Choose Best Cloud Service For Your Business
In today’s corporate world where companies have to handle a large number of information that needs to be accessible to multiple employees and workers on a 24/7 basis, it is important that a cloud computing service provider is chosen that is easy to use, flexible, comes with great security features and can be customized according to one’s own needs. However, it is important to remember that not all cloud computing systems work in the same way or offers the same kind of security. If you are someone who is new to cloud computing, it is not unnatural for you to be unsure about which could service is ideal for your business. Here are some guiding principles for you that will help you to choose the best cloud computing service for the specific needs of your company.
Make a proper assessment of your company’s data storage requirements for both current and future times
One of the first crucial steps that you should take before choosing a cloud computing vendor for your company evaluates your data storage requirements and how much space would you need for that purpose. Analyze the type of data that you have and their size, and make sure that the cloud computing service that you are opting for can support such data. Some of the common forms of data include images, videos, PDFs, Excel or Word documents and PowerPoint presentations. On the other hand, if you are thinking of migrating different types of applications to cloud, then it is important for you to consider the performance requirements of the applications as you determine the overall cloud storage space. Create a clear blueprint that allows you to choose a cloud service provider for your long term goals.
Determine the kind of data protection and security that your company requires
As there is now a greater chance of securing breaches than ever before, it is important that you choose a cloud service provider that comes with well defined and strict security protocols. Know more about your cloud partner login and authentication procedure so that you can make sure your data remains protected at each and every level of your business organization. If you or your business handles confidential and private matters, then you need to select a cloud computing service provider that complies with the security parameters of your company.
Check out the service features of the cloud partner that you are intending to work with
There are numerous cloud and infrastructure support services operating throughout the world, and not all of them works in the same manner. Hence, you cannot expect them to fit all kinds of requirements that different companies may have. Before actually choosing a particular cloud partner, the things that you need to evaluate is the kind of platform they are most suited to work with, their general functionality, interoperability and the level of performance that they can deliver. Make sure that your cloud partner is scalable and can deliver you the kind of technical support that you are looking for. The service provider should also be flexible enough to adjust with the growing requirements of storing more data as the days go by. Numerous cloud storage service providers allow users to store and share documents as well as create backups all from one single platform. You should also perform a detailed study on what are the different devices that can access to company information stored in the cloud, such as laptops, desktops, tablets and PDAs. Also make sure that the cloud platform can match up to your speed requirements.
Make sure that cloud service provider presents you with a clear billing plan that is at par with your budget requirements
While most cloud computing service providers practice sound means when it comes to billing, there are still companies that lack transparency when it comes to payment structures. Make sure that you carefully review the business agreements so that you can avoid all hidden costs or additional charges. If you do not understand any part of the billing procedure, ask questions about it until you are completely satisfied. Also make sure that you compare the prices of multiple vendors and see that you are getting a good price in comparison to the kind of services that you are hiring. Avoid paying large amounts of upfront fees and inflexible pricing structures. Detailed market research when it comes to this never fails to get you good results.
Carry out a proper risk assessment before you actually hire a company for your cloud computing needs
Make sure that you know the location of your cloud computing partner’s data center as well as their security practices as this will allow you to understand whether your data is safe or not. Your data should be kept protected at all costs even if there is a security breach or natural disaster. Learn more about a cloud company’s data backup techniques and what their policies are in case of natural disasters. The company should have reliable data recovery procedures in case your data gets lost by any chance. The company should also have good customer support to aid you in every step of the way.
Do not choose your cloud service provider depending on your short term goals
Once you choose a cloud partner, it works with you at every step of the way to enhance the efficiency of your business processes. Hence it is important that your cloud partner clearly understands your business goals and abides by them from the very beginning. Stay away from cloud partners that caters to all kinds of industry verticals as they may not understand the kind of security needs your industry niche may have. Also you should avoid opting for a cloud partner on short term goals as this can ultimately be an obstacle for you over time. Your partner should be able to adapt easily to your changing requirements and deliver you reliable performance that in turn boosts the productivity of your business organization.
