
Most definitions describe some mix of public cloud, private cloud, and/or on-premises (or bare metal) servers; they also often include some level of integration or orchestration between these different environments. There have been attempts to come up with a standard explanation, such as the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s original definition of cloud computing in 2011.
In that sense, a fluid definition is quite reasonable: It can be adapted for emerging technologies and strategies. Regardless of how you specifically define hybrid cloud, though, it’s definitely a thing: In a recent Everest Group survey of 200 enterprises, 72 percent of respondents said they have a hybrid-first or private-first cloud strategy.