What is multi-cloud architecture?

Multi-cloud architecture refers to the use of services from multiple cloud providers to meet specific business needs, allowing for flexibility and avoiding vendor lock-in.

How does this skill help with cloud migration?

This skill provides a structured framework for assessing current infrastructure, selecting target services, and implementing migration strategies across different cloud environments.

Can I use this skill for single cloud deployments?

While the skill focuses on multi-cloud strategies, it can still provide valuable insights for optimizing cloud service selection even within a single provider.

What resources are included with this skill?

The skill includes references for multi-cloud patterns, service comparisons across major cloud platforms, and best practices for cloud architecture.

Is there a cost optimization strategy included?

Yes, the skill outlines various cost optimization strategies, such as using reserved capacity and right-sizing resources to manage cloud expenses effectively.

Multi-Cloud Architecture

Name: Multi-Cloud Architecture
Availability: InStock
Author: wshobson

Free

Design cloud-agnostic architectures across providers.

by wshobson38.7k stars on wshobson/agents

Updated Jul 18, 2026

Get this skill

Free · Opens the source repo

What Multi-Cloud Architecture does

The Multi-Cloud Architecture skill provides a structured decision framework for designing applications that span multiple cloud environments, specifically AWS, Azure, GCP, and OCI. This skill is essential for developers and architects looking to avoid vendor lock-in and leverage the best services from each cloud provider. It facilitates the creation of cloud-agnostic architectures that can adapt to various workloads and business needs.

By utilizing this skill, users can effectively select and integrate cloud services tailored to their specific requirements. The bundled references include detailed comparisons of compute, storage, and database services across the major cloud platforms, allowing users to make informed decisions based on their unique use cases. The skill also outlines multi-cloud patterns that can be employed to optimize performance, compliance, and cost efficiency.

This skill is particularly useful in scenarios such as designing multi-cloud strategies, migrating workloads between providers, and implementing cost optimization strategies. With a focus on best practices, users are guided on how to leverage infrastructure as code, implement CI/CD pipelines, and ensure comprehensive monitoring across their multi-cloud environments.

In summary, the Multi-Cloud Architecture skill is a valuable resource for anyone involved in cloud architecture, providing the necessary tools and insights to build resilient, scalable, and cost-effective multi-cloud solutions.

When to use it

Use this skill when designing multi-cloud strategies, migrating workloads, or selecting cloud services for specific applications.

When not to use it

This skill may not be suitable for projects that are strictly limited to a single cloud provider or do not require multi-cloud capabilities.

What you can build with it

Designing a Multi-Cloud Strategy

Utilize the skill to create a comprehensive strategy that incorporates services from AWS, Azure, and GCP to meet diverse application needs.

Migrating Workloads Between Providers

Follow the migration strategy outlined in the skill to seamlessly transition workloads from one cloud provider to another while minimizing downtime.

Optimizing Costs Across Cloud Providers

Leverage the cost comparison and optimization strategies to ensure that your multi-cloud architecture remains cost-effective.

How to install Multi-Cloud Architecture

View source

1. Install with the skills CLI

npx skills add wshobson/agents/multi-cloud-architecture --agent claude-code

2. Or install it manually

Download the skill folder and drop it into ~/.claude/skills/ for all projects, or .claude/skills/ to scope it to one repo. Restart Claude Code so it picks up the new skill.

Anthropic's agentic coding CLI, and the reference implementation of Agent Skills. Drop a skill folder into ~/.claude/skills and Claude Code loads it automatically whenever a task matches the skill's description. Claude Code docs

Inside SKILL.md

Written by wshobson

Multi-Cloud Architecture

Decision framework and patterns for architecting applications across AWS, Azure, GCP, and OCI.

Purpose

Design cloud-agnostic architectures and make informed decisions about service selection across cloud providers.

