Picking Cloud Services You Can Understand – Cloud Computing Companies
With all the ambiguity with cloud services, it's important to know what you're getting into.
Without your being aware of it, or making a conscious decision to go into it you may already be using cloud services. For example, if you use Gmail, Facebook, Youtube, Dropbox, Twitter or similar applications then you’re using the cloud. Among the features of cloud computing evident in these applications are:
- You are able to access them through a web-based interface anywhere, anytime
- Your data is spread out in locations you have no physical access to
- You had little or no start-up cost and no capital investment
- Your ability to customize the service is limited
- You could set up the application with relative ease even without support from internal IT
This may be fine for non-critical data, whether of a personal or business nature. But if you see opportunities to use the cloud for critical business needs then you need to know exactly what you’re getting. Here are some questions that should be answered to your satisfaction when you pick a cloud computing company to service your needs.
- What measurements will be used to assure you that you are getting the service you are paying for? These would form part of your service level agreement and cover such points as transaction response times, data protection and speed of data recovery.
- To what extent is your data privacy protected? Under what circumstances can your data be accessed by government agencies even without your consent or approval?
- Is the cloud computing company sufficiently familiar with your industry that they are aware of applicable regulations and can assure you of compliance requirements?
- Where does your data actually reside? What happens when your contract with the service provider ends? How do you assure yourself that no copies of your data remain with them?
- Do you want to retain crucial intellectual property within your control? You will have to decide which goes into the cloud and which remains internal.
- Will you achieve the expected cost savings, flexibility and scalability of cloud computing services?
Cloud computing presents great new opportunities, but not without the accompanying challenges. To make your venture into the cloud as smooth as possible devote some time to careful planning and choose the most practical from the cloud computing companies that will give your business the boost it needs to stay ahead of the competition.