Cloud Bursting — IT Glossary | ITU Online IT Training
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Cloud Bursting

Commonly used in Cloud Computing, Networking

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Cloud bursting is a configuration that integrates a private cloud with a public cloud to handle spikes in IT demand. It allows an organization to seamlessly extend its computing resources by leveraging external cloud services when internal capacity is insufficient, ensuring continuous service availability.

How It Works

In a cloud bursting setup, the private cloud operates as the primary environment for running applications and managing workloads. When the demand exceeds the private cloud's capacity—such as during peak usage periods—the system automatically redirects excess workloads to the public cloud. This process involves configuring workload orchestration and resource management tools that monitor resource utilisation in real time. These tools determine when to "burst" into the public cloud, dynamically provisioning additional resources only when needed. Once the demand drops back to normal levels, workloads are shifted back to the private cloud, and the public cloud resources are released, making the process cost-effective and flexible.

Common Use Cases

  • Handling seasonal traffic spikes for e-commerce websites during holiday sales.
  • Managing unpredictable workloads in large-scale data analysis or research projects.
  • Supporting development and testing environments that require extra computing power temporarily.
  • Scaling applications during major product launches or marketing campaigns.
  • Providing disaster recovery by temporarily offloading workloads to the public cloud during outages or system failures.

Why It Matters

For IT professionals and organisations, cloud bursting offers a strategic way to balance cost and performance by dynamically adjusting resources without over-investing in private infrastructure. It enables businesses to respond quickly to changing demands, optimise resource utilisation, and improve service reliability. Certification candidates working towards cloud or infrastructure certifications should understand cloud bursting as part of hybrid cloud strategies, as it demonstrates the ability to design scalable, flexible, and resilient cloud environments. In a competitive IT landscape, mastering cloud bursting concepts can lead to better resource management and more efficient cloud architecture design.

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