Your organization is considering managed cloud services. But is it right for you?
Managed cloud services are great for security and productivity. Although the initial cloud adoption might seem scary, the robust infrastructure your organization receives for its existing systems is worth it.
In short, you receive:
- enterprise grade cloud technologies,
- cloud infrastructure services and cloud platforms,
- cloud managed service providers for assistance,
- future-proofed technology,
- astounding technical support,
- data protection,
- a reduction in IT services costs,
- cloud resources, and
- incredible transformation services.
However, cloud managed service providers bring many more benefits than you imagined.
In this article, we’ll review some big reasons why your business can benefit from cloud services and ensure business continuity throughout your use of these professional services.
What Are Cloud Managed Services?
Reasons Your Business Needs Managed Cloud Services
Benefits of Managed Cloud Services
Three Main Reasons to Use Managed Cloud Services
What Are the Different Security Risks of Cloud Computing?
Key Factors to Consider When Choosing a Cloud Managed Services Provider
What is the Difference Between a Cloud Service Provider and a Managed Cloud Service Provider?
What Are Managed Cloud Services?
Managed cloud services give you partial or complete management of your resources or infrastructure.
A few key features of cloud managed services include cloud operations such as:
- migration or an integrated approach,
- configuration,
- optimization,
- security, and
- maintenance with a managed services provider.
It serves as a way for you to maximize your overall benefits while minimizing costs.
At the core, cloud managed services are a way to outsource IT solutions to help with cloud hosting and storage, better data management, and security.
However, in addition, managed cloud services efficiently deliver the infrastructure you need without the traditional in-house investment, even when you need transformation services to create or modify existing technology.
For instance, cloud services allow for better cloud computing. Services like Oracle Cloud, Adobe, Microsoft Azure, and Office now require a cloud subscription to their products – which gives your team the tools to collaborate remotely through centralized services.
Cloud services are therefore a great way for your organization to work together in all work environments. Whether your organization is a traditional nine-to-five, hybrid, or fully remote, these managed services guarantee security, constant updates, and the latest infrastructure to help your organization thrive.
You may already have heard of VMware Cloud Services’ collaboration with AWS Premier Consulting Partner (Amazon Web Services), which gives you single-tenant infrastructure.
Other services can deploy hybrid cloud environments that use a mix of storage and benefits from public clouds to private clouds or even on-premise data centers.
But what are the reasons your business really needs cloud managed services? Let’s get into that below.
Reasons Your Business Needs Managed Cloud Services
There are many reasons your business needs managed cloud services. Although several reasons directly affect your bottom line, cloud managed services are becoming central to all workplaces.
Here are five factors that save you money and help your bottom line.
1 Managed Cloud Services Cost Less Than Providing Your Own Infrastructure
Having your own infrastructure costs money. It costs money to purchase equipment and keep it safe, secure, and updated. If you have servers onsite, the maintenance and electricity associated with them are high.
However, a cloud service is less expensive than all of that put together. With a cloud service, you pay a monthly fee. That covers any repairs, updates, unplanned investments, patches, monitoring, and everything in between.
With extra money in your pocket, you can reinvest in your company.
2 Cloud Services Extend Your IT Department
The team you manage in-house (if you have a team) has incredible IT skills. But what if you could extend your IT department and update their skills without additional training?
Cloud services expand your IT department and skill sets, including highly specialized skills from the high-ranking professionals that work with your cloud provider.
They can also work alongside your IT personnel and guide them on aligning your IT strategy to your business strategy and goals.
3 You Waste Less Time
Hiring new IT personnel takes time. The onboarding process and training can take weeks.
Updating your computers and installing security patches in your network can also take hours, even days.
With cloud services, it’s done remotely, without training, and often overnight. So you can save time, update your network, and leave additional training behind.
4 Your Company Gets a Competitive Edge
The cloud gives small to medium-sized businesses a competitive edge by providing the same high-tech in-house solutions large organizations, like Tata Consultancy Services, can afford.
