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Choosing the right cloud solution is a
challenging task. Various options are available in the market. At first glance,
all their features seem to be the same. But in reality, they are not.
When you decide to pick one that fits you, you
have to understand some factors. The in-depth analysis for a particular
business requirement is one. Security and reputation are other features to
check out.
To lighten your options, here is a quick guide
for the right cloud solution.
Check Cloud and Data Security
Cloud and Data Security is a primary concern
of any business. It encompasses data backup if ever any hardware or software
failure occurs. Also, it protects the information stored from unauthorized
third-party access. Therefore, it keeps your files safe from viewing, copying,
and even modifying from others.
A cloud service means you store data somewhere
else. That’s why it is your right as a consumer to demand high data security
from the provider. NTT DATA is a provider of SAP with Microsoft Azure. They serve both
growing and established businesses and are known for their regard for data
security.
When choosing the right cloud solution, check if
they have strict security standards. Make sure security is their utmost
priority. Also, verify if the provider complies with measures like the ISO
27000 series. Finally, assess if the presented certifications are valid.
Furthermore, look into the server location.
Take note that local laws vary. Ensure that you have control over your data
where it is stored, processed, and managed, with proper consideration of its
jurisdiction.
Assess Cloud Compliance
A remarkable cloud architecture helps meet
compliance standards. Without it, your organization will have difficulty
standing long on this platform. Or possible chaos in the long run.
It is a must that you have at least a few
understanding about the whatnots to achieve compliance. Remember, it is not
strict on a specific kind of framework. So whether it beholds GDPR, PCI DSS,
SOC 2, HIPAA, or others, learn how to comply.
Assessing the cloud agreement helps you feel
safe and secure once your data is up in the public cloud infrastructure.
Nevertheless, be responsible enough to know where your responsibilities lie.
Also, point out which aspect your provider will significantly help you check
off.
Review Reliability and Performance
In any kind of cloud solution, downtimes are
inevitable. It is such a headache nobody wants to have, but it unexpectedly
occurs. We have no choice about it.
Although, the number of times how often it
occurs matters. It is not the sole factor you have to consider when choosing
the right cloud solution. What’s foremost essential is the capability of the
provider to solve the situation in time. Immediate action for any issues shows
how reliable a company is.
Excellent performance is not only during the
uptime. Instead, it highly reflects its capability to move forward and cope up
when a problem occurs.
Check information about this. You must review
the provider’s processes, responsibilities, and roles. Also, you have to look
into their tools and disaster recovery provisions.
Consider The Architecture
The cloud architecture helps in the overall
workflow. Also, it creates a significant impact in the future. So, it must have
excellent integration.
As an example, an organization under a
Microsoft universe has a sense of proceeding to Azure. All because Microsoft
provides customers free credits and licenses. Meanwhile, if the investment
relies more on Google services, it is best to look for company profiles that
ease integration and consolidation.
In addition, considering cloud storage
architectures are beneficial. Although most of the major providers have similar
structures, they offer different types of storage. Each of these fits ideally
based on the client’s needs.
Find out the similarities and differences of
every available cloud solution. Understand how it works. Some services offer
storing data and retrieving data options frequently (hot storage) and
infrequently (cool storage). Most of the time, the latter costs less but with
several restrictions.
Identify Manageability
Just like any storage, the software requires
maintenance and updates, too. The Web tends to change. When this happens,
conflicting issues might occur with the current software. That’s how necessary
having regular compliance with the update.
Once you get a cloud solution, it’s the
provider’s responsibility to check all the new updates. Also, it is a must that
each upgrade is fresh and compatible.
Furthermore, identifying the manageability of
the right cloud solution is from the uptime. So guarantee that your chosen
provider has a high uptime - as much as possible 99%. Or else, you’ll face the
consequences like losing access to your website. Or you’ll have no access to
essential software and applications. Remember, the longer the downtime lasts,
the higher risk it poses to your data.
To avoid these, read reviews about the web
hosting providers. Check out forums related to SaaS Cloud providers. Nobody
else can tell you these but the previous and current clients of the provider
you’re eyeing.
Keep in mind that getting a cloud partner is a
serious and long-term investment. So make your money worth with reliable ones.
Learn The Service Levels
Trust is a must when choosing the right cloud
solution. If something wrong happens, a legal agreement must be available to
back it up. That’s why before you dive into a provider, learn the different
service levels.
Businesses highly consider this factor. It
reflects the capability of the platform in terms of availability and capacity.
Don’t forget to add the response time and support.
Cloud Service Level Agreements or Cloud SLAs
are vital. It bridges and establishes a clear contractual relationship between
the cloud service provider and the cloud service client.
Although it is a must to understand every
detail, pay attention to the legal requirements needed for the security of the
data. Specifically, it must be in line with GDPR.
Look For Technologies and Support
Cloud services are available to provide an
easy and convenient life for all. That’s why it is essential to have excellent
tech support for it. So when the time comes that specific trouble occurs, you
can resolve it without too much fuss.
When choosing the right cloud solution, make
sure that it is always available 24/7. The quick resolution is at least
accessible in email form. Better yet, it has a contact support team via phone
call. It provides safer and secure communication.
In this manner, it only requires a minimum
effort. If a more complicated issue arises, you have direct contact with
competent assistance.
Furthermore, the best cloud platform must have
alignment with the current technical environment. Therefore, the service, standards,
and architecture must be compatible with the workload and management
preferences.
So before finalizing your decision, assess the
re-coding and other necessary adjustments. Take note that the whole process of
migration support and assistance must fit well with what you currently need.
See The Company Profile
Reputation indeed plays a crucial role when
choosing the right cloud solution. As always, working with a legitimate company
is strongly recommended.
Look into the company profile. Make it a habit
to check the history of stability of the provider. Ensure that it has no record
of legal issues like a data breach.
Moreover, it is a must to see the current
financial positions of the company. See to it that it is healthy and free from
any economic problems.
In addition, know who runs the whole
institution. All information placed in your account is critical. So it is best
if experienced managers oversee the overall performance of the cloud company.
Calculate The Costs
Above all else, the cost is essential when
choosing the right cloud solution. Although it is not the single nor the most
important consideration, it impacts your final decision.
To ease your dilemma, check both the sticker
price and associated fees. Preferably, it must include the staff hired to
manage your needs.
Various ways affect the expenses.
Nevertheless, you have the means to choose which one you prefer. Every provider
indicates how payment works. It can be Pay-as-you-go, Reserved, or Volume
Discounts.
Other companies charge bills through instances
per second. Or bills customers based on the demand. Whichever you prefer, make
sure you have the financial capacity to pay it off.
Cloud services offer great assistance to every
individual and businesses needs. It provides collaborative working and data
storage capacity with security features. So when choosing the right cloud
solution, make sure it is reliable, flexible, and suits your needs.
Ross is known as the Pambansang Blogger ng Pilipinas - An Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Professional by profession and a Social Media Evangelist by heart.
