Businesses are incrementally moving to cloud-based systems. This enables their teams to work more flexibly. While this is great news for employees, it’s a bit of a headache for IT admins, especially when employees use different apps or silos.

Cloud Management Platforms enable your IT department to manage the cloud environment. So having a reliable PaaS or IaaS optimizes your IT team’s capabilities by giving them the tools they need to manage those systems or unify online environments onto a single platform.

What are the BEST options for Cloud Management Platforms?

If you are an IT admin or a company looking for CMPs then check out these options:

  1. OpenStack – the best open-source CMP
  2. Scalr – the best for enterprize scale
  3. IBM Cloud Paks – the best CMP for automation
  4. RedHat Cloud Suite – the best CMP for developers
  5. Datadog – the best for monitoring and security
  6. Turbonomic – best CMP for costs, usage, and performance
  7. BMC – best for multi-cloud management

Let’s take a look at the good stuff:

1. OpenStack – the Best Open-source Cloud Management Platform

Pricing: Free

OpenStack claims to be “The most widely deployed open-source Cloud software in the world.” Quite a claim, but they are a community (OpenInfra) maintained and offer the service FREE thanks to the lack of a license. Unsurprisingly they are a popular choice. It can accommodate a range of users, from SMBs to large companies. OpenStack offers software components for common services that support your cloud infrastructure. But they offer more than standard IaaS functionality for VMs with additional features to provide orchestration, fault management, and service management.

KEY FEATURES

  • Interactive reporting
  • Issue tracking and driver ID
  • Cost tracking

REASONS TO BUY

  • Information hub
  • Scalable storage
  • High data security

REASONS TO AVOID

  • Public (functions can be removed)
  • Some problematic integrations

2. Scalr – the Best Cloud Management Platform for Enterprise Scale

Pricing: $0 – $299

Scalr is a hybrid, enterprise-grade CMP that helps companies build a cloud strategy through automation with a self-service approach. IT administrators can quickly deploy several applications across multiple cloud environments through automation. The platform comes with a policy engine that can enforce conditional policies automatically and allows administrators to create service catalogs with user-restricted access. As a smaller solutions-provider it may seem a risk but, chances are, they’ll go all out to keep you happy with tailored support.

KEY FEATURES

  • Controlled decentralizing
  • Flexible Workflows
  • Visibility

REASONS TO BUY

  • 3-step setup process
  • Customer service
  • Cost-effective

REASONS TO AVOID

  • Smaller service provider
  • Smaller peer community support

3. IBM Cloud Paks – the Best Cloud Management Platform for Automation

Pricing: Custom + Loans and Leasing

IBM is a name that you will have heard of. We already know that they are global technology leaders, so it will be no surprise to learn they offer cloud solutions. Their CMPs are designed for larger businesses who are seeking an AI powered hybrid cloud designed to modernize faster across any cloud IT infrastructure. IBM delivers insights quickly with an intelligent control plane powered by AI. And for more support, IT teams will enjoy the easy-to-navigate interface that reduces the learning curve.

KEY FEATURES

  • Customizable self-service portal
  • Cloud configuration automation
  • Services management

REASONS TO BUY

  • Cost-effective
  • APP development and testing
  • High levels of support

REASONS TO AVOID

  • Requires training to setup
  • Permissions can restrict functionality

4. Red Hat Cloud Suite– the Best Management Platform for Cloud Developers

Pricing: Price on request

If you want total cloud management control, you can build your own cloud with Red Hat Cloud Suite, which is a combination of Red Hat technologies. It enables enterprises to build a cloud infrastructure and develop cloud-native apps on the premises. The benefit of building your own private cloud is it gives you a common interface and technology stack for development operations, IT administration, and lines of business. The suite includes OpenShift Kubernetes platform, enabling developers to position cloud apps in containers and virtual machines. By integrating Red Hat with third-party providers, users can build hybrid clouds across private and public domains.

