When is it time to consult a cloud provider?

What is a Cloud Service Provider?  

A cloud service provider is a specialized company (which in turn is a certified partner of major cloud manufacturers, such as AWS, Microsoft, Google, etc.) that offers solutions designed to facilitate cloud adoption, migrate workloads to these environments, optimize consumption, and improve the management of digital infrastructure. Furthermore, these services are often complementary to others, providing added value and helping the client make better use of and manage their cloud. An example of this is Framework Assessments, which provide valuable information about a client's infrastructure with the goal of making it more efficient.

As such, the services offered by a cloud provider may include infrastructure management, software platform setup, data management and storage, and security monitoring, among others. These providers are responsible for managing and maintaining the resources in these environments and ensuring their availability, performance, and security. 

This allows customers to focus on their core business and not have to worry about technical issues that require a high level of expertise and, above all, resources.

Pay-as-you-go model 

Cloud service providers use a pay-as-you-go model, which means that customers only pay for the resources they use, without having to invest in their own hardware or software. This allows them to save costs, optimize their investment, and scale resources according to their needs. In other words, they can choose from different plans and billing options, depending on the type and amount of resources they need. For example, customers can pay by the hour, by the month, by the gigabyte, per request, etc. 

 How can working with a cloud partner help your business? 

In this regard, a provider is an invaluable partner for a business, as they will be the ones who, based on their experience and knowledge, recommend the service that best meets the company’s expectations, budget, and desired level of control. Furthermore, they bring expertise and technical know-how, can help achieve cost savings through the use of contracted cloud products, and provide training for the team. In general terms, they will ensure that the company is always up to date. And not only that, they will also help migrate applications and data to the cloud efficiently, offering tools, guides, and support to facilitate the process, minimizing downtime, risks, and errors. And their work doesn’t end there: once in these environments, they will be the ones to optimize resource usage to ensure the best performance and quality of cloud services and implement security and compliance measures to protect data.  

Tips for Choosing the Right Cloud Provider: 

As we've seen, the cloud is complex, and there are many options for its implementation and management. A cloud provider can therefore be an invaluable partner in managing this complexity. How do you choose the right cloud provider? Consider these factors when making your choice 

• 24/7 support, 365 days a year: Support is a key factor in ensuring customer satisfaction and trust. A good cloud service provider should offer technical support and assistance 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, to resolve any issues or incidents that may arise. Support should be fast, effective, and professional, and should be available through various channels, such as phone, email, chat, or social media. 
• Certified company: Try to work with companies that are certified and are authorized partners of the leading cloud providers. Make sure they are certified partners, and as an added bonus, try to choose companies that work with more than one provider. This will ensure you have a provider with extensive experience who understands the differences between various cloud options, products, and features.
• Performance and reliability:  are essential for the operation of cloud applications and services. A good cloud service provider must offer high availability and reliable uptime, so that cloud resources are always accessible and operational. In addition, it must provide fast loading and response times. 
• Budget considerations: This factor determines the cost of cloud resources. A good cloud service provider should offer a transparent and competitive pricing structure that aligns with the customer’s needs and expectations. The customer must clearly understand how cloud services are billed and whether they fit within their budget. Additionally, they should evaluate the return on investment they receive from contracting cloud services, considering the benefits these services provide in terms of savings, efficiency, and value. 
• Review of the client portfolio: is an indicator of a cloud provider’s quality and reputation. The provider should have a broad and diverse client portfolio that demonstrates its experience and ability to meet the needs of different industries and organizations. Users should review the cloud service provider’s client portfolio and check for clients similar to their own company or who have contracted services similar to those they need. Additionally, they should consult reviews and testimonials from other companies to gauge their level of satisfaction and trust. 
• Focus on safety: is a priority for companies that use the cloud, as it involves protecting their data and services. A good provider must guarantee the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of cloud resources. This involves offering robust security measures, such as encryption, backup, recovery, authentication, authorization, firewalls, antivirus software, etc. Additionally, it involves helping the customer comply with relevant security and privacy regulations, such as the GDPR, the LOPD, HIPAA, etc. 
• Alignment with business needs: The right provider will understand your specific needs and be able to offer solutions that align with your company’s goals and operations. This ensures that cloud services serve as an effective extension of your business strategy and help you improve your competitiveness, productivity, and profitability. 
• Scalability An efficient partner makes it easy to scale resources to meet your business’s demand. This is essential for your company’s growth, as it allows you to increase or decrease the capacity of your cloud services without compromising performance or quality. Plus, it helps you save money, because you only pay for what you use. 
• Technological Flexibility: A competitive provider must offer access to different types of technologies and services, such as IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service), PaaS (Platform as a Service), or SaaS (Software as a Service), or a combination of these, as well as various configuration, customization, and integration options.  
• Innovation: The cloud is a constantly evolving environment. Your cloud partner should provide access to the latest technologies and updates so you can keep your IT infrastructure up to date. In addition, they should offer innovative services and tools—such as big data, machine learning, and edge computing—that enable you to leverage your data in the cloud. 
• Community and Ecosystem Support: Some cloud providers have active communities and a broad ecosystem of partners and developers, which can be valuable for accessing additional resources and solutions. 
• Update and benefits: Ask your partner about financing programs, workshops, discounts, and benefits offered by cloud providers. A good cloud partner will always be able to point you toward opportunities to optimize your usage or meet your needs.  

