It has a dated user interface.
- There is very little traction in the market because of low investment in marketing.
- Partners provide disaster recovery and monitoring.
Flexera (RightScale)
Since 2007, Flexera (RightScale) has been providing enterprises with a full range of cloud management functionality. Its offering centers around policy, access control, and orchestration. A SaaS model delivers the solution.
Strengths
- It’s one of the pioneers of the cloud management market.
- It’s also one of the most feature-rich cloud management platforms.
- It supports a wide range of cloud providers.
Cautions
- Offers customers a SaaS model. It may not be ideal for highly regulated industries.
- Requires more professional services for large deployments than the competition.
- Third-party integration is not the best.
HyperGrid
Founded in 2016, HyperGrid is available in various deployment models, including SaaS, hosted, or on-premises. It has a good range of functionality in most cloud management areas. The workload optimization and cost analysis tools are particularly outstanding.
Strengths
- It has excellent time to value.
- Strong application blueprinting and container functionality.
- Good engagement with the global partner community.
Cautions
- Smaller market share than the competition.
- The user interface is not intuitive.
- It doesn’t work well with Azure in some areas.
Micro Focus
Founded in 1976 in the United Kingdom, Micro Focus is heavily focused on on-premises cloud deployments. It provides enterprise-grade operation, orchestration, and automation.
Strengths
- Larger market presence than the competition.
- Strong on-premises provisioning and orchestration.
Cautions
- Low customer satisfaction compared with its competitors.
- Lacks in some key areas, including compliance, security, identity, backup and disaster recovery, and cost management.
Morpheus Data
Morpheus Data, founded in 2014, is mainly an on-premises offering. The company’s key focus is the integration of infrastructure and operations, DevOps, and business teams. It has a wide range of integrations that complement its wide range of features.
Strengths
- Provides strong coverage across all seven cloud management functional areas.
- Infrastructure is agnostic. You can deploy it across a wide range of cloud providers.
- Rapid time to value in large cloud deployments.
Cautions
- There is no SaaS offering.
- It doesn’t have a strong presence in North America.
- The cost management tool is not as feature-rich as the competition.
Scalr
Founded in 2011, Scalr focuses on giving teams unmatched autonomy within a managed framework. It comes with a strong range of integrations that make it appealing to enterprises. It offers a full range of functionality in all key areas of cloud management.
Strengths
- An excellent option for organizations that need an on-premises solution.
- Performs well at scale and supports more than 1,000 concurrent users.
- Provides excellent policy and enforcement functionality at the design and operational stages.
Cautions
- Limited built-in monitoring tools.
- VMware support is not as mature as the competition.
- Lower market traction than many of its competitors.
ServiceNow
Founded in 2004, ServiceNow is a SaaS-based cloud management tool. It leverages on a virtual appliance (MID server) to give organizations a seamless on-premises solution.
Strengths
- A wide selection of offerings with an unmatched level of integration.
- Simple SaaS delivery model.
- Intuitive user interface.
Cautions
- It can be expensive.
- Implementation might require outsourced expertise.
- Weak in the cloud cost management and resource optimization areas.
VMware (CloudHealth)
Founded in 2012 and acquired by VMware in 2018, VMware (CloudHealth) is a SaaS-delivered tool. The industry knows it for its cost management, resource optimization, and security features. It also has strong partnerships with third parties that augment its functionality.
Strengths
- Excellent cost management and workload optimization.
- Large customer base.
- Strong ecosystem of partners that complement its offering.
Cautions
- Can’t provision or create new cloud resources through the platform. It only manages existing resources.
- Acquisition by VMware could change the company’s direction.
Conclusion
The cloud management tools Gartner report gives us a clear picture of what to expect from the top cloud management platform providers. You can select the tool that best meets your needs from the selection above.