The Cloud has long since been gaining recognition for its versatility and scalability (well before the COVID-19 pandemic gripped the world, as a matter of fact). Alleviating the need for on-premise resources while significantly cutting down on infrastructure has provided businesses the perfect solution to conduct daily operations, along with maintaining optimum security. What’s more, the Cloud has now become indispensable even on a consumer level, as numerous apps now require real-time access to retrieve and record data. Even on an outsourcing level, software development in Sri Lanka for example is replete with projects that cater to Cloud-based development for international clientele – and for good reason.
From a more generalized standpoint, Cloud computing has penetrated almost every facet of how we work and collaborate across boundaries. With quick and easy access now possible without the need for bulky backups, synchronizing collateral across multiple members of your team is something many of us actually take for granted these days. As a result, this has also made remote work easier than ever before, as there is no need to access all your data from a specific device that’s situated in a specific location.
The ability to integrate makes things even more versatile, with an application available from one umbrella provider for any requirement that your organization may have. Amazon web services in Sri Lanka (as well as globally, on the whole) is a good point of reference for numerous companies that rely on one major provider for all their Cloud needs.
In spite of the Cloud being well established, popular and attainable for even the smallest businesses, it’s a highly broad category which spans across two extreme ends of a spectrum – thereby making the right selection a fairly complex undertaking. Apart from consisting of an infinite range of services, Cloud providers can also be perceived from two angles –
While there is no right or wrong choice, the angle you take will eventually influence the overall quality, throughput and flow of routine tasks, while determining how to scale up and down in the future, as situations demand it. Before you get started with trying to figure out which Cloud service provider will be the best fit for your business, it is wise to remember certain key advantages that are offered via Cloud computing.
One of the first benefits offered by the Cloud is the ease of access. In other words, all you need to do in order to access your database and documents is a simple login, from any device and/or location. The Cloud has eliminated the need for master devices, thereby making sharing and collaboration convenient among multiple team members, which also extends to making additions, deletions and other changes to data.
As businesses grow at a steadfast pace, the systems used to keep things running need to subsequently grow too. Cloud has revolutionized the way today’s businesses operate, as its ability to scale up or down depending on shifting requirements has led to businesses adjusting swiftly with changing times – while saving on costs in due course.
As businesses proceed to create stronger collaborations and gain deeper insights, stand-alone applications are now becoming a thing of the past. This is now more of a need than a want, as faster turnarounds and zero downtime make all the difference between being successful and otherwise. Situating all your inter-departmental applications on the Cloud makes integration even easier – especially if its hosted by the same provider.
Before you decide on the Cloud provider of your choice, you need to figure out the current problems and shortcomings that may be plaguing your business. Gather key members of your team (this includes those on a managerial/supervisory level) as well as any associates/entry-level employees that may be directly interacting with your present system.
As these folks work on the frontlines day in and day out, they are the best sources for information that pertains to your current systems. They will be able to tell you the problems facing your existing software, and whether it is easy to use. Ask questions based on customer experience, deliverables and revenue, in order to comprehend what is lacking in your existing software.
Examples include:
Once you’ve completed your assessment and listed down problems as well as subsequent solutions required, start searching for Cloud providers that list the capabilities you’ll need. Contact each provider, and ensure that you make the most of any free demos/trials offered, so that you and your team can decide which ones work the best.
Data migration and security – two key components of any reliable Cloud service.
Don’t forget to ask the providers you’ve shortlisted about how they plan to transfer your data over, as well as the security measures in place! These are both important constituents of any Cloud service, and competent Cloud providers won’t have a problem with educating you on how they intend to address these factors.
The Cloud has been transforming the way we interact digitally, as well as the way businesses are conducted, for a long time. Although ubiquitous considering its popularity, Choosing the right Cloud service provider is more complex than it seems, thanks to factors which revolve around unique business needs, scalability, data migration and integration. But conducting a detailed assessment with your team on what problems your business is facing can help you understand how the Cloud can provide solutions – and thereby help you choose the right provider.