Choosing the right managed cloud service provider for your organization requires some introspection. Remember these expert tips before you start.
Whether a cloud database or managed infrastructure, managed cloud services simplify things. However, the choices are fewer because the cloud provider, by definition, is taking at least something off your board with a more turnkey solution.
But even choosing between cloud-managed service options can be hard work for big companies these days. The broader nature of the term also complicates this; This could mean many different things to various organizations.
The first step in choosing one is to determine what cloud-managed service means to your organization – and why you are using it first.
Most technology reviews naturally focus on capabilities and benefits: here’s what you can do with it- This makes sense, but a holistic approach to managed clouds needs to be done in the context of the complexity of the business environment.
Companies should consider their organizational needs when choosing a managed cloud service. Often, these choices are made alone, meaning they do not adequately consider organizational realities, especially organizational complexity.
An important word related to hybrid cloud and edge architectures, in general, is ‘intentional.’ This extends to the choice of cloud services.
A clear intention helps reduce the chances of getting services because they look good or seem to meet specific needs – regardless of operational reality.
A service from a specific public cloud provider can be a great option in isolation. But it would help if you thought more broadly about your choices. For example, do you need precise services in the cloud and on the edge nodes? Then, you probably need a cloud service that can run seamlessly across multiple locations.
The organizational reality – especially in large institutions and government agencies – generally reflects the constant need for short- and long-term flexibility. Things sometimes change quickly. While avoiding lock-in has always been a top priority for CEOs, the flexibility here is to make a realistic assessment of your IT suite – and find out which parts of the managed cloud service are right and which aren’t.
When choosing the right cloud-managed service provider, ensure they understand the overall economy of the scale for your technical area and the functionality that brings the cloud offerings to the table.
Some companies are reducing their on-premises presence in network infrastructure. Identify managed cloud services where they make sense as part of your overall strategy. It includes a full spectrum from leaving systems for many IT decision-makers, such as developing new microservices-based applications using managed cloud services. It usually describes the reality of the hybrid cloud for many large and medium-sized companies.
Any organization can virtualize its infrastructure and put it in the cloud. So, fully managed container platforms are attractive – they can facilitate the implementation of container environments and long-term operations.
It is rebuilding traditional application platforms directly related to the operating system that can be flexible and scalable in a containerized environment where companies have made progress and significantly reduced operational costs.
Make sure the provider you’re working with understands you as a business. Then, they collaborate with key stakeholders in the application and practice area to understand the best way to reach your desired outcome. Therefore, it is essential to map business strategy according to capabilities when evaluating cloud service providers in general.
Of course, the capability is just the beginning – IT, distribution, and results are as important as everything else.
Procedures and implementation are paramount in managed cloud systems. Ignoring identifying all aspects can lead to increased costs, scope creep, and frustration.
Lastly, it’s a good idea to develop your evaluation criteria – what issues will you concentrate on as part of your selection process? As mentioned above, this helps avoid the “one-cloud-fit-all” mentality, among other benefits.
Businesses need to understand what they need for cloud services – management costs, future growth, scalability, or maybe all of the above.
All environments or services are not the same, even in a platform. Therefore, industries must evaluate the information they put into the cloud to determine GDPR compliance, regulation, and other security precautions.
The organizations must be purposeful and consider their realities and the full scope of their needs. Complexity needs to be accounted for and planned. For example, the cloud strategy must include seamless integration between infrastructure, operations, and applications if a full-service model is required.
