Best cloud brokers

rows of servers in a data center

The best cloud brokers make it simpler and easier to manage a range of cloud services under a single platform. The aim is to simplify the process of managing public, private, or hybrid clouds while also ensuring the services remain optimised.

The best cloud brokerages

Click the links below to go to the provider's website:

  1. AWS Service Broker
  2. IBM Multicloud Management Services
  3. Cloudmore
  4. Jamcracker Cloud Services Brokerage
  5. Boomi

While there are an increasing range of cloud services available, it often pays to mix and match, not least to avoid vendor lock-in. Additionally, services from different provider might offer potential benefits, so getting them to work together can mean a more efficient IT service management.

Because cloud services are free of normal hardware and operating system limitations, it tends to be easier to integrate different service provisions in one place for cloud management.

And because of the scale of data management that can be involved, being able to centralise everything into a single infrastructure with its own dashboard can make everything so much easier to manage and maintain.

Therefore here we'll list some of the biggest and best cloud brokers available, for mixing and matching your IT services for hybrid clouds.

Best cloud brokers reviews

1. AWS Service Broker

AWS Service Broker's homepage

(Image credit: AWS)

The most popular cloud broker platform

REASONS TO BUY

  • Free trial
  • Open-source
  • Ensures best practices
  • Pricing model options

REASONS TO AVOID

  • Nothing to note

AWS Service Broker is an open source service provided by Amazon that allows AWS to integrate directly with third-party cloud services, such as Red Hat OpenShift, Pivotal Cloud Foundry, SUSE Cloud Application Platform and Kubernetes.

The result is a single platform from which multiple cloud services can be managed, whether public, private, or hybrid clouds, which don't need to work with the AWS API. However, the full range of AWS CloudFormation templates are available to customise as required to manage infrastructure and resources.

Other AWS services can also be used, such as for relational databases, storage, and querying (AWS RDS, AWS S3, and AWS SQS) for example, as well as a range of other supported AWS features.

However, the service broker ensures best practices when working with both AWS and third party clouds for availability and retention, and again templates can be configured for individual needs. The overall result is a unified interface that allows AWS services and third-party services to be more easily managed.

AWS has three different pricing models; ‘Pay as you Go’, ‘Save when you reserve’ and ‘Pay less using more’. To get prices for all these you need to contact sales directly.

2. IBM Multicloud Management Services

IBM's multicloud management services website

(Image credit: IBM)

A powerful cloud broker solution

REASONS TO BUY

  • Better IT management
  • Retain compliance
  • Cost and efficiency savings

IBM Multicloud Management Services helps users integrate cloud services from multiple suppliers with IBM's own cloud platform through managed cloud brokerage services.

With the IBM Multicloud Management Service you can play, design, and manage all cloud models from a single platform, while still ensuring compliance. Though the migration of apps and optimisation across all your services you should be able to minimise costs.

A key aim it to help allow managers and executives bring their IT infrastructure under control in a single cloud platform to reduce hybrid sprawl, especially when different departments may have their own cloud operations for CRM, sales, or ecommerce, which can otherwise complicate the overall IT environment.

While initial costs may be initially higher, operational savings should easily outweigh these. Additionally, IBM provides cost management tools with built-in analytics to help improve efficiency further.

Bringing together all your IT needs onto a single platform should provide added benefits in terms of easier management, not least having a clearer idea of needs, services, and costs, and being better able to balance these, without having to drop needed tools and processes.

3. Cloudmore

Cloudmore's homepage

(Image credit: Cloudmore)

The pay-as-you-go brokerage platform

REASONS TO BUY

  • PAYG pricing
  • Intuitive interface
  • Easy API integration

Cloudmore works to bring all cloud-based IT services together into one unified platform.

Cloudmore is delivered as a SaaS service. There is no hardware to buy or initial set-up costs. Everything you need from a brokerage solution is available from the get-go except for add-ons you might decide to include as you progress.

The interface is simple to use and easy on the eye. It is intuitive ensuring usability for all clients.

Cloudmore’s brokerage platform is based on a pay-as-you-go pricing structure. The solution charges for the management of services which are usually paid for by the vendor. Users also have the option to purchase add-ons.

Cloudmore’s API’s easily integrate into your systems. This allows for end-to-end automation. Microsoft Online Services is part of their many integrations.

4. Jamcracker Cloud Services Brokerage

Jamcracker's cloud services brokerage website

(Image credit: Jamcracker)

The managed cloud broker platform

REASONS TO BUY

  • Supports multiple languages and currencies
  • Flexible and power platform
  • Good variety of options

Jamcracker Cloud Services Brokerage also offers organisations the opportunity to manage diverse cloud services from a single platform. This brings with it the ability to unify public, private, and hybrid cloud operations and deliver them both across departments and also to customers.

This can involve unifying SaaS, IaaS, and PaaS needs, along with any other virtualisations, and Jamcracker provides support for multiple languages, currencies, and time zones.

As above, the expectation is that simplifying cloud IT infrastructure should result in positive cost and efficiency savings, but by being a cloud services broker (CSB) companies can look to not simply apply these benefits internally but also resell their own value-added services - something Jamcracker is keen to develop with its customers as required.

Overall, Jamcracker has positioned itself as a key provider for unifying cloud operations and management, while also being able to offer cloud brokerage services that enterprise business can take in house and repackage for use among its own clients or suppliers.

5. Boomi

Boomi's homepage

(Image credit: Boomi)

The integrated cloud broker service provider

REASONS TO BUY

  • Supports multiple cloud architectures
  • Easy integration
  • Drag and drop integration

Boomi is a business acquired by Dell in 2010, which specialises in cloud-based integration, API management and master data management. Users can build on-premise to on-premise, cloud-to-cloud and hybrid integrations. The interface gives you access to the tools needed to build end-to-end workflows.

Boomi has a handy drag and drop feature which makes integration simpler. It is an enterprise integration Platform as a Service. Users can build, deploy and manage all integrations seamlessly. Boomi ‘Suggest’ allows users to show others in the community ideas for integrations and receive feedback.

Users can submit data on integration processes to ‘AtomSphere’ to test against future changes. Boomi is a multi-tenant platform which manages all your data management software. They have connections to multiple providers such as MailChimp, Google Cloud and Slack.

Altogether, Boomi aims to accelerate the delivery of integration projects while ensuring management, optimisation, and reliability are maintained.

Nate is a freelance technology writer based in Ireland, and has written for TechRadar and IT Pro Portal on a wide range of cloud and technology topics.