01 Jul Common Mistakes to Avoid When Selecting a Cloud Service Provider
Cloud computing is the way of the future, especially as more and more businesses are switching to cloud hosting. While there are many benefits to cloud hosting, including security and scalability, it is common to make some mistakes along the way when choosing a cloud hosting service provider. These mistakes can ultimately cost your business money unnecessarily, as well as affect your online sales. Because making the switch to cloud hosting is a big decision, let’s illuminate some of the common mistakes to avoid when it comes to cloud service providers.
What Is Cloud Computing, and Why Is It Beneficial to Businesses?
According to TechTarget,“Cloud computing is a general term for anything that involves delivering hosted services over the Internet. These services are broadly divided into three categories: Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS), Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS). The name cloud computing was inspired by the cloud symbol that’s often used to represent the Internet in flowcharts and diagrams.”
Moving your business operations to the cloud has several benefits, including:
● Cost efficiency
● Cybersecurity
● Data back-ups
● Flexibility and scalability
● Mobile device access and support
● Transparency and data control
● Competitive advantage
Top Six Common Mistakes to Avoid When Selecting a Cloud Service Provider
It is expected that the international market revenue for public cloud services will grow by 17.3% in 2019, totalling at an estimated $206.2 billion, which will be an increase from the $175.8 billion from the previous year. With the overwhelming production and financial benefits to cloud computing, it’s important to make the right decisions that will bring long-lasting success.
To achieve this, be sure to avoid these top mistakes when selecting a cloud service provider:
1. Thinking all cloud providers are the same.
While many cloud service providers offer seemingly similar services, they are each different from one another. Migrating your digital data to cloud hosting places much of the responsibility for your data’s care into the hands of the provider, which is why researching hosting providers is essential. Price differences, while they can play a role in your selection, should not be your deciding factor. Every cloud service provider offers different capabilities, network uptimes, support services and more. Be sure to make thorough comparisons of these features between the providers you are considering before making your final choice.
2. Overlooking cloud SLAs.
Any agreement or deal reached by two businesses always requires an official contract, and working with cloud service providers is no different. Your contract agreement is legally binding for both parties involved, so it’s important to know your contract in detail before sealing the deal.
The Cloud Service Level Agreement (or SLA), outlined by the Cloud Standards Customer Council, is similar to agreements for network-based platforms. Examine and question the terms of your agreement before making a final decision so that there will be no confusion or uncertainty. This way, you will be fully aware of what the cloud service provider is agreeing to provide, and you will be fully aware of how it will impact your business. One imperative element to know is the provider’s recovery plan in the unfortunate incident of a cyber attack or data breach.
3. Believing top-level security is a given.
As mentioned above, cyber security is a high priority for all businesses in today’s digital world, and no business can afford to go without digital protection for sensitive data. Unfortunately, just because you have a cloud service provider doesn’t necessarily mean their cybersecurity measures are up to par.
This is why it’s crucial not to simply assume your provider’s security measures are successful or that your provider even has them in the first place. When searching for a cloud service provider, learn the specific cybersecurity measures each one provides in order to make a wise, informed decision.
4. Ignoring bandwidth needs.
Slow load speeds and inaccessibility are the most common worries for businesses that move to cloud computing. While most cloud computing services provide perfectly adequate performance, not all do. Many variables can cause problems with the cloud system, such as a system update, overloaded networks, and platforms incompatible with the cloud technology.
Equally important to these concerns is the concept of latency. Latency can be any delays experienced during the processing of network data. These delays can directly affect the delivery of web content and the overall web experience, which directly impacts how consumers and employees interact with your business.
It’s important to fully know the bandwidth needs of your business when searching for cloud service providers so that you can choose one that will meet your needs and help your business—not hurt it.
5. Not preparing for future growth.
Just as you prepare for the growth and future development of your business, you should also be prepared for your digital needs to grow. Selecting a cloud service provider that allows for scalability in your computing options, not limiting them, will help your business achieve continued success and competitive advantage. Your service provider should provide you the resources you would need for years down the line. Make sure to integrate both your business plans and your computing needs as you examine your cloud service provider options.
6. Foregoing a backup plan.
While cloud service providers commonly offer optional data backup services, they are not always guaranteed as part of your plan. Data backups may come at an additional cost, or they may not even adhere to the regulatory and legal requirements. Backups are crucial to ensuring your content stays secure and protected in the case of cyber or physical problems in the cloud computing network.
Without sufficient data backups, your business could lose significant revenue or even have difficulty conducting business, which is why it’s so important to choose a cloud service provider that offers regular and reliable back-ups that meet industry standards.
Cloud-supported Business Solutions
Not every business needs full-service cloud hosting. However, that doesn’t mean your business can’t still benefit from the security and reliability of cloud-based platforms. Virtual Stacks Systems UK offers a wide range of cloud-supported business solutions, from document management with DocuSKY, to email hosting with eZcloud Mail, and more! Contact us to start a cloud-supported plan for your business.