It's simple: data needs security, thus cloud service providers must ensure their security requirements are high. Cloud service providers must adhere to key industry certifications, such as ISO 27001 or other government-initiated cyber essentials schemes. The finest data governance method, backed by a structured service support procedure, continues to be the linchpin of the cloud service provider’s selection.

What to consider when choosing the right cloud services provider

There are several certifications and standards available in the market that ensure the data management operations of cloud providers are streamlined. Businesses must map their industry-specific security requirements and choose the relevant certifications. It is critical that suppliers meticulously organize their resources and support services, assuring continual adherence to the needed certifications and standards.

It's possible that you already have a system in place for classifying data that outlines different data categories based on their sensitivity and/or sets rules for where the data is stored. You should at the very least be familiar with the legal or data privacy requirements that apply to personal data.

What to consider when choosing the right cloud services provider

In light of this, the location in which your data is stored and the consequent local legislation to which it is subject can play a significant role in the decision-making process. If you have particular needs and duties, you should search for service providers who provide you a choice and control over the location where your data is kept, handled, and controlled. Although cloud service providers should be open and honest about where their data centers are located, it is your job to do your own research.

Check to see if the provider's platform and technology selections are appropriate for your current environment and/or achieve your cloud goals. Do the cloud architectures, standards, and services offered by the provider align with the workloads you have and how you wish to manage them? To make your workloads platform-ready, figure out how much customization is needed.

What to consider when choosing the right cloud services provider

A lot of service providers offer comprehensive migration services, including evaluation and planning assistance. Make sure you have a firm grasp of the support that is available, align it with the tasks of the project, and decide who will do what. Service providers typically offer technical staff that can bridge gaps in your migration teams' skill sets.

Choosing the best package needs to be a priority because moving to the cloud is neither simple nor inexpensive. It is advised to pre-define the budget for creating the cloud infrastructure and to adhere to the pre-established comparative standards. All cloud service providers need to be evaluated based on the various price plans and licenses once the company demands have been carefully mapped out.

You can assess a service provider's dependability in a number of ways. First, compare the service provider's performance over the last 6–12 months against their SLAs. While some service providers make this information available, others need to do so upon request. Expecting perfection is unrealistic because any cloud service may occasionally encounter outages. What matters is how the supplier handles the outage.

Vendor lock-in occurs when a client who uses a product or service finds it difficult to switch to a rival. Usually, proprietary technologies that are incompatible with those of rivals lead to vendor lock-in. However, among other things, it can also be brought on by ineffective procedures or contractual restrictions.

What to consider when choosing the right cloud services provider

By minimizing the usage of services that restrict your capacity to move or switch providers, you can reduce the danger of vendor lock-in and ensure that your selected provider uses the least amount of proprietary technology. In order to reduce the danger of lock-in, it is ideal to choose value-added services that have equally effective and affordable alternatives in the market.

Saving money is made simpler by AWS' pay-as-you-go approach, but cost optimization to its fullest extent necessitates the continuous observation of the resources being utilized and their usage patterns. A competent partner can assess your total cost of ownership (TCO) and make sure you aren't spending money on resources that you don't actually require.

Benefits: For instance, a certified AWS partner offers a thorough Cloud Foundation solution that reduces expenses and increases clarity about exactly where your money is being spent.

In order to retain the availability and performance your users or customers have come to expect from your website or apps when you migrate to AWS, you must consider what data and applications to move and how.

Benefit: A certified partner will implement an AWS Migration Acceleration Program to ensure that the procedure satisfies both your business and your technological needs, laying the groundwork for a successful migration.

You will experience the advantages of your relocation more quickly with the assistance of a partner. We've seen that migrations with a partner typically proceed 25% more quickly than those carried out alone and also produce greater business results. The entire organization can more easily transition to the AWS platform with a shorter migration period.

Nearly 500,000 cybersecurity experts are needed globally, according to a survey by the international cybersecurity professional association (ISC)2, which revealed that nearly two-thirds of respondents felt their business's cybersecurity personnel were understaffed. The cost of employing an internal security staff might be exorbitant given this demand.

Benefit: You can hire a team of security specialists through an AWS partner for less than the salary of a full-time employee.