Most industries, including healthcare, ITES, accounts, construction, etc., are shifting their data to the cloud as they have realized the benefits and potential of doing so. However, migrating the entire company process to the cloud requires in-depth research and consideration. The cloud adoption rate has skyrocketed since the outbreak of the 2020 pandemic and is predicted to dominate the IT sector in the upcoming years.
Among all the aspects, picking a cloud service provider (CSP) is probably the most challenging part of the overall cloud migration process. Cloud service providers run their cloud infrastructure to supply their clients’ businesses with cloud components like Platform as a Service (PaaS), Desktop as a Service (DaaS), and Hosted Virtual Desktops.
The IT firm Gartner predicts that 95 percent of new digital workloads will be implemented on cloud-native platforms by 2025 and up from 30 percent in 2021. Due to the enormous growth of the cloud computing industry, there are now more service providers than ever, giving customers a wide range of options.
Cloud service providers may offer a pay-as-you-go cloud pricing model without having important data centers and compute resource investments. In addition, this approach allows for additional charges because users only charge for the resources they consume.
So how can you pick the best cloud service out of them? The solution is a clearly defined selection and procurement process appropriately weighted toward your requirements. Let’s look at how the best cloud provider contributes to your company’s success and what key aspects you should consider while picking the cloud service provider for your business.
What is a CSP?
A cloud service provider or CSP allows businesses to outsource their storage, infrastructure, platform, and application requirements to a third-party company to stay focused on their primary business goals. They regularly use and manage their computing resources and own data centers. By providing their services on a pay-as-you-go basis model, they assist you in preventing resource waste and allow you to invest in paying only the required number of resources.
By roping in a cloud service provider, you can avoid the additional expenses associated with purchasing and maintaining that infrastructure on your own. The success of your enterprise depends on choosing the right service cloud provider, which makes your data available from any device safely and securely.
Selecting the incorrect service provider may lead to massive, unwanted expenses and potential monetary losses and pose a severe security risk to sensitive data. In the current era, Amazon Web Services (AWS) is an enormous cloud in terms of usage, accounting for 32 percent of the share in the cloud market. Other popular cloud solutions are Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud, among others.
5 factors to consider when picking a cloud service provider
Let’s look at the five key factors to take into consideration when picking the right cloud service provider for your business.
1) Cost benefits
Make sure you are receiving the following cost benefits whenever you are looking for the right cloud service provider for your company:
- Pay-as-you-go-model
- Flexible pricing and plans
- No lock-in timeframes
- Get discounts when you make a long-term commitment
- Easy scaling and termination of services
2) Company Profile
It is essential to assess and understand your company’s needs and ensure that the cloud service provider matches your business plan.
- Inspect the services supplied to see if they align with your corporate strategy.
- Check their service model that fits your organization
- Review their years of industrial experience
- Review the testimonials on their customer service
- Check how quickly they are resolving the client’s issues
3) Certification and standards
The adherence to industry top standards and practices is demonstrated by providers who follow recognized standards and quality frameworks. While standards may not be necessary for which cloud service provider you pick, they can guide you in selecting potential suppliers for your service.
For instance, some cloud service providers are RDS CAL, PCI DSS, or DMTF certified. In addition, if security is a priority, you must consider vendors who have received accreditations from the government’s Cyber Essentials Scheme or ISO 27001. Finally, businesses must look for effective data management, service status availability, good knowledge management, and structured processes.
4) Back up
Most service providers provide a data backup facility. However, what is important is to what extent cloud providers can quickly back up the process offered by them. Leading cloud service providers such as ACE Cloud Hosting can offer backup for up to 45 days. Using customized options, they can even extend this duration on your request.
5) Support team availability
Support is essential when deciding on a hosting provider for dependable service. Multiple hosting providers deliver a few assistance instances and limited-service hours. Choose a hosting provider with free 24-hour support, which includes weekends and holidays, if you expect you and your staff to work during those times. Also, check whether they handle server downtime and how their support team handles the client issues.
Conclusion
Lack of planning is one of the main reasons why cloud migrations fail. Understanding the business requirements, the advantages and disadvantages of different cloud service providers, and the ability to develop for the cloud today. Many cloud failure issues can be resolved with a trusted partner’s assistance.
While the above five factors won’t provide you with all the information you require, they will guide you in developing a robust analytical foundation to use when picking which cloud service provider you will entrust with your data and applications. In addition, you can add granularity by examining your company’s requirements to identify additional factors that can help in your decision-making.
Many businesses are still cautious about expanding their IT infrastructure to include public cloud services. Although making the changeover can be challenging, once you decide, you shouldn’t have to worry about your data being exposed. The most popular choice for SMBs is public cloud services because they enable businesses to scale up and down as their requirements change.
Source: Newslanes
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