How To Find The Best Managed Cloud Services
Managed cloud services can offer a secure and effective way to deal with all your cloud computing needs while expanding your online business. They put the responsibility of the technology and support into the hands of trained professionals and provide an advantageous centralized approach to running your cloud operations. With so many providers fighting to offer you the best deal possible, it’s vital to separate the best and worst options. You want someone who offers value for money with the right services and attributes for a long-term relationship, not someone who’s going to promise the world and deliver very little. All companies must research and compare cloud service providers carefully before committing. The last thing you want is to rush into a decision and find that it ruins your operation rather than improves it. There are several factors to take into consideration. Here are some of the most important to get you started:.
The Location Of The Data Centers
This might not be the first thing companies think about when choosing managed services, but it makes a difference. Some companies will have a wider reach than others, allowing for improved growth and connections. So, look at where users are accessing your website or application and the need for a broader reach. Is your preferred company offering a network for global centers to cater to this, or are they more focused on one area? How could that focus on one area affect any gaps in your business?
Product services
Clearly, the products and services within a package are one of the most important factors. You must be sure you’re getting everything you need to thrive and develop. So, compare packages to learn more about their hosting tool, management options, storage plans, and more. You can also decide if you want something that offers infrastructure as a service (IaaS), platform as a service (PaaS), or software as a service (SaaS). The more comprehensive the plan, the better. Just make sure that the technology used matches your needs and overall objectives for your cloud operations.
The Scalability
This is something you need to consider in your long-term plan. Can the service you choose now grow with the business over time? It helps to have something where you can add stages and features and perhaps open the door to hybrid capabilities in the future. Also, remember that this means either scaling up or down with ease based on seasonal fluctuations. There may be times when it pays to scale back operations because of a regular lull in traffic or to boost capabilities for short-term demand. Is the system adaptable enough for that?
The Security Services
Security features are critical to building trust and keeping all your data and operations safe at all times. You need a provider who can prove their compliance with industry-specific regulations and standards. This includes HIPAA and PCI DSS. They should be able to offer data encryption and audits to secure your data at all times, with the addition of secure backups. There should also be a clear response strategy for any data breaches.
The Team’s Knowledge And Skill
This one should go without saying. You can’t rely on a company to manage your cloud computing services with ease if they don’t have the long-term experience and skills for the job. They should have up-to-date information on the best practices and tech for their operations and be able to handle every aspect efficiently. If they can’t, you aren’t gaining anything by turning to them instead of hiring your own IT team.
The Support Service
Being knowledgeable and highly skilled is just the start when it comes to providing excellent managed services to customers. There are going to be times when operations don’t go to plan. Server errors and data issues can arise beyond their control. The difference maker here is how they respond to the problems and how they respond to your queries. How much support are they able to offer? Ideally, you’re looking at dedicated troubleshooters with an effective ticketed support service. Also, how fast are their response times? Can they offer 24/7 services to handle issues on global centers at any time?
The Team’s Reputation
Any cloud service provider can promise all of these great benefits in a way that makes your life easier, but how many can actually deliver on that? That’s why it helps to go online and look for client reviews. These star ratings will give a more accurate reflection of a company’s abilities, especially when facing problems with the service. Were they able to find solutions and offer the customer service expected? Did they do anything to exceed expectations and strengthen trust further? You can also look for third-party review sites and blogs to see which providers are most talked about.
The Costs
Finally, there’s the all-important aspect of the costs. Effective managed cloud services have to be affordable while offering value. It shouldn’t be so cheap that you miss out on the features above, nor too expensive to be cost-effective. Find out how much they are charging for the base product, the bandwidth, data transfer fees, additional fees for services, and anything else that’s included. Look for companies with a clear pricing structure and upfront breakdown of costs to avoid any nasty surprises.
Finding The Best Managed Cloud Service Provider For Your Business
Ideally, the company you end up with will have all of these traits and more. They will have the reputation and service provisions to create a comprehensive solution that meets your needs. They will be able to maintain the desired level of service and support with effective customer support tools, appropriate security features, and options for scalability. They will be reliable, trustworthy, and skilled enough to leave them in control of these important operations. So, take your time to go over your managed services options carefully, find a solution at the right price point for your current situation, and let these providers take the strain of cloud management.
