A Cloud Service Provider (CSP) is an organization that provides cloud computing products and services by which companies can run their IT applications, storage, databases, and other services in the cloud platform.
However, did you know that there is more than one type of cloud? There are many clouds like private cloud, community cloud, public cloud, hybrid cloud, and more.
But the question is, with hundreds of CSPs out there, how to pick a suitable one? You may wonder how they all differ and which is the best.
Some hosts pride themselves on value and affordability, while others emphasize reliability and customer support.
In this article, we’ll look at the most important things you need to pay attention to when you choose the best cloud solution provider in Michigan or any other city.
Things to keep in mind while choosing a Cloud Solution provider:
1. Type of Service
Cloud computing services are broadly classified into three types. Before choosing any of them, you should briefly know their benefits.
IaaS or Infrastructure as a Service: In IaaS, the entire infrastructure is managed by the cloud service provider.
The customer only needs to manage his applications and data. Some of the examples of IaaS are Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform (GCP), Rackspace, DigitalOcean, and Linode.
PaaS or Platform as a Service: In PaaS, customers don’t need to worry about installing software or managing servers.
They only need to develop their applications on top of the platform provided by the PaaS vendor. Some of the famous examples of PaaS providers are Heroku, Salesforce, and AWS Elastic Beanstalk.
Saas or Software as a Service: Saas means that all you will have to do is log in to use an application like Google Apps, Microsoft Office 365, and Dropbox.
2. SLA
It’s essential to understand what service level agreement (SLA) you need before choosing a cloud solution provider.
An SLA will determine how much support you get from your provider, how fast they respond to your requests, and what happens if there are issues with availability or performance.
It’s also crucial for an SLA to include penalties if your cloud service provider doesn’t meet promises.
3. Uptime
The availability of your cloud services is one of the most important factors that dictates which cloud service provider to use.
Most cloud providers guarantee 99 % uptime, but reading the fine print is essential to see what that really means.
Even a few minutes of downtime can impact your productivity if you are dependent on the data or apps in the cloud.
For example, if you are an eCommerce company and your website goes down, you lose money every minute it is offline.
4. Support & Customer Service
When it comes to hosting, there’s always a chance that something can go wrong. When this happens, you need to be assured that your hosting provider will be there to help you solve the problem when it arises.
Make sure you get 24 x 7 support from your cloud-hosted call center so that you can run your business operations with ease without worrying about any issues or downtime.
You must also ensure that providers offer multiple channels of communication so that you can get in touch with them anytime through phone, email, or chat support for fixing any issues.
5. Price
The price associated with a cloud solution provider is often an important factor to consider when choosing a partner. Make sure you understand the pricing model and know exactly what it will cost you to use.
A reputable and best cloud solution provider will offer a transparent pricing model and will always take the time to explain how it works. If you’re unsure about anything, don’t hesitate to ask questions.
6. Cloud Compliance
Suppose you do business with companies that are subject to governmental regulations.
In that case, you need to make sure your CSP can comply with those regulations as well as your own company policies regarding security and privacy. An excellent way to get started is by checking out their website thoroughly.
7. Security
Another important thing that needs to be considered while choosing a cloud solution provider is security. You need to understand that security protocols in every cloud are not the same.
So, ensure that they use robust encryption methods like 2-step authentication as well as SSL encryption while transferring data over an internet connection or storing it on their servers.
This will help you protect your precious data from hackers and other cyber threats.
The Bottom Line-:
Picking a suitable CSP is not the choice; it’s a necessity. To reap all the benefits of cloud technology, you must choose the cloud partner that offers high-standard solutions and round-the-clock support.
