MuleSoft CloudHub 2.0 vs. MuleSoft RTF: Which One To Choose?

MuleSoft stands out as a leading provider of integration solutions, offering products like CloudHub 2.0 and Runtime Fabric (RTF) that satisfy diverse business needs. With these platforms, connecting applications, data, and devices in a hybrid environment has become extremely efficient. In this article, we will discuss when to use MuleSoft's CloudHub 2.0 and when to switch to MuleSoft RTF based on your organizational needs.

MuleSoft CloudHub 2.0

CloudHub 2.0 is the next iteration of MuleSoft's CloudHub, a cloud-based containerized integration platform as a service (iPaaS) that provides a fully managed, multi-tenanted, globally available, secure, and highly available platform for integration and APIs. This latest version comes with enhancements for better performance, scalability, security, and operability. Using CloudHub 2.0, you can deploy APIs and integrations as lightweight containers in the cloud.

When Should I Use CloudHub 2.0?

CloudHub 2.0 is generally suitable in scenarios where:

1. Fully Managed Service: If your organization needs to avoid the overhead of managing the infrastructure and focus more on the development and deployment of applications, CloudHub is the right choice. It takes care of patching, updating, and scaling the platform, allowing developers to focus on their code.
2. Global Deployment: CloudHub operates in multiple regions across the globe. If your project requires data to be available in different geographic regions, you can deploy applications closer to your users, reducing latency.
3. Zero Downtime Deployment: For organizations with strict SLAs around uptime and requiring hot deployment, CloudHub offers zero downtime during application deployment.
4. Auto-Scaling: CloudHub is designed to automatically scale applications horizontally to handle increased load or traffic.
5. High Availability: With zero-downtime updates, CloudHub ensures that your services remain available, facilitating continuous business operations.
6. Security: It comes with built-in secure properties and security group features that help in data protection and secure access management.
7. Monitoring: CloudHub offers integrated application performance monitoring and logging for operational efficiency.

Use Cases for CloudHub 2.0:

1. Businesses require rapid application integration with minimal configuration and maintenance
2. Organizations with a need for seamless integration of on-premise and cloud applications.
3. Companies need to build APIs for exposing data securely and with high availability.

MuleSoft Runtime Fabric (RTF)

MuleSoft RTF is a container service for multi-cloud and hybrid deployments. RTF allows you to deploy Mule applications and API gateways within a data center or any cloud platform, thus providing more flexibility than CloudHub.

When Should I Use MuleSoft RTF?

MuleSoft RTF is generally suitable for scenarios where:

1. Flexibility in Deployment: If your organization needs the flexibility to deploy MuleSoft applications either on-premise, in private clouds, or even in public clouds like AWS, Azure, and others, RTF should be your go-to choice.
2. Control over Data: If your organization has strict data governance rules or needs to keep the data on-premise due to regulatory requirements, RTF is a more apt solution.
3. Customizability and Isolation: RTF is preferable if there's a need for greater control over the environment, customizability, and workload isolation.
4. Containerization: If your organization leverages containerization, RTF is designed for it. RTF is built on Docker and Kubernetes, making it a perfect fit for organizations that are heavily invested in container technologies.
5. Security: RTF can enforce stronger security controls and compliance since it runs within your network's boundaries.
6. Automation: It provides automated application deployment and orchestration using Docker and Kubernetes.

Use Cases for Runtime Fabric:

1. Businesses require significant control over their data and infrastructure due to stringent regulatory requirements.
2. Organizations desiring to deploy applications in a hybrid model, using a mix of private and public clouds,
3. Companies that need a high level of customization and direct control over their runtime environment

Conclusion

There are several factors to consider when deciding between MuleSoft CloudHub 2.0 and MuleSoft RTF. For those seeking a fully managed service with a global presence and auto-scaling capability, CloudHub 2.0 is a fantastic option. RTF, on the other hand, is a better option if you need more control over your deployment environment and data or if you are already invested in container technology. It is important to make the decision in accordance with your organization's specific business requirements, IT strategy, budget, and resources.