With the help of cloud managed services, small to medium-sized businesses can secure cloud hosting and services that help them compete with larger companies.
5 Overall, You Have Peace of Mind With Cloud Cybersecurity
Your business is important, and so is your data. That’s why you require high-tech, robust infrastructure and comprehensive cybersecurity solutions that monitor your network 24/7.
Cloud solutions offer early threat detection, patching and updating, and sophisticated data protection methods.
In the face of ongoing ransomware attacks, your peace of mind is priceless.
So – even though we just reviewed a good list of reasons your company needs managed services, let’s look next at some of the biggest benefits managed services give your organization.
Benefits of Managed Cloud Services
As the pandemic proved to us that a work-from-home or hybrid environment was useful, many organizations began optimizing their workplace with managed services.
This rapidly evolved into a race to create cloud solutions and an array of work-from-home native cloud applications for optimization.
We’ve mentioned having remote infrastructure and increasing your bottom line, but what are some of the top benefits of managed cloud services?
1 Increased Network Security
Cloud services require high security. Managed services secure your network with highly trained individuals specializing in cloud security.
The knowledge they provide when it comes to cybersecurity is bar none. They’ll keep your network secure from all unauthorized users.
2 Increased Productivity
Your organization’s productivity and collaboration improves with cloud managed services and the benefits of cloud computing through organizations like Google Cloud Premier Partner, AWS Premier Partner, Adobe, Microsoft Azure (Azure Gold Partner), and Oracle Cloud.
With data centers filled with essential applications, it’s easy for employees to build upon each other’s work from across the globe.
These cloud offerings help your cloud journey immensely and improve your business’s productivity.
3 Cost Savings
Cloud services save you money. That’s because you, as a business owner, are no longer responsible for the costs of keeping your infrastructure up to date. Everything is in the hands of your managed service provider.
An added benefit of these managed services is the money you save from hiring IT personnel. Hiring a managed cloud service provider allows you to outsource all your required IT resources and personnel. Your managed cloud services are maintained behind the scenes.
4 Automatic Updates
With security patches, software updates, and cloud technology constantly evolving, keeping your network up to date becomes a full-time job.
However, cloud services are remotely updated, automatically, and constantly.
This means you keep your network running smoothly. You have effective security with cloud managed services that automatically update your network as technology evolves.
Three Main Reasons to Use Managed Cloud Services
If you need more than cost savings, security services, and managed infrastructure through centralized services to convince you that cloud managed services are fantastic for security and productivity, here are three main reasons all organizations should use managed cloud services.
1 IT Support
Cloud services provide IT support around the clock.
The peace of mind you receive from knowing your IT infrastructure is always monitored is invaluable. You’d need a team of at least 12 expert IT personnel to supply your own 24/7 coverage!
Managed cloud services provide this IT support remotely whenever you need them. And even though updates, repairs, and patches often happen remotely, the provider is there for you if you need them.
2 Disaster Recovery
Disaster recovery is an integral part of every organization’s IT protocols. Cloud services can back up your data, placing it on a server outside your physical location. Sometimes in multiple locations. This allows your business to regain data with as little downtime as possible.
3 Cloud Storage
Cloud managed services allow you to migrate your data and store everything on the cloud. Not only does this free up space on your computers, but it also acts as part of your disaster relief efforts.
What Are the Different Security Risks of Cloud Computing?
Cloud computing has its faults. However, receiving cloud engineering through a cloud service provider can help keep things secure when dealing with cloud adoption within your enterprise networks.
Nevertheless, here are a few risks – or, if you prefer, challenges:
1 Unauthorized User Access to Data
The biggest cloud security risk is user error and bad user practices. This includes employees using their credentials to access data through improper security outside the cloud infrastructure.
Understanding the problem and using remote monitoring and management is essential to avoid these problems.
2 Distributed Denial of Service Cyberattacks
If you’ve ever been locked out of your email address due to many login attempts, you understand how frustrating it is to regain access.
Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) is a form of attack that sends too many request attempts when you try to enter your cloud services, thus locking you out of your system.
