The number of cloud services for business today is only growing. Thanks to the continual rollout of cloud services by bigger and bigger names, like Amazon and Google, selecting one that’s right for your company can be tough. This is especially true if you’re not as tech-savvy as you should be. How do you even select a cloud service to enhance your company? This quick guide can help.
- Know What You Want: This sounds deceptively simple but essential. Why are you looking at the cloud for your company? Maybe you hope to create a client portal with additional service opportunities for your team. Perhaps you have growing demands, and you want the flexibility the cloud has to offer. Whatever you may be searching for, communicate that to potential cloud providers and make certain they understand what’s on the table for your company. You don’t just want a service with 99% uptime. You want something that can change your company.
- Look for Added Support: When you need help, where does it come from? Understand that some cloud providers only handle problems through chat and call centers, so know what service level comes with the cloud you’re considering. You want to know exactly what’s available and the response time for those services. What’s more, you need to consider whether they offer other support services like disaster recovery.
- Think Compliance: Compliance issues are extensive in some verticals, like healthcare and banking. If you’re in a vertical where it matters, ensure it’s possible with the cloud providers you consider. Not every cloud provider can boast the compliance protocols required for your industry, so be ready to ask.
- Security Matters: What data do you need to protect? On some level, security is a concern for every single cloud provider out there, but ask detailed questions to learn what might be available for your unique situation. Some cloud providers go as far as participating in various programs to help clients see a third-party assessment of their security environments. That may be helpful as you work to select the right provider to meet your needs.
- Don’t Forget to Consider Cost: While this may be the first thing you consider as you start shopping, you may want to make it the last on your list. Cost does matter. After all, you have a budget and can’t afford to stay with it. However, that said, sometimes the cheapest service isn’t your best bet, particularly when service really matters to your company. Try to compare each service on a level playing field. Look at various metrics between providers to help build a better picture of exactly what each service might cost your company.
The cloud market isn’t going to get any less crowded shortly, but using this guide to help you select a cloud provider for business purposes can help you find that perfect company and create the partnership of your dreams!
