When it comes to the cloud, selecting the right cloud provider can be challenging at best and nightmarish at worst. The cloud includes a variety of ways to deliver technology services, from standalone software applications like hosted email or databases to very new and exciting uses that include disaster recovery as a service (DRaaS), storage as a service, or platform as a service (PaaS) applications. While there are obvious advantages to entering into a cloud partnership –including decreased IT costs, increased flexibility and a reduced focus on IT maintenance issues – selecting the right cloud provider is a critical first step in realizing those benefits in a way that creates a synergistic, long-term and fulfilling relationship. That’s why Logicalis, an international solution provider (http://www.us.logicalis.com/), has put together a list of the top questions IT pros should ask when they’re considering a cloud partner for the long haul.
"For a CIO or IT manager, choosing a cloud provider can feel like choosing a spouse,” says Tom Roberts, solution architect for Logicalis. “Joking aside, the relationship between the client organization and the cloud provider they choose is a deep and meaningful one. The client trusts the cloud provider with what oftentimes amounts to mission-critical data and information and relies on that provider to keep that information secure and available in sometimes heavily regulated environments. Therefore, choosing the right provider is a serious decision that has to be made with the utmost care and concern.”
Six Important Questions to Ask Before Selecting a Cloud Provider
- Uptime? Is the cloud infrastructure backed by at least a 99.9 percent up-time SLA, and is there financial compensation for not meeting it?
- Processes? Is there a defined change control process for scheduled maintenance, upgrades and security patches?
- Charges? Are there additional charges for services like backup, OS License, security patch deployment and system management/monitoring?
- Security? What type of security and monitoring practices are in place at the data center (i.e., firewalls, IDS, vulnerability scanning, etc.)?
- Scalability? Does the cloud provider allow for easy scalability and addition of resources, including CPU, memory, storage and bandwidth?
- DR? What kind of disaster recovery services does the provider offer?
To learn more about cloud computing, visit Logicalis’ dedicated cloud Web site here.