3 Misconfiguration of the Cloud
Vulnerabilities to your cloud system can arise from
- cloud misconfiguration or weakness within default passwords,
- inadequate security restrictions,
- bad management of permission controls for cloud access,
- inactive data encryption, and
- other inadequacies such as insider threats due to a lack of security awareness and training.
However, a good managed service provider monitors proactively and helps you stay ahead of threats.
4 Data Leaks and Data Breaches
Insider threats and personal use of devices often cause companies to leak data and therefore have data breaches.
A proactive managed cloud service helps you stay secure, whether you’re using a public cloud or other cloud environments.
5 Insecure API
APIs are meant to streamline cloud computing. However, insufficient API security exposes sensitive data and can cause a cloud data breach.
Providing managed house services to your cloud environments will guide you toward proper security for all API and cloud deployments.
Key Factors to Consider When Choosing a Managed Cloud Services Provider
So far, you’re impressed, but now that you’re considering choosing a managed cloud service provider, how do you go about it?
Consider a few vital things before choosing a cloud managed service provider.
Overall, you’ll need to ensure the cloud service provider’s professional services align with your organization’s goals. Having them understand your business as you continue to work alongside them is crucial so they provide the proper IT services to your organization.
Consulting with multiple providers is essential
Hearing about cloud providers with a good reputation is helpful. However, always ensure the cloud service provider you choose is someone you trust. That keeps your relationship strong.
Nevertheless, even if you know you’ll trust that provider, continue your due diligence and ask about your important requirements, just in case.
This might include putting questions to prospective managed service providers about their services, such as:
- IT services
- Cloud deployment and cloud security
- Managed services
- Cloud vision
- Managed security
- Hybrid cloud solutions
- Public cloud services
- Their cloud migration strategy
- Overall cloud resources and cloud services
Next, you need a service level agreement (SLA) before you sign any cloud service provider to your organization.
Your SLA
An SLA defines the level of services, the metrics in which they’re measured, and any penalties and remedies in case the services are not met.
Once both parties agree on the SLA, have your legal department review it for discrepancies. Ensure your cloud strategy, cloud migration, customer complaint resolution requests, and refund options are accurately detailed.
Although cloud service providers run a tight ship, it’s also essential to check
- their uptime,
- whether they have the proper cloud security protocols for your organization, and
- if they’ve ever had a security breach.
Our last tip requires a bit of digging.
How does your cloud service provider define managed services? Do they provide everything you want or a minor facet of cloud hosting? If you’re looking for more integration within your infrastructure, it’s important to understand whether you’re getting:
- a hybrid cloud or single tenant architecture,
- proper cloud deployment and cloud migration,
- other cloud resources like Oracle Cloud and other cloud native applications, and
- other infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) you require.
Discuss with your managed service provider and ensure you get everything you’re paying for.
What is the Difference Between a Cloud Service Provider and a Managed Cloud Service Provider?
While cloud managed services allow you to outsource your IT solutions, they also help you with hosting and storage capabilities to ensure you get the best security protocols for your data.
Unlike traditional managed services, a cloud service allows you to store your data in the cloud, and retrieve data and critical work applications from third parties for collaborative purposes.
However, Managed Cloud Service Providers are different. Managed Cloud Services Providers are third-party vendors that offer cloud services. Often it’s a subscription service that offers a wide range of technology.
They cover everything from cloud hosting to offsite backup, cloud solutions, hybrid cloud deployments, public cloud options, and all the cloud infrastructure your organization needs.
They can serve as your in-house IT department or supplement it. Either way, it reduces costs and gives you 24-hour peace of mind with optimum security.
Uprite, Your Managed Cloud Service Provider
Now that you know the benefits and reasons to go with managed cloud services, it’s time to choose your provider.
Start a conversation with Uprite. Operating in Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio, we’re the managed cloud services provider you can trust. We’ll ensure business continuity for all your business operations and cloud infrastructure, and help you stay secure and productive!
Check out the Uprite Way we all adhere to, and contact us today with any questions you have to ensure we’re the right provider for your business.