Cloud computing is popular – fact. Indeed, it is so popular that 85% of companies have a varied strategy as users run applications in an average of 4.1 public and private clouds. But, these figures don’t mean that a business should jump into bed with the software without doing their due diligence. After all, it is a new technology and that carries lots of risks. To be clear about what you want from the service, you have to be knowledgeable and to do that you need to do your research.
With that in mind, here are the four steps to help you create a business strategy.
Is Your Infrastructure Ready?
The biggest mistake businesses make is transferring everything to the cloud as soon as possible. On average, four out of ten firms have issues and complaints, and this is the reason. Sadly, the company’s processes won’t transfer to the cloud if they are not ready. That means you need the bandwidth to handle the extra strain on the servers, web-based apps, and a committed team of IT experts. Without these basics, it is possible that your strategy will become another statistic.
Will You Have Unlimited Access To Your Data?
For the people that don’t know much about the cloud, it is worth noting that you won’t play the host. Instead, a specialist cloud hosting company will be the honors because they have the resources. The issue with this is the complicated nature of the agreement. Usually, everything from the hardware to the operating system will be the property of the hosting firm. But, you own the data as it is your intellectual property. As such, the agreement needs to state that not only is the information yours but that you can access and remove it at any point. Otherwise, it negates the point of cloud computing.
Is There A Backup Plan?
A backup plan is important on both your behalf and the behalf of the outsourcer. From your point of view, you need to diversify your processes as putting all of your eggs in one basket is risky business. So, by splitting up the information across different platforms, you should have access to the data even if one server fails. Also, storing information offline is a good way to secure your data. Regarding the outsourcer, you expect them to fix any problems to minimize the damage. As such, there should be a rep that is available when a problem arises.
Do They Sub-Contract?
Most businesses expect their subcontractors to take care of the processes in-house. The truth is that outsourcers all outsource tasks to external firms in a bid to meet deadlines and save money. Normally, this wouldn’t matter as long as they hit the brief on time. But, in this case, there is a security issue that you need to address. Quite simply, you didn’t vet the outsourcer they use who also has access to the data, and this is a breach.
If they do plan on hiring subcontractors, you need to know so that you can check their credentials. If they have strong cred, then into the cloud you can transition with your company.
I hope you enjoyed this article about questions to ask prior to taking your business into the cloud.
Interested in more articles about cloud computing?
Read My Posts:
- The Future Of Cloud Computing Looks Bright!
- The Art Of Choosing The Right Outsourcing Partner
Published by Michael J Schiemer
Owner of Bootstrap Business
Money - Marketing - Motivation
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Mike Schiemer Builds Better Business
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