Cloud, edge, or both? A decision framework

Cloud vs. edge isn't a religious debate — it's a workload decision. The wrong framing ('we're cloud-first' or 'we're on-prem forever') leads to expensive compromises.

Score each workload on four axes: data sensitivity, latency requirement, operational capacity, and total cost over five years. High sensitivity and strict residency push toward private or sovereign cloud; ultra-low latency pushes toward edge.

Hybrid is the norm in the META region, not the exception. The art is in the integration layer: consistent security policy, observable networking, and portability so you're not locked to a single vendor's roadmap.

Revisit the matrix annually. AI inference, new regulations, and edge hardware shifts can change the answer faster than a three-year capex cycle.