Cloud services have become increasingly popular in recent years. Today, many businesses leverage their unique benefits to boost their bottom line. However, not everyone knows how to choose the right service provider. Here are a few things to keep in mind when comparing different providers.
Data Security
Anyone who works with information technology understands the importance of security. If you are not able to protect consumer data, customers don’t trust your business.
Plus, an insecure network could cause issues with your business. Always double-check what security standards your service provider uses.
The more secure your data, the less likely there will be a breach. Don’t work with companies that fail to comply with the standard security protocols. Otherwise, you’ll be placing yourself at more risk than is necessary.
Dependability and Accessibility
Not all cloud service providers are as dependable as you’d like them to be. Most of the time, they all work how you’d like them. But, even a single instance of downtime could be detrimental.
Remember to research how easily accessible their cloud network is as well. If you can only access the cloud from your office, working from home might be difficult.
Some businesses might not be hampered by this all that much. Still, if you need people to work in the field, you’d want something that’s accessible on the road. Additionally, ask them how often their servers remain up. If they’ve been down more than 5% of the time, consider looking elsewhere.
Costs
Projecting how much your cloud service is going to cost can be difficult. Especially for new businesses, estimating network traffic can be tough. Most service providers charge their customers depending on how much traffic they use.
The more data that’s on the cloud, the more you’ll be charged. Certain cloud service providers offer discounts if you pay them in advance. To minimize your monthly costs, take advantage of something like the AWS savings plan.
These let you purchase a specific amount of traffic at the start of the month. By using these savings plans, you could reduce your overall costs by as much as 30%.
However, forecasting how much data you’ll need isn’t always easy. Paying for everything ahead of time could cost you more. If you purchase more data than you end up using, there aren’t going to be any refunds. So, you may want to wait until you’ve got a decent idea of what’s necessary.
Scalability
Most businesses don’t need a ton of cloud storage when they first launch. Over time, things will take off. Eventually, businesses end up needing a whole lot more than they did at the start. Picking a cloud service provider that’s easily scalable is essential.
That way, if your business starts to grow, you won’t run into any roadblocks. Whenever you’re researching providers, always ask them about their scalability. The easier it is for them to expand your cloud service, the easier it’ll be for you to grow your business.
Technology and Network Infrastructure
Some companies might not work with certain cloud providers because of their technology. In some cases, technologies won’t be compatible with each other. That could lead to a lot of unnecessary expenses.
Find a provider that works with your existing infrastructure. Otherwise, you’ll be stuck having to upgrade everything to be compatible. Most modern cloud providers work with more than one type of network technology. So, incompatible infrastructure isn’t nearly as big of a problem as it was years ago.
Also, if you work in some industries, certain standards must be met. Ask them what kind of cloud protocols are used. Then, check to see whether those are supported in your industry. That ought to help you avoid any compliance issues.
Choosing the Right Cloud Service Provider
Bringing your business to the cloud can help it grow a lot faster. Still, you can’t just pick the first provider that you find. Unless it meets your needs, it could be more of a detriment than anything else. Keep these 5 factors in mind whenever you’re evaluating different cloud service providers. Usually, that’ll prevent you from making any bad decisions.
Author Bio:
Lizzie Howard is a Colorado native who after graduating from the University of Colorado spends her time as a freelance writer. When Lizzie isn’t writing, she enjoys going on hikes, baking for her friends and family, and spending time with her beloved yellow lab, Sparky. If you are interested in an AWS savings plan, check out Cast.ai.