KEY FEATURES

  • Developer first experience
  • Hybrid Cloud flexibility
  • Simplify operations

REASONS TO BUY

  • Intuitive community
  • Quick app deployment
  • Reliability

REASONS TO AVOID

  • GUI lacks power
  • Frequent upgrades
  • Complex migration

5. Datadog – the Best Management Platform for Cloud Monitoring and Security

Pricing: $0 – $23

If you’re a developer, IT administrator, or security engineer, then Datadog is the best SaaS for monitoring security and analytics for cloud platforms. It has been recognized as “Leader” in the 2022 “Gartner Magic Quadrant” for “APM & Observability.” Datadog’s software automates infrastructure monitoring; log management, to provide real-time observability of a customer’s stack, and performs application performance monitoring. Datadog is competitively priced and is suitable for all business sizes and industries.

KEY FEATURES

  • Custom metrics
  • Quick graphs, alerts, and analysis
  • Low-cost monthly price plan

REASONS TO BUY

  • Cost-effective
  • Unlimited machine learning-based alerts
  • Support team collaboration

REASONS TO AVOID

  • Complicated setup
  • Expert lead for training
  • Better geographic support

6. Turbonomic – the Best Cloud Platform for Managing Costs, Usage, and Performance

Pricing: On request

With NASA as a client and with a No. 1 ranking from ITCentral’s PeerSpot, Turbonomic is clearly not a risky option for cloud management solutions. Turbonomic is an IBM company. It provides an application resource management software which is used by multivendor networks for enterprises, carriers, and managed service providers to measure performance metrics, track system bugs, and analyze KPIs. With Turbonomic, you can gain visibility into workloads, compliance-policies, and analyze everything from one platform. And with a rank of respected multinationals, such as Bank of America, Cisco, JP Morgan, Chase, and Tiffany & Co., you’ll be in good company.

KEY FEATURES

  • Proactive app monitoring
  • Performance metrics and analysis
  • Data migration

REASONS TO BUY

  • Reduces costs significantly
  • Data presentation for resources
  • Automatically manages app stack

REASONS TO AVOID

  • Expensive for smaller enterprises
  • Rudimentary interface

7. BMC – the Best CMS for Multi-Cloud Management

Pricing: On request

According to BMC, almost 50% of IT specialists or enterprises cite migrating data and applications to the cloud as a challenge. If you’re in the same camp, then maybe BMC Multi-Cloud Management might be the right fit for you. They offer an e-book to simplify familiarization with their products. A general introduction is through “Simplifying Big Data in a Multi-Cloud World,” and another e-book offers insights into “How to Determine the True Cost of Clouds”. They have solution briefs on how to accelerate multi-cloud adoption with the aim of addressing the most important infrastructure challenges, and to help ensure a smooth migration to the cloud. They also provide guidance on how to assess what a business should migrate to the cloud to maximise security.

KEY FEATURES

  • Hybrid cloud monitor
  • Predictive service management
  • UI-driven configurability

REASONS TO BUY

  • Automation functionality
  • Multi-cloud migration
  • Simplified training resources

REASONS TO AVOID

  • Premium Consultancy Fees
  • Mostly for high-performance environments

Reference and Links:

  • https://www.softwareadvice.com
  • https://www.softwaretestinghelp.com
  • https://www.itproportal.com
  • https://contenteratechspace.com
  • https://www.comparitech.com
  • https://www.g2.com
  • https://www.whizlabs.com
  • https://financesonline.com
  • https://cycleops.io
  • https://www.cloudzero.com
  • https://solutionsreview.com
  • https://www.getapp.com/
  • https://www.capterra.co.uk/
  • https://www.hpe.com
  • https://contenteratechspace.com
  • https://www.openstack.org/
  • https://www.insightsforprofessionals.com
  • https://www.scalr.com/
  • https://www.ibm.com
  • https://www.redhat.com
  • https://www.datadoghq.com
  • https://www.peerspot.com
  • https://www.turbonomic.com/
  • https://www.bmc.com