In an age where everything revolves around data and digital solutions, cloud computing has come to represent a core component of modern-day companies, providing convenient and cost-effective access to a wealth of computing services and resources that are crucial to their development and success.
Cloud migration has been ongoing for many years now, gaining traction in the mid-to-late 2000s, with the rise of the first cloud platforms. As enterprises and organisations from all across the world became aware of the benefits that this cutting-edge technology had to offer, they started migrating their legacy systems to the cloud in order to scale their operations and remain agile in an ever-more competitive business environment.
Nowadays, leveraging the power of cloud computing is a common practice for forward-thinking businesses. However, in order to reap the full benefits, one first has to select a suitable cloud service provider (CSP) that meets their specific needs. With cloud computing being an increasingly complex and fast-evolving field, this can be a rather tricky and intimidating task, especially if you’re not familiar with these types of platforms and their inner workings.
Focusing solely on affordability or popularity and neglecting the finer details is not going to bring you the expected results. Making the wrong choice can have the exact opposite effect to what you’d hope for, leading to integration challenges, missed opportunities, compliance issues, operational inefficiencies, and other problems that can cause you to lose precious time and money.
So, if you’re not sure how to go about finding the right CSP for your company, we’ve put together a list with the most important factors to consider when starting your search.
Your own needs
Your quest should begin with an inner exploration of your business’s specific needs and requirements. From size and set up to industry and goals, companies differ in many ways, so it’s understandable that they’ll have different cloud needs. For example, smaller enterprises tend to prioritise pricing flexibility, ease of use, and scalability, while bigger organisations often deal with complex tech systems that might call for hybrid cloud solutions, advanced computing, and dedicated services that can help them manage their cloud infrastructures.
You need to have an in-depth understanding of your company’s current situation and ask yourself what you want a cloud service provider to help you with. What does your workload look like, and what are your management preferences? What cloud tools and services would be a good fit for your firm? Are you able to handle your cloud operations on your own, or would you rather resort to a service such as Intercept that can assist you in your cloud journey? Answering these questions will point you in the right direction and help you pick a supplier whose services align with your objectives and vision.
Services
Although the cloud is often equated with data storage, it can do a lot more than that, facilitating access to a wide range of on-demand services and resources such as computing power, networking, security, data analytics, developer tools, and so on. While most providers offer extensive solutions, covering a host of instruments and services, there is variance between their offerings.
Market leaders like Microsoft, Amazon, and Google have the most comprehensive range of cloud services, which explains their popularity. However, smaller providers that focus on certain niches might be better suited for those who need specialised support in the specific areas they operate.
Therefore, you have to examine providers’ offerings closely and pick one that delivers the services you’re looking for. Keep in mind that you don’t have to commit to just one vendor, as you can always opt for a multi-cloud strategy that allows you to leverage the services of various suppliers.
Pricing
Costs are obviously a crucial aspect to take into account when evaluating your options. However, don’t just look at the upfront costs when comparing providers, since this doesn’t express the total expenses you’ll have to pay for. Cloud pricing is complex and flexible, with costs changing based on the types of services offered, how you use them, and various other factors. If you don’t do your due diligence, these expenses can easily add up and leave a huge hole in your budget.
Since your cloud needs and therefore your usage patterns may vary over time, and you’ll probably require various services to ensure all your needs are met, you need to take the time to decipher pricing models and figure out which is best for you in the long run. Therefore, if you want to use Microsoft Azure, for example, you’ll have to learn how Azure pricing works and understand the factors that will impact costs on the platform.
Reliability
A provider’s reputation can serve as a good indication of its reliability, but don’t base your decisions on popularity and status alone. Smaller CSPs that are less known in the market can be just as effective and dependable as the big players, even more so in certain situations. On the other hand, vendors with a global footprint guarantee enhanced performance and greater flexibility, which can make a huge difference if you have a global user base.
Make sure to read reviews and expert insights to gain a better understanding of each platform’s credibility and capabilities. Also, don’t forget to check for security and compliance to ensure the provider you choose meets applicable regulations and employs adequate security measures.
Integration and support
Migrating to the cloud and employing these diverse solutions it offers is bound to come with some challenges. This emphasizes the need to look for a provider whose services match your existing tech infrastructure and can guarantee a smooth integration. It’s also much easier to overcome common migration and administration hurdles if you have someone who can provide guidance and support at all times. Look for CSPs that offer the level of support you require, and you’ll be able to enjoy greater peace of mind.
Choosing the right CSP is a more complicated matter than it might appear to be. In the end, it all comes down to thorough market research and an equally thorough understanding of your unique business needs.