When to Use

Design multi-cloud strategies
Migrate between cloud providers
Select cloud services for specific workloads
Implement cloud-agnostic architectures
Optimize costs across providers

Cloud Service Comparison

Compute Services

AWS	Azure	GCP	OCI	Use Case
EC2	Virtual Machines	Compute Engine	Compute	IaaS VMs
ECS	Container Instances	Cloud Run	Container Instances	Containers
EKS	AKS	GKE	OKE	Kubernetes
Lambda	Functions	Cloud Functions	Functions	Serverless
Fargate	Container Apps	Cloud Run	Container Instances	Managed containers

Storage Services

AWS	Azure	GCP	OCI	Use Case
S3	Blob Storage	Cloud Storage	Object Storage	Object storage
EBS	Managed Disks	Persistent Disk	Block Volumes	Block storage
EFS	Azure Files	Filestore	File Storage	File storage
Glacier	Archive Storage	Archive Storage	Archive Storage	Cold storage

Database Services

AWS	Azure	GCP	OCI	Use Case
RDS	SQL Database	Cloud SQL	MySQL HeatWave	Managed SQL
DynamoDB	Cosmos DB	Firestore	NoSQL Database	NoSQL
Aurora	PostgreSQL/MySQL	Cloud Spanner	Autonomous Database	Distributed SQL
ElastiCache	Cache for Redis	Memorystore	OCI Cache	Caching

Reference: See references/service-comparison.md for complete comparison

Multi-Cloud Patterns

Pattern 1: Single Provider with DR

Primary workload in one cloud
Disaster recovery in another
Database replication across clouds
Automated failover

Pattern 2: Best-of-Breed

Use best service from each provider
AI/ML on GCP
Enterprise apps on Azure
Regulated data platforms on OCI
General compute on AWS

Pattern 3: Geographic Distribution

Serve users from nearest cloud region
Data sovereignty compliance
Global load balancing
Regional failover

Pattern 4: Cloud-Agnostic Abstraction

Kubernetes for compute
PostgreSQL for database
S3-compatible storage (MinIO)
Open source tools

Cloud-Agnostic Architecture

Use Cloud-Native Alternatives

Compute: Kubernetes (EKS/AKS/GKE/OKE)
Database: PostgreSQL/MySQL (RDS/SQL Database/Cloud SQL/MySQL HeatWave)
Message Queue: Apache Kafka or managed streaming (MSK/Event Hubs/Confluent/OCI Streaming)
Cache: Redis (ElastiCache/Azure Cache/Memorystore/OCI Cache)
Object Storage: S3-compatible API
Monitoring: Prometheus/Grafana
Service Mesh: Istio/Linkerd

Abstraction Layers

Application Layer
    ↓
Infrastructure Abstraction (Terraform)
    ↓
Cloud Provider APIs
    ↓
AWS / Azure / GCP / OCI

Cost Comparison

Compute Pricing Factors

AWS: On-demand, Reserved, Spot, Savings Plans
Azure: Pay-as-you-go, Reserved, Spot
GCP: On-demand, Committed use, Preemptible
OCI: Pay-as-you-go, annual commitments, burstable/flexible shapes, preemptible instances

Cost Optimization Strategies

Use reserved/committed capacity (30-70% savings)
Leverage spot/preemptible instances
Right-size resources
Use serverless for variable workloads
Optimize data transfer costs
Implement lifecycle policies
Use cost allocation tags
Monitor with cloud cost tools

Reference: See references/multi-cloud-patterns.md

Migration Strategy

Phase 1: Assessment

Inventory current infrastructure
Identify dependencies
Assess cloud compatibility
Estimate costs

Phase 2: Pilot

Select pilot workload
Implement in target cloud
Test thoroughly
Document learnings

Phase 3: Migration

Migrate workloads incrementally
Maintain dual-run period
Monitor performance
Validate functionality

Phase 4: Optimization

Right-size resources
Implement cloud-native services
Optimize costs
Enhance security

Best Practices

Use infrastructure as code (Terraform/OpenTofu)
Implement CI/CD pipelines for deployments
Design for failure across clouds
Use managed services when possible
Implement comprehensive monitoring
Automate cost optimization
Follow security best practices
Document cloud-specific configurations
Test disaster recovery procedures
Train teams on multiple clouds

Related Skills

terraform-module-library - For IaC implementation
cost-optimization - For cost management
hybrid-cloud-networking - For connectivity

Frequently asked questions about Multi-Cloud Architecture

Similar skills

Turborepo

Optimized build system for JavaScript/TypeScript monorepos.

Azure Pipelines Validation

Streamline your Azure DevOps pipeline changes locally.

Azure Developer CLI

Streamline your Azure project workflows with best practices.

Azure Container Registry CLI

Manage Azure Container Registry resources with ease.

Aspire

Build and orchestrate polyglot distributed applications seamlessly.

Vercel CLI

Manage and deploy Vercel projects from the command line.