Which factor is critical to assess before implementing a cloud bursting strategy?

Assessing current on-premises capacity and anticipated demand is critical before implementing a cloud bursting strategy because it directly impacts the effectiveness and efficiency of the bursting process. A cloud bursting strategy involves leveraging cloud resources to handle spikes in demand, which means understanding your existing infrastructure's limits is essential. If the on-premises capacity is already maxed out or if demand is miscalculated, the cloud solution may fall short of addressing the problems intended to be solved by the bursting strategy.

Understanding anticipated demand allows organizations to identify the peaks and troughs in their resource utilization. This ensures that they can effectively allocate cloud resources only when necessary, avoiding unnecessary costs associated with over-provisioning. If the current capacity and expected demand are not properly assessed, it could lead to performance issues or over reliance on cloud resources, negating the benefits of the cloud bursting strategy.

The other factors, while important, do not have the same immediate and critical impact on the implementation of cloud bursting. For instance, cost comparison of cloud providers might affect budgeting decisions in the long term, but it does not relate to the immediate need for additional capacity. Similarly, employee satisfaction or internet bandwidth availability are important considerations, but they are secondary to ensuring that the organization has a clear understanding of its capacity