A managed cloud service provider falls under the Information Technology (IT) managed service providers (MSPs) and specializes in overseeing cloud infrastructure rather than traditional infrastructure.
Generally, these MSPs handle various aspects of cloud operations, systems, and processes, allowing businesses to delegate these responsibilities to a third party instead of internally handling the complexities of cloud operations management.
Managed cloud service providers typically oversee Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), including public cloud, private cloud, and sometimes hybrid environments.
A proficient managed cloud service provider can accelerate your organization’s embrace of public cloud services and facilitate secure app development & data analysis, allowing you to concentrate on core business objectives. Thus, it’s always essential to select a suitable provider.
In this blog, we will delineate crucial considerations to observe when selecting a cloud service provider to ensure you make the right choice. Continue reading!
Considerations for Selecting a Managed Cloud Service Provider
- Cloud Expertise
Seek a cloud service provider with extensive expertise in cloud technologies, holding top-tier distinctions within their Cloud Service Provider (CSP) ecosystems. Partners who have attained APN Premier Partner status boast the greatest level of experience and have excelled in multiple criteria, including showcasing successful customer outcomes and possessing a range of esteemed cloud certifications.
Moreover, there are distinct partner competencies tailored to diverse industries and specialized areas, such as the DevOps competency or the Healthcare competency, which partners can attain through a dedicated focus on specific domains. Seek a partner that possesses a combination of competencies aligning well with the needs of your business.
- Cloud Agnostic
Select a cloud service provider that empowers you to seamlessly leverage multiple clouds to address diverse technical or business requirements. If your emphasis is on the public cloud, assess the support for various public cloud providers. Ideally, opt for an MSP that possesses in-depth knowledge of major cloud providers and stays abreast of evolving cloud technologies.
Additionally, they should have capabilities that span across clouds, enabling you to uphold robust, consistent security, and compliance even as you transition between different cloud environments.
- Industry Specialization
Seek a specialized managed cloud service provider that focuses on your industry rather than a generalist, especially if you operate in a highly regulated sector like healthcare, public sector, oil and gas, or financial services.
A specialized partner will be familiar with the unique challenges in your industry and can provide tailored solutions. They will understand the specific cloud services relevant to your business, how to optimize their usage, and have insights into upcoming developments in your industry.
- Response Timeline
Certain managed cloud service providers exhibit a delayed response to tickets, posing a significant hindrance to productivity and innovation. When alterations are needed or issues arise, your ability to address them depends on the efficiency of your cloud partner in resolving the matter.
When evaluating a prospective partner, inquire about their average resolution time for tickets and the percentage of tickets that are typically resolved within one hour.
- Services Provided
Examine the range of services provided. Check whether they offer managed compliance services and, if so, which compliance frameworks they support. Inquire about the security services they offer – are they engaged in incident management, or do they solely provide alerts for you to handle independently?
Determine if they offer cloud cost optimization services, as managing cloud costs is currently a key concern for IT leaders.
Crucially, clarify the role your cloud partner will play. Will they function primarily as a help desk and ticketing system, or do they grant direct access to a cloud strategist who can guide aligning your technology with business goals?
- Automated Services Availability
Inquire about the degree of automation in the managed cloud services offered by a potential cloud partner. Determine whether the services are primarily automated or delivered by human intervention. Some partners have automated 25-35% of their managed services, while others have achieved over 90% automation.
A higher degree of automation typically correlates with stronger cloud security measures. Furthermore, this metric serves as an indicator of the partner’s level of expertise and maturity in cloud services.
Final Words
By partnering with the right managed cloud service provider, your business can enhance its agility, fortify security measures, and extract greater value from cloud services. Conversely, selecting the wrong partner may impede your progress toward achieving business objectives. Additionally, make sure to choose a managed cloud service partner that provides scalable discounts based on your usage.
If you’re aiming to accelerate your business outcomes through streamlined cloud services, KatPro might be the ideal managed cloud services partner for you!
