As enterprises transition to the cloud, they may lack the necessary IT expertise and resources to effectively manage their cloud infrastructure, including critical tasks like monitoring, optimisation, and resource management. To address these challenges, opting for managed cloud services is a popular solution. However, selecting the right cloud partner is crucial for success. In this article, we outline key considerations for enterprises when choosing a managed cloud provider.
What is a managed cloud provider?
A managed cloud provider is a type of cloud vendor that offers management services to its customers. By outsourcing these responsibilities, enterprises can ease the workload on their IT teams, freeing up time to concentrate on core business initiatives while avoiding the expense of hiring and training in-house expertise. Since the vendor running the infrastructure has the most comprehensive understanding of it, it’s logical to delegate these tasks to the service provider. Additionally, it’s possible to create customised managed solutions that offer a broad range of services to meet the unique requirements of each customer.
Cloud vendor features to look for
Enterprises looking for a managed cloud solution need to identify the key factors to consider when choosing a provider. Below, we highlight the most important of these.
Experience and know-how
When an enterprise entrusts a service provider to manage their cloud infrastructure, it’s important to ensure they possess the necessary experience and know-how to carry out their duties effectively. Given the multitude of cloud models available today, it’s vital that the provider is proficient not only in monitoring, optimisation and resource management but also in working with various cloud types, including public, private, hybrid and multi-clouds. Furthermore, the provider should have a deep understanding of various cloud solutions, such as IaaS, SaaS and PaaS.
Infrastructure
As technology continues to advance quickly, relying on outdated infrastructure can put enterprises at a disadvantage. Therefore, it’s essential to select a cloud provider that invests in the latest hardware and applications. Look for data centres that hold accreditations, such as ISO2000, ISO9001 and ISO27001, and which deploy redundant and hyper-converged architecture to protect virtual cloud servers from hardware and network failures. The hardware should also be fast and reliable, so seek out solutions that offer Intel Xeon servers with superfast SSD storage. Furthermore, it is essential that the provider offers a software stack with the ability to deliver security, reliability and performance.
Automation
Managed cloud service providers have access to advanced tools to enhance their service delivery and minimise the risk of human error. Such tools comprise next-generation firewalls capable of identifying and preventing emerging threats, and server monitoring software that automatically optimises performance, detects hardware problems and prevents downtime. Incorporating these automation tools improves the overall quality of the cloud service and helps customers maintain optimal productivity. It makes sense, therefore, to opt for a cloud provider that utilises these technologies.
Compliance and security
Today, cyberattacks pose a significant threat to enterprises, with potential consequences including downtime, data breaches, software corruption and ransomware attacks. As such, it’s essential to prioritise cybersecurity when selecting a managed cloud provider. Look for a solutions provider, like Hyperslice, that has in-house cybersecurity expertise and employs advanced security tools, including next-gen FortiGate firewalls, that safeguards cloud infrastructure from malware, intrusion and DDoS attacks.
The provider should also have a comprehensive understanding of a customer’s compliance and governance requirements, enabling it to assist with compliance with regulations like GDPR and PCI DSS. Furthermore, the provider should be able to offer disaster recovery and business continuity solutions, such as continuous cloud backups and the ability to maintain uptime even in the event of natural disasters or data centre outages.
24/7 technical support
24/7 technical support is crucial when it comes to choosing a managed cloud provider. Technical issues can occur at any time, and waiting for support during business hours can lead to costly downtime and lost productivity. Having access to support around the clock ensures that issues can be addressed immediately and thus minimise disruption. In addition, with 24/7 support, there is peace of mind from knowing that an expert is always available to help with any hosting-related issues, no matter the time or day.
Service Level Agreements (SLAs)
A reliable managed cloud provider should offer customers guarantees in the form of Service Level Agreements (SLAs). These SLAs should cover various areas of performance in relation to the provider’s responsibilities. For instance, SLAs for managed cloud services typically include 100% uptime and the ability to scale on demand. Additionally, the SLA should provide clear explanations of what actions the provider will take if they fail to meet their stated minimum levels of service.
Conclusion
Moving to a managed cloud solution offers various benefits, including access to management services and cloud technology. However, selecting the right service provider is vital to make the transition effective. By considering factors such as experience and know-how, cybersecurity, compliance, infrastructure, automation, technical support and SLAs, enterprises can ensure that they are working with a provider that can meet their needs and offer reliable services. Ultimately, taking the time to find the right solutions partner will help them optimise business operations, improve productivity and stay ahead of the competition.
For more information about our managed cloud solutions, visit Hyperslice.com.
