Transitioning into the cloud is one of the biggest trends in recent years. However, with the absence of a common framework for assessing Cloud Service Providers and the fact that no two CSPs are the same, it is pretty complicated to select one that's right for your company. To help you figure this out, here are some of the factors that you should use to identify if a CPS provider is right for your business.
Before we jump into these factors, its best to look at some of the biggest providers out there today. Though there are many competitors, some of the biggest providers today include Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP).
AWS is one of the providers who has been in the market for the longest time and has taken more than 30% of the market. Microsoft is the second biggest shareholder at 13% with Google having 6% of the market share. Some of the other big providers include IBM and Rackspace, but they are generally smaller and more specialized. Though AWS is the biggest market shareholder, many competitors are beginning to branch out and try new providers.
It is important that you understand what your security goals are and what security measure is provided by each provider. With this understanding, you will gain a better understanding of what mechanisms providers have to preserve your applications and data as well as the specific areas that each party is responsible for. Security is such a top concern in the cloud because of how sensitive the data you're analyzing can be, meaning that it is important to ask many detailed and explicit questions that relate to your unique use cases, industry, regulatory requirements or concerns that you may have.
When selecting your cloud provider, consider how the architecture will be incorporated into your workflows and in the future. For example, if your company has already invested in Microsoft's technology, it might make the most sense to proceed with Azure since Microsoft gives its customers licenses and often some free credits. If your company relies more on Amazon or Google services, then it may be easier for you to integrate your company with those services instead. You should also consider cloud services architectures when you make your decision. When looking at storages, the three biggest providers have similar architectures and offer various types of storage to fit different needs. If this is something that you're prioritizing then you should try to understand the different nuances between them.
One of the most important factors that you need to consider is how much time you want to spend managing your cloud service. Each of the providers supports various tools and integrates with various other services. If you have services that are particularly vital to your company, make sure that the cloud provider is able to offer you an easy way to integrate with them.
Support is another factor that you strongly need to consider. If you ever need help, will it come to you quickly and easily? In some cases, the support that you will receive is very limited such as through a chat or call service. This may or may not work with your business. On the other hand, you may be looking for a dedicated team that can help you with the various questions. Be sure to ask the right questions to ensure that this box is checked on your list.
More and more companies are moving their business to the cloud. If you are hesitant to do so, there are many benefits that you can reap if you move your business there. When you do, some of the factors that you should look at before choosing the right cloud platform include the structure of the system, how it is being managed, its support system, and the centrality of the security framework. These considerations beforehand can give you a leg up on competitors who are just getting started.