Direct from the desk of Dane Williams.
Beginner’s guide to Multicloud and the Akash Network (AKT).
Yeah, I see you getting sucked down the multicloud rabbit hole as you research ways to more efficiently scale your IT stack.
But lucky for you, I’m here to help guide you through the concept of a multicloud solution and where the Akash Network (AKT) ultimately fits.
Let me assure you that the concept of a multicloud solution is much more than just a 2022 buzzword.
This guide is designed to show how you and your business can use the Akash Network’s multichain solution to scale your IT stack
Are you excited?
Good.
Let’s get straight into our guide to Multicloud and the Akash Network (ATK).
What is multicloud?
Before getting into the Akash side of things, let’s first go over a few basic multicloud definitions and general concepts.
Multicloud allows your business or application to use multiple cloud storage devices and services together, all under the banner of a single integrated piece of architecture.
For example, taking a multicloud approach to scaling your IT stack would see you use multiple cloud services, from multiple vendors.
This approach gives you access to cloud technology and resources available across both public and private clouds, as well as those sitting right on the edge.
Multicloud takes distributed approach to the often maligned centralisation of classic cloud computing giants, allowing you to scale at a lower cost and most importantly ensuring the safety and security of your data.
The infrastructure you’re using is exactly the same after all.
So multicloud is all good and well in theory, but let’s now move on to the more exciting section of discussing how the Akash Network can provide you with the scaling solution you crave.
What is the Akash Network (AKT?)
Otherwise known as AKT crypto, what exactly is the Akash Network?
The Akash Network provides a unified layer above all cloud providers on the market, essentially becoming a distributed marketplace for cloud computing.
As a decentralised cloud computing marketplace, they allow your business to be instantly connected with a range of providers.
Using resources on public and private clouds, at Microsoft and one of the smaller players all at once, the Akash Network allows you to essentially run a single, consolidated cloud solution.
From your end, it’s all the same.
Using the Akash Network works out to be cheaper, easier to run and best of all totally flexible in terms of being able to move between providers via the marketplace.
So that sums up why a customer would choose to use the Akash Network, but what’s in it for the providers?
Well obviously, they’re not left out in the dark here and are incentivised to offer their unused cloud storage capacity that would otherwise simply go to waste.
A win/win scenario for both sides of the equation.
The ultimate winner however, is most importantly your end customers - who receive a cheaper, more reliable service at the end of the line.
Are you starting to now see why the hype around multicloud and the Akash Network’s solution exists?
The Akash Network blockchain and AKT token
The Akash Network operates a Proof of Stake (PoS) blockchain.
The Akash blockchain uses the Cosmos software development kit (SDK) and as a result, incorporates Tendermint Byzantine Fault Tolerance by design.
The Akash Network blockchain is actually part of the Cosmos Hub, the first of numerous interconnected blockchains that will eventually comprise the entire Cosmos (ATOM) network.
By launching here, the Akash Network is able to leverage the blockchain infrastructure of Cosmos, maximising performance straight out of the gate and providing a level of blockchain interoperability that wouldn’t otherwise be possible.
Furthermore, the Akash Network blockchain is powered by its own native utility token called AKT which anyone can buy and stake.
The AKT token primarily performs the following functions:
- Acts as the network’s reserve currency.
- Rewards stakers for securing the network.
In order to focus on the multicloud aspects of the Akash Network, I’ll leave this section there for now.
But be assured that there will be more to come on the AKT token itself in follow-up pieces to this beginner’s guide.
Akash Network multicloud use-cases
One prominant use-case for the Akash Network’s multicloud solution, is a DeFi platform looking to scale their IT operations via the cloud.
By describing themselves as DeCloud for DeFi (hey, their words not mine), the Akash Network actually view companies within the DeFi space as their primary target audience.
This isn’t to say that their multicloud solution isn’t suitable for other industries, but with last year’s DeFi boom set to continue into 2022, this is the most obvious use case.
Keep in mind the entire ethos of decentralisation behind true DeFi projects.
An ethos that should flow into every aspect of the project, including the infrastructure supporting its IT stack.
Although the Akash Network is designed to be compatible with traditional cloud service providers, its service model certainly adheres to this ethos by placing more control in the hands of end-users.
The thing is however, that choosing the Akash Network’s multicloud solution isn’t just about ticking a box.
It truly offers projects in the space a cheaper and much more flexible cloud-based infrastructure.
Even before considering the decentralised philosophy driving DeFi projects, the Akash Network’s multicloud solution is actually far superior to that provided by any single cloud vendor anyway.
Multicloud pros and cons
Let’s start to wrap up this guide with a brief list of pros and cons of choosing the Akash Network’s multicloud solution.
Pros:
- Cheaper for businesses: By having the ability to source cloud resources from multiple sources, the outcome is always cheaper from the perspective of your business.
- Allows providers to maximise their returns: On the other side of the coin, the marketplace actually increases efficiency for providers too, meaning they’re also actually better off in the long run.
- Demand for cloud services is not going anywhere: Right? This fact is only highlighted by the crypto industry that promotes decentralisation at its core.
Cons:
- Legacy competitors: Established industry leaders with a current stranglehold on the space include tech giants like Amazon and Microsoft.
- Crypto competitors: Alongside the legacy giants of the space, the Akash Network has to compete with crypto competitors such as Filecoin.
Final thoughts on Multicloud and the Akash Network
If you’re searching for an efficient, decentralised solution that solves all of your problems surrounding scaling your IT stack, then the Akash Network’s multicloud solution could be for you.
By democratising cloud storage, the project not only offers a cheaper, more flexible solution for your business, but ultimately helps to swing the entire balance power from centralised tech giants, to the community via the AKT token.
Multicloud solutions are set to play a pivotal role heading into 2022 and as the premier option, the Akash Network is poised to go from strength to strength.
Best of probabilities to you.