Cloud managed services took over the hardware technologies from the year 2013. This technology took over various businesses requiring remote access to data. Experts say that almost 81% of all enterprises have a multi cloud strategy. As a result of this more than 40 zettabytes of data will be flowing in the future through the cloud servers and networks. This field has many competitions, including the big three – Amazon web services, Microsoft Azure, and Google cloud platform.
AWS has been in the game the longest and has captured the largest market share, with 33% of the market operating their apps on AWS. According to a Synergy research report in 2019, Microsoft has 13%, and Google has garnered a 6% market share. Other providers you may want to consider are Rackspace and IBM Cloud. They are generally smaller and more specialized but may have services that suit your needs. As the stats above have mentioned, AWS has run the cloud platforms the longest. However, finding the best cloud-managed service provider for your business can be daunting. You will have to understand the services they offer and how much value it adds to your business.
Principal Elements To Consider While Looking For Cloud Managed Services
#1 Security
Security is one of the most crucial elements in cloud computing. It is essential to ask important questions specific to your industry, unique use cases, regulatory requirements, and other concerns. Have a look at all the security features offered free by the vendors, what other additional paid services are available, and where you may need to integrate with third-party plugins. Most tools make this process easier by listing their security features, paid products, and partner’s integration on the security section in their respective websites.
#2 Compliance
Make sure you choose the platform that has the right architecture to help you meet the mandatory compliance requirements of your industry. Know what it will take to achieve compliance once your application and data are live in a public cloud infrastructure. Understand where your responsibilities lie and what aspects of compliance your provider will help you verify. For companies looking for cloud-based services, vendors that meet PCI (the Payment Card Industry standard), HIPAA (the U.S. government healthcare data protection standard), or SOC2 (a general technology auditing standard from the AICPA) compliance are often perceived as offering greater value.
#3 Manageability
You will also want to decide what various applications you will want your cloud platforms to manage. This can be structured best based on the services you provide. Each of these platforms supports different tools based on the services. For instance while your hosting is done in Azure platform the third party ERP integration can be done on another platform. If you want to acquire particularly important services for your organization, make sure the cloud managed service provider you choose provides an easy way to integrate with it. It would be best if you also determined how much time and effort will be required for your team to handle various aspects of the cloud platforms before making the final decision.
#4 Architecture
Before choosing your cloud provider, make sure you have everything planned out. For instance, you will have to consider how the architectures will be incorporated within your current workflow. Suppose your organization has invested immensely in the Microsoft universe, you should take up Microsoft Azure since they provide their customers’ licenses and often some free credits. If your organization is into Amazon, it’s best to look into their ease of integration. Adding on to this, you may want to consider cloud storage architectures while making these decisions. When it comes to storage, both AWS and Azure have similar structures and provide multiple types of storage to fit different needs. But when it comes to archival storage, they differ.
#5 Technology Advancements
Always go for a provider who is well knowledgeable in the particular field with advanced technical competencies and operational capabilities. Check if the technology they provide aligns with your needs. Also, ensure the presence of certified professionals for the cloud platform you are willing to choose. A few cloud providers subcontract the technology options, which have their pros and cons.
#6 Service Levels
Cloud SLAs are an essential element to consider when choosing a provider. It’s necessary to establish an explicit contractual agreement between the cloud service customer and the cloud service provider. The SLA’s will help you know what to expect in terms of quality, availability and responsibility that are shared between you and the provider.
#7 Certification And Standards
Always choose a service provider who holds industry certifications like ISO 27001 or the Government’s cyber essential scheme. A few of the best industry practices to look for in a service provider are a structured process, good data governance, and service support.
#8 Reliability
Various factors like compatibility, top management support, security, complexity, IT knowledge, cost, trust, regulation, reviews of their past cloud services and various other factors need to be measured for the reliability of the cloud service provider. Look for places where the company can handle both planned and unplanned downtime.
#9 Pricing Plans
Usually, the process of cloud migration is expensive. Choosing the right plan that fits your business might be a crucial step. One way of going about these kinds of situations is specifying the exact amount of money you are willing to invest and then comparing it with the list of collected service providers, pricing plans, and licenses. You should also check for custom plans that best fit your needs.
#10 Support
It’s always best to go for a service provider that offers 24 x 7 support. Having complete support lets you run a smooth business and helps you focus on the core factors of upbringing your organization. You need professional help during the migration and deployment process. Not just that, Your third party ERP flaws, server downtime and a lot more technical issues will be resolved faster than ever. Before you sign a deal, make sure you know what to expect from your future suppliers.
Final Words
The best cloud managed service provider for your business is the one who understands your business entirely and customizes their services according to your needs. Ziffity is one such cloud consulting service provider. We make sure to provide the customers exactly what they require. We can help you build a list of criteria that’s specific to your business and help you evaluate the services that fit right. To provide a de-risking strategy for our customers, we offer a 30-day money-back guarantee. If by any chance you are not satisfied with our works, communication, or any part of our services, you are free to disengage with Ziffity. You need not even pay for the work we have put in so far.
For more details on our services, money-back guarantee, and solutions for all your queries, please reach us anytime. We are just a call away!
