There is a common misconception that all cloud services are the same.
This couldn’t be further from the truth, as like any service, there are a
good providers and there are bad providers. Before committing
themselves to a cloud service provider, businesses need to be sure what
they’re signing up to. Outlined below are some key points to consider.
Disaster recovery and data backup
Disaster recovery systems are a vital to any cloud service; if the
service goes down, businesses lose access to data and hosted
applications. Many service providers claim to store data in environments
within a certain jurisdiction, such as the UK, however it’s important
to find out if and where mirrored sites are located.
Data location
Data location is an important consideration when considering a cloud
services provider, as the secure transfer and encryption of backed-up
data should not be taken for granted. however it’s an area that’s often
overlooked. A recent study suggests that an alarmingly small percentage
of businesses had not considered where their data is stored. Further
still, an even lower number of businesses had no knowledge of where data
would be sent to in the event of an outage. Be sure to find out details
of of where data is stored prior to signing contracts as to avoid
potential issues further down the line.
Assessment
Many
businesses fail to ask the most basic questions when it comes to
discussing contracts with potential providers, including asking whether
they’re dealing with a data centre owner or a reseller. While many
resellers are highly reputable and reliable, dealing with data centre
owners directly allows for more control over data access and more
insurance in terms of management and security.
Security and physical access
Organisations that suffer security breaches can be fined up to £500,000
by the Commissioner’s Office (ICO), so naturally, data centre providers
are keen to establish high levels of security. It’s important to
establish every facet of a data centre provider’s security before
signing a contract.
A secure data centre is vital, but should not be at the expense of physical access when required.
Customer support
When moving to the cloud, it’s important to find a supplier that offers
the level of support that ensures any issues are dealt with quickly and
efficiently. A good way to gauge the level of support is to look behind
the scenes and meet with the team who will be responsible for managing
your data.
Service level agreements
Ensuring a satisfactory
service level agreement (SLA) can help avoid many of the potential
issues associated with cloud computing. As with any contract, always
read the small print and have legal specialists assess the paperwork.
It’s vital that the SLA is understood fully before signing on the dotted
line as it sets the standard for the level of service you will receive,
from security and monitoring, to operations and support.
Costs
While seemingly obvious, the issue of cost should not be ignored,
especially when it comes to the possibility of ‘hidden extras’. Failing
to establish costs at the start of an agreement can potentially result
in having to find additional funds further down the line. A service
provider’s cost model should be transparent and simple, and ensure that
actual usage is paid for, rather than available capacities.
Reputation
While contracts and SLAs provide a clear overview of the service you
should receive, there’s every benefit in conducting additional
background checks on potential providers. All providers are not the
same, so conducting thorough checks on all of the areas above can help
prevent unwanted surprises down the line.
The points raised
here, though by no means exhaustive, are aimed to provide a starting
point for businesses considering taking their IT to the cloud. Migrating
to the cloud is not a decision to be taken lightly, but by following
the advice given here, businesses can expect a successful and rewarding
journey.
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