When people talk about "the cloud," what they're really talking about is a whole bunch of different clouds owned by corporations fighting over who gets to store your family photos. And while my collection of sunset pics and concert videos rests safely in Apple's iCloud, I also use Google, Amazon, and Microsoft clouds on a daily basis.
This leads to problems when I want to transfer files between devices or databases, and don't even get me started on the time I switched from Android to iPhone. Multiply these kinds of issues by about a million, and you'll start to understand why businesses need cloud integration.Â
Broadly speaking, cloud integration connects clouds—and the apps that live on those clouds—with other clouds or local infrastructure. Here, I'll cover the fundamentals of cloud integration and the kinds of software you can use to implement it.
Table of contents:
What is cloud integration?
Cloud integration is the process of connecting different cloud platforms, services, and systems so they can share data and work together.Â
At least, that's the general sense of it. In reality, cloud integration has become something of a chameleon term, covering two similar but distinct forms. So let's get into that.
Types of cloud integration solutions
Before you start scouring the web for cloud integration solutions, you need to know what kinds of systems you're trying to connect.
Hybrid integration
The first kind of cloud integration connects cloud-based applications with on-premises systems like local databases, enterprise resource planning (ERP) software, and legacy mainframe applications (really anything that lives on local hardware).Â
If you're dealing with a mix of local and cloud environments, look for a hybrid integration platform designed to bridge those gaps. Hybrid integration means connecting on-premises systems with cloud services, and it can get pretty tricky since you're essentially bridging two different worlds with distinct architectures and security models.
Cloud-to-cloud integration
Cloud integration can also be used to connect disparate cloud services with no on-premises systems involved. This approach is usually a lot simpler to deploy and maintain since you're operating exclusively in a cloud environment, integrating applications so they can exchange data, trigger workflows, and generally play nice.Â
In this case, you're not connecting different cloud environments—you're passing data across cloud-based apps. Zapier, an AI orchestration platform, lets you do this across 8,000+ apps, using pre-built connectors to build fully automated systems, without needing to tag in a cloud engineer.Â
For both cloud-to-cloud and cloud-to-local approaches, you have the choice between building and buying integrations. Buying might sound like the more expensive option, but that's not usually the case. Even if you have a team of talented cloud engineers, creating and managing integrations in-house can be a costly, time-eating enterprise. That's where third-party services come into play.
Cloud integration platforms and services
There are about as many cloud integration tools and providers as there are actual clouds in the actual sky. They also don't always approach integration in the same way. So, rather than highlight specific tools, I'll list the main categories of cloud integration platforms and give a few popular examples of each.
Software orchestration platforms
No-code software like Zapier enables non-technical teams across an enterprise to build automated workflows, sync data between cloud applications, and connect AI tools and agents to the rest of their tech stack. This approach doesn't work for hybrid (cloud-to-local) integrations, but it's the most effective way for non-technical users to connect cloud-based applications.Â
Integration platform as a service (iPaaS)
Cloud-based platforms like MuleSoft Anypoint, Dell Boomi, or Microsoft Azure Logic Apps provide pre-built connectors, visual workflow designers, and managed infrastructure for creating hybrid integrations. These kinds of tools are less user-friendly than Zapier, so you should only use an iPaaS if you need to integrate cloud and local systems.Â
Enterprise service bus (ESB)
Middleware solutions like IBM Integration Bus or Oracle Service Bus facilitate communication between different applications and services through a centralized integration backbone—way more complicated than an actual bus. ESBs are best for enterprises with a large number of legacy systems that need to communicate with each other and with cloud services.
API management software
Solutions like Apigee, AWS API Gateway, or Kong help you deploy, secure, manage, and monitor APIs for integrating cloud applications. Use API management software if you're building and consuming lots of APIs and need to strictly regulate API access across different environments.
Extract, transform, load (ETL) tools
Cloud data integration platforms like Talend, Informatica, or AWS Glue use ETL pipelines to move and transform data between different systems and databases (both cloud and local). Use ETL tools if you mainly need to share data across systems and services. Just don't expect much functionality beyond data management.
Message queuing services
Platforms like Apache Kafka, Amazon SQS, or RabbitMQ enable asynchronous communication and data streaming between applications. Use these types of services if you need a message-based solution for integrating cloud-to-cloud and cloud-to-local systems.
Custom integration solutions
You can use bespoke integrations built from the ground up with code, SDKs, and direct API calls for hyper-specific requirements that can't be met by off-the-shelf solutions. Use this option if you're a cloud engineer with experience creating specialized integrations between cloud and local systems.
If this all sounds like Greek to you, it's because most of these app classes are used by devs and cloud engineers who already know when to pick an ETL tool over an ESB. But if you're here because you just want to connect cloud apps, Zapier will be your best (and simplest) bet.
Benefits of cloud integration
Asking why you'd want cloud integration is like asking why marinara gets served on top of spaghetti instead of next to it, in a little bowl you can dip the noodles in. (Sorry if that's your jam.)
The same is true of cloud systems and services. Here are some of the ways integrating them can help your business:
Eliminates data silos: Having a lot of data is only a good thing if it's easy to access and mobilize. If your data is spread out across disparate cloud and local systems, you'll be glad to know that cloud integration usually involves porting data from different cloud sources into CRMs, analytics tools, and centralized databases where it can be put to work.
Creates automation opportunities: When your tools talk to each other, it's much easier to automate them. Instead of running automations that only work within a single app, you can build workflows across multiple cloud systems. To get started, try Zapier's pre-made templates for building automated client portals, employee directories, and help desks. Â
Improves scalability: Integrated cloud systems will grow with your business more easily than disconnected ones. Instead of having to build custom connections every time you adopt another cloud platform, you can lean on existing integration infrastructure and APIs to quickly onboard new services.
Enhances collaboration capabilities: Sometimes, different teams and departments operate in totally different cloud environments, and this can make sharing data or collaborating on projects a nightmare. Cloud integration lets you connect departments with shared data flows, automated handoffs, status updates, and other notifications.
Makes cloud orchestration possible: Cloud orchestration coordinates multiple cloud platforms and workflows into an end-to-end business process, and integration is the first step to making it possible. With orchestration, you can create complex workflows across a range of cloud services, add AI agents that respond automatically to changing conditions, and ensure seamless data flow between apps.
Integrate your cloud applications with Zapier
If the tools you use live in the cloud, Zapier can integrate them. With connections to more than 8,000 apps (and counting), you can use Zapier to start syncing data and building AI-powered automations between cloud services without writing a single line of code.Â
Zapier's connectivity runs the gamut from general use apps like Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace to specialized cloud tools like Amazon S3, Google BigQuery, and Azure DevOps. Yes, this means you can make Amazon, Google, and Microsoft apps work together like they're on the same team (even if they're really not).
Learn more about how to turn disparate cloud services into an automated system on Zapier, or get started with one of these pre-made templates.
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Zapier is the most connected AI orchestration platform—integrating with thousands of apps from partners like Google, Salesforce, and Microsoft. Use interfaces, data tables, and logic to build secure, automated, AI-powered systems for your business-critical workflows across your organization's technology stack. Learn more.
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