“Should I move my business to the cloud?” is a question echoed by many CEOs and Chief Technology Officers.
Even though many business executives know about the cloud, what it truly is and why it is beneficial remains an ambiguous concept for many.
We define the cloud as shared resources enabling scalability, elasticity, and high value computing power available from multiple locations and devices.
Scalability, affordability, and accessibility are a few important aspects of the cloud that make it such an attractive option for businesses.
However, moving to the cloud isn’t always an easy process. It requires strategic planning to make sure the move is done in the best interest of your business.
Discuss the following considerations with your managed services provider before you settle on
moving to the cloud.
Not all cloud providers are created equal
The cloud is not a one size fits all solution.
Depending on your data needs, security requirements, industry regulations, etc., you will have different criteria for choosing a cloud provider.
And there are no shortage of cloud providers to choose from: Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, and AWS are just a few popular providers of many available.
A rapidly changing cloud marketplace adds to the difficulty of choosing the best provider. Industry opinions on who is better, who is improving, and who is going away change continually.
Rely on your managed services provider to help you remain on top of this changing marketplace. With an expert’s guidance, you can extract the most value and stability from cloud providers.
The cloud might save you money
With the cloud, it is not your responsibility to purchase and maintain expensive hardware.
Your data is stored on high functioning virtual servers that the cloud provider maintains. This means less power usage, lower maintenance costs, and fewer upgrade and support costs.
Not only do you benefit from these savings, you also will benefit from a higher performing server. Cloud providers leverage resource pooling to make use of otherwise wasted CPU, memory, bandwidth, power, and cooling resources to redistribute it where it will have the most impact.
Saving you money and improving performance are just two things your managed services provider should always be doing for you. They should also tell you if the cloud is not the best option.
Sometimes replacing your server could be a better option for your business. Just another reason to bring in your MSP on the discussion!
Prioritizing cloud projects will make the transition smoother
Moving to the cloud is a significant undertaking. You need an expert to make sure your files and information is moved correctly with proper attention to permissions, compliance, etc.
Before you move everything to the cloud, prioritize your projects. Work with your MSP to identify low-risk, high-reward projects to test the cloud environment. Then create a strategic plan to complete the move and minimize inconvenience to your team.
Before you Move to the Cloud, Consult With Your MSP
Moving to the cloud is more than just a trend. The cloud is an efficient, scalable, and cost effective option that can dramatically improve your business technology. But the key in the decision to move to the cloud is to consult with an expert. An expert will dive into whether the cloud is right for your business, which provider is best, and how it will help you meet your business goals.
