Today we are seeing a lot of companies moving over to the cloud. This ranges from companies in IT, construction, health, and finances. Moving to the cloud can offer a lot of benefits to businesses, but migrating over might need a little more work than businesses are prepared to take on.
When looking at a cloud service, there’s a variety of things you need to take into account. Relevant factors can include stability to customization, as well as other essential factors that can affect your business. You want to make sure you invest plenty of time researching your cloud provider before migrating your company over.
Here are some critical factors you should consider when deciding on a cloud service.
1. Multi-Layer Security
Security should be one of your biggest deciding factors when looking at a cloud service. You want to make sure your cloud service will have security over the host, network, and physical setup to make sure your business is protected. Make sure to look into the advance security features the cloud service offers. Look for things like multi-factor authentication, Intrusion Deception, and Prevention Systems.
2. HPC
HPC or high-performing computing services is a must for businesses. When dealing with clients and employees, you don’t want to have performance issues. This application will give you real-time performance even when heavy applications and multiple users are working together on the same server.
3. Backup
Almost all cloud service companies will offer some form of a backup. You want to make sure that the backup is to the extent you need it to be. You want to find a provider that backs up your important data daily. Some might even give you an option to customize when you want your data backed up and security features.
4. BCDR
BCDR is Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery. This is important because it reinstates the hosting service after a disruption, such as a natural disaster. Your cloud provider should be able to know the risks that can be the downfall of your business and define procedures to protect you. This is an essential feature for your cloud service to have, and it shouldn’t come at any additional fees.
5. Support
You’re investing your entire business in a cloud service, and they should have an excellent support team to back you up. Depending on your business and how often you work, you might want to consider a service that offers a 24/7 support team that can help you on weekends, holidays, or evenings when businesses are typically closed. Also, how can you reach them might be a factor. Look into how easy it is to contact your support team. Will it be by phone, email, or chat?
6. Pricing
Usually, cloud services don’t come at an insane price, but you want to make sure what you’re paying is fair for the services you’re getting. If a cloud provider is more expensive than others, it doesn’t mean they’re the best ones out there. Make sure to compare the cloud services you’re interested in and even bargain with them. Most companies can offer special discounts and offers, so shoot your shot.
7. Private Server
When looking at a private server, you’re getting a dedicated resource without interruption from other users. Big businesses typically require a thing, and it involves highly confidential data and high-performance processing. If this is something you need, find a provider that can offer a private server, and deliver custom cloud solutions.
8. Help with Transitioning
Transitioning purely to the cloud isn’t easy, and you might need some help along the way. This is a fundamental value from your cloud provider that will only make your life easier. Your cloud provider should offer this feature without any additional fees. Without help, you can be left stranded when trying to transfer files, and it can become a mess.
Hopefully, this information will help you when choosing a cloud provider. The biggest take away is to compare a few companies and see who can offer you the best deal and features that work well with your business.