Articles

Enterprise integration strategy for multi-cloud environments

- Shreya Kapoor

The conversation around cloud in Europe has grown up. In major markets like the Nordics and the UK, the question is no longer whether to migrate, but how to operate seamlessly across a diverse digital estate. But as 'Cloud First' matures into 'Cloud Smart,' a critical gap is emerging. Without a cohesive enterprise integration strategy, multi-cloud environments don't just add scale; they add friction. Disconnected systems and duplicated data can quickly turn a strategic investment into a tangle of complexity. 

Why CIOs and CTOs in UK & Europe need a modern enterprise integration strategy for multi-cloud 

Multi-cloud and hybrid cloud adoption in the UK and EU is driven as much by regulation as by resilience. CIOs and CTOs face industry-specific pressures that demand seamless cloud integration: 

  • Telco: 5G rollouts require tight integration between network systems, edge platforms, and public clouds. 
  • BFSI:  Regulations such as DORA and PSD2 mandate transparent, auditable, and resilient data flows. 
  • Public Sector & Healthcare:  NHS digital initiatives and EU-wide EHR programs demand strict data sovereignty and interoperability. 

As SaaS usage grows and legacy systems remain critical, data fragmentation becomes a board-level risk. A modern enterprise integration strategy is essential to avoid innovative silos and protect ROI from multi-cloud investments. 

Understanding cloud integration and hybrid cloud integration challenges in large enterprises 

Connecting an on-premise system in London with a cloud workload in Frankfurt is rarely straightforward. Cloud integration and hybrid cloud integration challenges typically include: 

  1. Data residency and sovereignty:  GDPR and post-Brexit regulations make cloud data integration location sensitive.  risks.
  2. API inconsistency:  Legacy SOAP, batch files, and modern REST APIs rarely align without effort. 
  3. Latency and interoperability:   Cross-cloud traffic can introduce delays that impact real-time workloads. 

Whether it’s healthcare systems struggling with HL7/FHIR standards or government platforms modernizing citizen services, enterprises need a unified integration fabric across a fragmented IT estate. 

The role of iPaaS and cloud integration platforms in multi-cloud environments 

This is where iPaaS (Integration Platform as a Service) becomes critical. For CIOs, iPaaS acts as the connective tissue of the digital enterprise, replacing brittle point-to-point integrations. 

Modern cloud integration platforms offer: 

  • Speed: Low-code connectors for SAP, Salesforce, Oracle, and more 
  • Governance: Centralized monitoring across all cloud application integration flows 
  • Observability:  Real-time visibility into performance across AWS, Azure, and GCP

Designing a scalable enterprise integration strategy for multi-cloud (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud) 

A scalable enterprise integration strategy must be cloud-agnostic yet cloud-aware:

  • AWS: Dominant for general workloads in the UK and Germany 
  • Azure: Preferred by BFSI and government due to Microsoft ecosystems 
  • Google Cloud:  Growing fast in Retail, FinTech, and advanced analytics 

API-first and event-driven architectures are essential. Aligning cloud integration solutions with DevOps and GitOps ensures  integration scales alongside microservices, not behind them.

Cloud integration consulting services: What CIOs should expect from a technology partner 

Leading cloud integration consulting services deliver more than implementation. CIOs should expect: 

  • A clear integration blueprint aligned to cloud data integration services 
  • Industry-specific accelerators (Open Banking, OSS/BSS, EHR) 
  • Strong FinOps discipline to manage cross-cloud data movement costs 

Cloud app integration and legacy modernization for BFSI, Telco, Retail, Healthcare, and Government 

Cloud app integration allows enterprises to modernize legacy systems without replacing them, connecting core platforms to cloud-native applications for speed, scalability, and compliance. 

1. BFSI

Integrates core banking and payments with digital channels via PSD2 APIs to enable open banking and real-time services.

2. Telco

Connects OSS/BSS systems with cloud-based 5G, billing, and customer experience platforms.

3. Retail

Unifies POS, e-commerce, CRM, and inventory systems to deliver seamless omnichannel journeys.

4. Healthcare

Links legacy EHR systems with cloud applications using HL7/FHIR for secure interoperability.

5. Government

Modernizes citizen services by integrating legacy databases with secure cloud portals and analytics.

How to select the right cloud integration platform for UK & European enterprises

Choosing the right cloud integration software requires strict evaluation: 

  1. Compliance:  DORA, GDPR, NHS Digital, and UK government standards 
  2. Cross-cloud connectivity: Seamless AWS, Azure, and GCP integration 
  3. AI readiness:  Automation for mapping, monitoring, and failure prediction 

Cloud data integration solutions for real-time analytics and AI initiatives 

AI strategies fail without strong cloud data integrationMulti-cloud integration enables real-time analytics, Customer 360 views, and fraud detection. High-quality, unified data is what transforms analytics from reporting into action. 

When to use Google cloud integration services for AI + data modernization 

Google cloud integration services excel in data-intensive use cases. In UK and DACH retail, BigQuery integration enables deep personalization. In healthcare, GCP data pipelines help modernize patient records into analytics-ready assets.

Governance, security, and compliance in hybrid cloud integration for regulated industries 

Security must be embedded into hybrid cloud integration through zero trust principles: 

  1. End-to-end encryption for all cloud application integration 
  2. Strict API governance and access control 
  3. Alignment with NHS Digital and EBA guidelines 

Building a future-ready multi-cloud operating model 

Enterprises should establish an Integration Center of Excellence (ICoE) to treat integration as a platform capability, not a project task. Combined with expert cloud integration consulting services, this approach enables secure, scalable cloud app integration across the enterprise. 

Conclusion: Why multi-cloud enterprise integration is now a board-level priority 

In the UK and Europe,enterprise integration is no longer optional. A strong multi-cloud integration strategy delivers resilience, regulatory confidence, and data fluidity, turning cloud complexity into a competitive advantage. 

Partner with Torry Harris to simplify Multi-cloud integration 

Designing and operating a resilient multi-cloud integration landscape requires deep domain expertise, proven frameworks, and strong governance. Torry Harris brings decades of experience in enterprise integrationAPI management, and cloud integration consulting for regulated industries across the UK, Europe and Middle East. 

Whether you’re modernizing legacy systems, implementing iPaaS, or building a future-ready Integration Center of Excellence, our experts can help you turn integration complexity into a strategic advantage.

To discuss how we can support your enterprise integration strategy for multi-cloud environments

Contact us

Frequently asked questions

Start with business-critical data flows, then align platforms to regional regulatory and technical requirements.

Cloud connects SaaS apps, hybrid links on-prem to cloud, and multi-cloud integrates multiple cloud providers.

It provides centralized governance, speed, and compliance support that manual integrations cannot.

It ensures real-time, high-quality data feeds AI models accurately and consistently.

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About the author

Shreya Kapoor

Senior Content Strategist