So… When Is It Time to Consult a Cloud Provider? 

Given everything we’ve discussed, it’s time to outline the situations in which it might be a good idea to consult a cloud provider: 

• When demand increases and scalability becomes crucial: If your business is experiencing rapid growth or has spikes in demand, your current infrastructure may not be sufficient to handle the volume of traffic or data you generate. In that case, the cloud offers you the ability to scale resources quickly and easily, without having to invest in additional hardware or software. A cloud provider can help you choose the type and amount of resources you need and adjust them based on demand, without compromising the performance or quality of your services. 
• If you're looking for high uptime: The availability of your services is essential for your company's operation and your customers' satisfaction. If you want to ensure your services are always available and operational, the cloud offers you high availability and the ability to continue operating during incidents. A cloud provider can help you implement and manage these services, and resolve any problems or issues that may arise, to ensure the continuity and resilience of your business. 
• When updates become a real challenge: Updates can be costly, complex, and risky, especially if you have to perform them manually or on a regular basis. In that case, the cloud offers the advantage of always being up to date, since the cloud provider handles updating and maintaining the cloud resources, so you don't have to worry about it.  

• If you want to focus on innovation rather than infrastructure: Infrastructure is essential for developing and delivering your services, but it can also be a distraction or a constraint for your business. If you want to focus on innovation rather than infrastructure, the cloud offers you the ability to delegate infrastructure management and maintenance to the cloud provider, allowing you to focus on creating, testing, deploying, and improving your services. A provider can offer you a variety of services and tools that facilitate the development and delivery of your services, such as PaaS, SaaS, big data, machine learning, and more. 
• When you want to optimize costs: Costs are a major factor when managing your infrastructure, platform, or software. If you want to optimize them, the cloud offers a pay-as-you-go model, allowing you to pay only for the resources you use, without having to invest in your own hardware or software. In addition, the cloud helps you save on infrastructure, maintenance, and operational costs, since the cloud provider handles all of that.

In addition to these scenarios, there may be other reasons why you might want to consult a cloud provider—for example, if you want to scale your business, launch a new product, or enhance a product with limited capabilities. The important thing to remember is that the cloud is a solution that can bring value and benefits to your business, and that the right provider can be your partner in helping you achieve that.  

 Once you’ve chosen a vendor and are working with them, keep these tips in mind to monitor their performance and get the most out of your investment: 

 Cost Comparison: «Do It Yourself» (DIY) vs. Cloud Managed Services Provider (MSP) 

Cloud services can be managed in two ways: through the “Do It Yourself” (DIY) approach, in which the company itself manages and maintains its cloud resources, or through the Cloud Managed Services Provider (MSP) approach, which involves hiring an external provider to deliver and manage the cloud services. 

To compare the expenses associated with both approaches, the costs can be broken down into three main categories: staffing costs, operational costs, and intangible opportunity costs. 

• Staff costs: These include personnel costs associated with managing cloud services, such as salaries, benefits, training, and recruitment. In the DIY approach, these costs are typically higher, as it requires a team of qualified and up-to-date professionals, which entails greater investment and a higher risk of turnover or talent shortages. In the MSP approach, these costs are typically lower, as the management of cloud services is delegated to the external provider, which has a team of experts with industry experience, resulting in lower expenses and higher quality. 
• Operating costs: These relate to the operation and maintenance of cloud services, such as hardware, software, power, security, support, etc. In the DIY method, these costs are usually more variable, as they depend on the consumption and demand for cloud resources, which implies greater uncertainty and greater difficulty in planning and optimizing resource usage. In the MSP method, these costs are usually more predictable, as they are based on a pay-per-use or subscription model, which implies greater transparency and greater efficiency. 
• Intangible opportunity costs:  related to lost or gained opportunities from cloud services management, such as innovation, competitiveness, customer satisfaction, etc. In the DIY method, these costs are usually more negative, as more time and resources are dedicated to infrastructure management than to business development, implying less innovation capacity, less market adaptability, and less customer satisfaction. In the MSP method, these costs are usually more positive, as more time and resources are dedicated to business development than to infrastructure management, implying greater innovation capacity, greater market adaptability, and greater customer satisfaction. 

In summary... 

The MSP method offers a greater cost advantage than the DIY method, as it allows for a reduction in staffing and operational costs and an increase in intangible opportunity benefits. However, the choice of the most suitable option for your company will depend on its objectives, needs, and budget. Therefore, it is important to conduct a detailed analysis of the costs and benefits of each approach and consult with a trusted cloud provider who can advise and help the company make the best decision. 

Ready to choose a cloud provider? 

Whether you’re already operating in the cloud or planning to migrate to it, at Nublit we have professionals who can help you unlock its full potential and ensure that your experience meets the necessary requirements for operational excellence. Over a decade of experience and hundreds of successful projects around the world are our best calling card. 

 Do you want to know more?  

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