How to Choose a Cloud Provider

How to choose a cloud provider DNA IT

You have made the decision to swap your old server for a move to the cloud and embrace the modern world of cloud computing. You have an idea of the benefits but where should you start?

You need to understand the features of your cloud provider, and make sure that it is suited to your business needs keeping in mind reliability, storage limits, privacy and security.

Finances

One of the top reasons to move to the cloud is for financial reasons as it is normally more cost effective.  You need to pick a provider that is established and secure in their own finances to make sure they won’t let you down in the long term. Look at their track record, especially how they have operated over a long time.  A provider such as Microsoft Azure would be a perfect example of a company you could have confidence in.

Risk

The cloud provider should have a formal management structure in place with strong risk management policies and procedures. There should be a clear train of responsibility in order to provide you with the great and consistent service that your business needs. Find out about their risk management and how they would manage a drama or a slip-up if one occurs in the future so you know what to expect if something happens.

Reporting

A managed IT service provider can be your way of knowing your data is secure. They will be the ones managing your cloud storage and should be able to give you regular reports on your performance, along with modern monitoring of the resource to make sure your cloud is working well for you.  Additionally, they should be able to provide an SLA, a set amount of time they have to get back to you on any queries or problems that you may encounter.

Technical processes

How easy will the transition be? Can you link it with your existing systems to make the cloud transition simple and easy? These are all things to think about, along with what the interface will look like and how you can use it, how you add events and manage them, along with how you can adapt it to your needs as these change over time.

You need to be aware of hybrid capabilities, as even if you don’t need this right away, you may want to upgrade in the future so you need to know your provider can get that for you.  This will all be part of the planning and exploration stage with your managed IT provider.

Security

There should be policies for tested and tried security measures for your cloud platform. These should be visible to everyone and should in no way be compromised – it is your company’s data and that is why it is most important.

Along with a data backup there should be physical security evident too, from access to hardware and safeguards around the software to protect your equipment and your data from any events that may affect this. Ensure you have a disaster recovery plan along with a business continuity plan, so that even if something does happen, you can rest assured in the knowledge that your company is safe.

When you have made a decision to move to the cloud make sure you are well informed.  A conversation with DNA IT Solutions could save you time, hassle and money in the long run.  Contact our team today to see what we can do for you.