Uber backs hybrid cloud as route to business and geographical expansion
Uber’s head of compute Dean Nelson has revealed how the firm is pursuing a hybrid cloud strategy to ensure its infrastructure has capacity to cope with its expanding business interests.
In the eight or so years Uber has been going, its app-based taxi-hailing service has rolled out to 600 cities worldwide, with its platform helping more than three million drivers around the world find fares, and 15 million customers a day get to where they want to go.
“We ignite opportunity by setting the world in motion. Everything is about moving something from A to B: it doesn’t matter if it is a package, a person or food. Anytime we need to move something, we want to be in the middle of that transaction,” said Nelson, during a keynote at the Datacenter Dynamics DCD>London conference in Old Billingsgate.
The company has also expanded into food delivery with Uber Eats, and is plotting a move into freight, drone-mediated food deliveries, healthcare services and aviation, with the first trials of its Uber Air taxi service set to begin in Dallas, Los Angeles and Paris in 2021.
“The key [to remember] is we’re just getting started. It just blows my mind every day when I go to work, and I keep hearing about the new features we’re adding onto the platform, the new businesses we’re going into, but globally this is changing the way things work,” said Nelson.
As the range of services Uber has to offer continues to rise, so too does the amount of load its IT infrastructure has to handle. “They [the services] all require a transaction on our platform,” said Nelson.
To achieve this scale, Uber relies on a hybrid IT infrastructure setup, he said, which he refers to as its Tripod Strategy that combines the use of public cloud services with standardised on-premise server racks in its colocation facilities, all separately handling compute, storage, database and GPU workloads.
“The reason for that is, when you get to scale, you have volumes that you can get price/performance that rivals cloud, but it is extremely difficult to [get the] ability to move like a cloud by yourself,” he said.
“You need the ability to turn up for GDPR [General Data Protection Regulation] and data sovereignty in Europe tomorrow, so we have multiple cloud providers, and we also have on-premise to help us keep balance.”
The on-premise portion of the infrastructure is a reference architecture Nelson terms Uber Metal, which provides the “building blocks” the company needs to achieve the scale to not only expand the range of industries Uber crosses into, but also its geographical spread.
“What is Uber Metal? It is the infrastructure that runs our on-premise metal as a service,” he said, which is designed to run out of its colocation facilities.
The aforementioned server racks are all organised into identical, standardised pods, containing 16 racks consisting of decreasing quantities of storage, database capacity, compute power and GPU processing capabilities, that are all hooked up to a 600G uplink.
“We have 16 racks that make up a pod. Then we take that one step further [to create a zone containing] 30 pods with 16 racks, which gives you reference architecture of 480 cabinets of usable IT capacity,” he said.
There are also some additional racks added to each one, bringing the total up to 576, to effectively act as a capacity buffer.
The idea being these datacentre zones will be dotted around the globe, for failover and latency reasons, while ensuring Uber works to ensure it has the IT capacity it needed to run its services all around the world.
The reason the firm is being so open about its Uber Metal vision, added Nelson, is because it is still under development and wants the industry’s help in refining it.
“I’m walking you through our reference architecture and the reason for that is I really want you guys to understand what it is we’re trying to build, because it takes all of us to get there and we need your help,” he added.
source computerweekly
Industry Data Centre News
Latest Jobs
-
- Senior Client Microsoft Security Delivery Consultant - Hybrid (London | Remote)
- London
- N/A
-
Senior Client Microsoft Security Delivery Consultant - Hybrid (London | Remote) We are seeking an experienced technical Security Consultant to help clients deploy and enhance their cyber defences across Microsoft and vulnerability management technologies. You will work with enterprise customers to deliver tailored solutions across threat detection, endpoint protection and exposure management, ensuring security platforms are efficient, integrated and aligned with operational goals. Whilst you won't do the design yourself- you will work alongside technical Presales to document, agree and then deliver the solution. You will have experience leading delivery the implementation and improvement projects, providing hands-on support with configuration, integration and optimisation. You will assess existing environments, recommend enhancements and guide clients on best practice to strengthen visibility and control. Strong experience with SIEM, XDR and vulnerability tooling (Microsoft & Tenable ecosystems ideal) Understanding of Azure security, identity and access controls Background in consulting or project-based cyber delivery Clear communication skills with the ability to engage senior stakeholders Extra points if you have the SC-100. You must be eligible to achieve UK Security Clearance to be considered for this role.
-
- Account Director | Cyber Security Consulting | UK - South East
- London
- N/A
-
Account Director | Cyber Security Consulting - Financial Services | UK - South East. New Role due to Growth We are looking for an experienced Account Director to develop and expand existing relationships across the financial services sector, working with investment firms, asset managers, private equity groups and strategic partners to deliver intelligent cyber consulting and a bespoke Cyber product offerings. You will act as a trusted advisor, helping organisations strengthen digital resilience, manage third-party and regulatory risk and adopt a proactive approach to cyber assurance. Key Responsibilities Manage a defined portfolio of financial clients, understanding business priorities and aligning tailored cyber solutions. Drive new client engagement while nurturing existing partnerships through a consultative, long-term approach. Present the benefits of advanced cyber services including threat intelligence, vulnerability management, incident readiness, and continuous risk monitoring. Collaborate with technical and delivery teams to ensure smooth engagement from proposal through to implementation and ongoing support. Prepare proposals, negotiate commercial terms, and clearly articulate value and business outcomes. Build trusted relationships at senior and board level. Ideal Profile Strong background in cybersecurity, consulting, or risk management within financial services. Skilled communicator with proven success managing and growing key accounts. Able to translate complex technical insight into commercial and strategic value for clients. Confident engaging with senior stakeholders and decision makers. Please note: Sponsorship is not available.
-
- SOC Analyst- Level 2- Hybrid Greater London
- London
- N/A
-
SOC Analyst- Level 2- Hybrid Greater London New opportunity created through continued growth. We’re looking for a SOC Analyst (Level 2) to strengthen a growing managed security team. You’ll work hands-on with Microsoft Sentinel and Defender XDR, investigating alerts, responding to incidents, and helping improve how clients stay protected. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys unravelling security events, thinking critically under pressure, and making a real difference day to day. What you’ll do · Investigate and respond to security activity across SIEM and endpoint tools · Analyse network and log data to uncover real threats · Support automation initiatives to streamline response processes · Help maintain visibility, data flow, and performance across SOC platforms What you’ll need · Practical experience using Microsoft Sentinel and Defender XDR · Confident working with KQL or similar query languages · Understanding of attacker tactics and response techniques · SC-200 certifications would be nice. · Experience supporting multiple customer environments Please note: Sponsorship is not available.
-
- Senior SOC Engineer - UK - New role due to growth
- London
- N/A
-
Senior SOC Engineer – New role due to growth We are hiring a Senior SOC Engineer to take the lead across security operations for a growing managed service. You will lead detection, response and onboarding activity across multiple clients, helping shape how the SOC evolves. Expect variety; from fine-tuning alerts and threat hunting to supporting customers and mentoring junior analysts. What you’ll bring · Strong experience across SIEM, EDR, and threat detection tools · Confident working with customers in a managed service environment · Skilled in scripting or query languages such as KQL or PowerShell · Knowledge of frameworks like NIST, ISO27001, MITRE ATT&CK · Calm communicator with a problem-solving mindset · Experience with Azure Lighthouse or delegated access models · Prior involvement in automation or SOC improvement projects Location: South East England- Hybrid role Please note: Sponsorship cannot be offered now or in the future.