If you are working in the IT industry, you might have heard about cloud-managed services. Chances are your organization is already availing them. Cloud-managed services are amassing massive popularity because of their compelling benefits.
Yet, making the most out of cloud-managed services is a different ball game. Without the right cloud-managed services provider, things can quickly go downhill. Your business may fall prey to security threats, costly downtime, and data loss. That is why it is essential to keep a few simple yet critical things in mind. In this blog, we will discuss cloud-managed services, why you need them, and how you can make the most out of them. Let’s begin:
Why Companies opt for Cloud Managed Services?
Not all companies have in-house specialists to monitor and maintain a cloud environment. Still, they would not want to miss the benefits of the cloud. Hence, they avail the services of third-party cloud-managed services providers who manage cloud operations, ensure cloud security, and monitor cloud storage & network operations on the company’s behalf. Some managed cloud service providers also handle performance testing, monitoring & reporting, and backup & recovery if the company demands.
Here are some other reasons why companies opt for cloud service providers:
1. Reduced Costs
Having a full-time IT staff is expensive and not necessary for a small-sized business. Cloud-managed service providers can help cut back on these unnecessary costs. Instead of spending millions on hiring and managing your in-house IT staff, a company only must pay a fixed monthly fee.
2. Access to the Latest Technology
Companies must ensure access to the latest technologies to make the most out of cloud-managed services. However, doing so is easier said than done. Hiring an in-house IT staff means the company also must spend money on training and providing the necessary infrastructure.
But with Cloud-managed services, having access to the latest technology becomes the service provider’s responsibility.
3. Focus on Growth
Since the cloud-managed service plans are flexible, companies can shift their focus from profit to delivering value. Some cloud-managed service providers even offer security protection, network monitoring, new service setup, and integrating policies to manage your infrastructure. This way, they can focus on growing the business alone.
4. Quick Response Time
With a cloud-managed service provider, you can expect a fast response time through remote cloud services and enterprise-level monitoring. No matter what issue you face, they will put their best efforts to fix it on time.
5. Disaster Recovery
Since services are the lifeline of cloud-managed service providers, it is unlikely that a disaster will happen, and you will lose data. With them, you can ensure that your data will be safe across all cloud services and applications.
5 Essential Things to Keep in Mind
1. Know What You Want before Choosing a Managed Cloud Services Provider
Various managed service providers will offer different services. So, picking the right one will be confusing. Seeing so many alternatives, you may have analysis paralysis and make a wrong choice. That is why it is essential to have a clear idea of what you want before choosing a managed cloud services provider. It will help you select the managed services provider that suits your needs.
2. Carefully Evaluate the Managed Cloud Services Providers
In the beginning, most managed cloud service providers will try to lure you with attractive deals. If you are someone looking at the cost but not the details, you are likely to make a wrong decision. Do not make this mistake. Make sure you read all the details carefully, research their business model, see how stable they are, and then decide whether you want to work with them or not.
3. Seek a Partner, Not a Provider
Building a stable relationship with the service provider is essential if you want to make the most out of cloud-managed services. You should be able to have them evaluate your systems, workstations, and servers without any hesitation. In return, they should also be able to offer strategic advice or free consultation openly. This way, you can make the best use of their expertise to plan your future projects more efficiently.
4. Work on a Clear Data Backup and Disaster Recovery Strategy
Disasters are inevitable. You may be prepared to prevent human errors, machine errors, or cyber-attacks. But what about natural disasters like a hurricane? When these disasters happen, your data will be at risk.
That is why you should work on a clear data backup and disaster recovery plan with your managed services provider. It will help you remain prepared when anything like this happens.
5. Do not Be Afraid to Move on if You are Not Satisfied
We evolve with time, so do our needs. Maybe the managed service provider who once offered excellent services cannot do it anymore. Perhaps, you have outgrown them and need someone who can serve your needs better. In that situation, don’t be afraid to change. In the end, you need someone who adds real value to your business, and it is not possible if you are having constant issues with your managed service provider.
In a Nutshell
The right cloud managed services provider can help you go a long way. By saving time, reducing costs, and offering access to a larger talent pool and latest technologies – it can serve as an essential extension of your IT staff for business growth.
However, to make the most out of cloud-managed services, you need to keep a few essential factors things in mind. They will ensure you don’t fall into traps and make the best use of the cloud. Hopefully, the blog gave you a fair idea of what you should and should not do.
You can request a free consultation from our cloud computing experts to have more guidance on making the most out of cloud computing.
