Qdrant Hybrid Cloud
Qdrant Hybrid Cloud is a specialized deployment model that decouples the control plane from the data plane. It allows organizations to manage their vector database using Qdrant’s user-friendly SaaS interface (Control Plane) while the actual data and processing remain strictly within the user’s own infrastructure (Data Plane). This offers the convenience of a managed service with the absolute data sovereignty of a self-hosted solution.
In a standard “Managed Cloud” setup, your data lives on Qdrant’s servers. In Hybrid Cloud, your data never leaves your environment.
You install a lightweight Kubernetes Operator and Cloud Agent inside your own Kubernetes cluster (which can be on AWS, Google Cloud, Azure, on-premise, or even Edge devices). These agents establish a secure outgoing connection to Qdrant’s central management console. This allows you to provision, scale, and upgrade clusters via the Qdrant web dashboard, while the actual vectors and query execution happen entirely on your hardware.
Key Features
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Absolute Data Sovereignty: Since the database runs in your own Kubernetes cluster, no sensitive data (vectors or payloads) is ever transmitted to Qdrant’s servers. Only telemetry (health status, metrics) is shared.
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Unified Management Plane: You get the same “SaaS experience” (visual dashboard, one-click upgrades, monitoring) as the public cloud version, but applied to your private infrastructure.
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Network Isolation: You do not need to open any inbound ports on your firewall. The local agent uses a secure outgoing connection (mTLS) to communicate with the control plane.
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Deploy Anywhere: Works on any CNCF-compliant Kubernetes cluster. This includes major cloud providers (EKS, GKE, AKS), on-premise data centers (OpenShift, Rancher), or Edge locations.
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Cost Control: You pay your cloud provider directly for the raw infrastructure (EC2, RAM, Disk), often allowing you to leverage existing “committed use discounts” (e.g., AWS Savings Plans).
Ideal For & Use Cases
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Highly Regulated Industries: Banking, Healthcare (HIPAA), and Government/Defense where data legally cannot leave the organization’s Virtual Private Cloud (VPC).
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Data Residency Requirements: Companies operating in regions like the EU (GDPR) or nations with strict data localization laws where Qdrant might not have a public cloud region.
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Low Latency Edge Computing: Running vector search directly on edge devices or in local data centers to minimize network latency for on-site applications.
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Cost Optimization: Enterprises with massive infrastructure credits (e.g., $100k AWS credits) can use those credits for the compute/storage while paying Qdrant only for the management license.
Deployment & Technical Specs
| Category | Specification Details |
| Prerequisites |
• A Standard-compliant Kubernetes Cluster (v1.25+ recommended) • CSI Driver with Block Storage support (for persistent data) • |
| Connectivity |
• Outbound Only: Agent connects to • No Inbound Ports: No public IP or open firewall ports required |
| Components |
• Qdrant Operator: Manages the lifecycle (Deploy, Upgrade, Heal) of database pods • Cloud Agent: Sends telemetry (CPU/RAM usage) to the Qdrant Dashboard |
| Supported Infra |
• Cloud K8s: Amazon EKS, Google GKE, Azure AKS, DigitalOcean • On-Prem/Private: RedHat OpenShift, VMware Tanzu, Rancher, Bare Metal K8s |
Pricing & Plans
| Plan Type | Estimated Cost | Details |
| Hybrid Cloud License | Custom / Enterprise |
• Paid to Qdrant Inc. • Covers the license for the Management Console, Operator, and Support. • Typically an annual contract based on the number of nodes or consumption. |
| Infrastructure Cost | Your Cloud Bill |
• Paid to your Cloud Provider (AWS/Azure/etc.) • You pay for the raw Compute (CPU/RAM) and Storage used by the clusters. • Allows usage of your own committed spend/credits. |
Pros & Cons
| Pros (Advantages) | Cons (Limitations) |
| Best of Both Worlds: Combines the ease of a managed SaaS with the security of self-hosting. | Kubernetes Required: You must have a Kubernetes cluster running. If you don’t use K8s, this solution is not for you. |
| Compliance: Easiest way to pass SOC2/HIPAA/GDPR audits since data never leaves your control. | Double Billing: You receive two bills: one from Qdrant (license) and one from your Cloud Provider (infrastructure). |
| No Vendor Lock-in (Data): Because the data sits on your disks, you retain full physical ownership of the dataset at all times. | Initial Setup: Slightly more complex “Day 1” setup (installing Helm charts) compared to the instant “Click & Go” of the public Managed Cloud. |
| Low Latency: Keep the vector database in the exact same VPC/Subnet as your application servers for microsecond latency. | Custom Pricing: Unlike the Managed Cloud which has a transparent “pay-as-you-go” tier, Hybrid usually requires talking to Sales. |
Final Verdict: Qdrant Hybrid Cloud
Qdrant Hybrid Cloud is the enterprise-grade solution for organizations that have “graduated” from standard SaaS but aren’t willing to take on the burden of fully unmanaged open-source maintenance.
It solves the “Data Sovereignty vs. Ease of Management” dilemma perfectly. If you are a bank, a hospital, or a government entity, this is likely the only viable option that satisfies your security team (data stays local) and your dev team (automated upgrades and UI). While it requires a functional Kubernetes environment and a custom contract, it effectively future-proofs your AI stack against compliance risks.