Learn why Cloud-based solutions result in faster deployment of services with a lower cost and better connectivity.
What are enterprise cloud-based solutions?
A cloud-based solution means applications, storage, on-demand services, computer networks or other resources are accessed with an internet connection through another provider’s shared cloud computing framework.
- Web-Based Services
Web-Based Services let your business select different web functions instead of a full-blown application by using XML, UDDI open standards and other languages over a protocol backbone. Web-based applications incorporate other parts of your business. For example, one can use web-based services for easy payroll and account processing. These services will let you choose the assortment of web apps for your business.
- SaaS – Software as a Service
It is usually used in the area of cloud computing which provides multiple cloud tenants access to a certain application. Office365 is a form of SaaS where anyone can open a monthly subscription to Microsoft’s suite of Office products. SaaS provides a complete solution owned and managed by an IT services provider. These solutions are designed for end-user applications for everyday use.
- IaaS – Infrastructure as a Service
It contains the basic necessities for the cloud and offers access to network functions, virtual machines, dedicated hardware and storage space. It will serve as the foundation for your business operations, SaaS and other cloud-based services. For instance, Windows Azure and Amazon Web Services – are two common IaaS providers which will enable you to outsource infrastructure like backup and storage space, space needed for testing and more. Azure provides access to virtual networks, service buses, message queues and non-relational storage platforms.
- PaaS – Platform as a Service
It includes the hardware and operating systems needed to deploy and manage cloud applications. PaaS helps to increase business efficiency without the hassle of managing, planning, procuring and maintaining your cloud-based solution. PaaS and IaaS function together – because you need a platform to manage the IT infrastructure. For instance, Azure cloud services is also a PaaS provider that supports. .NET, Node.js, PHP, Python, Java and Ruby. To create and deploy applications, software development kits and visual studios are available. And for storage, developers can choose from a SQL Database, Tables and Blobs.
Why do you need one?
To build an on-premises IT infrastructure, could easily cost tens of thousands of dollars, depending on the computing power you need, the software, the servers you require, and several other factors. If there is a power outage at your place of business, without a backup supply, you will deal with downtime and any of the services you are providing to customers through that server would be unusable or unserviceable from your end until the service is restored. But with cloud services, you won’t need to worry about maintaining the data centre and keeping things operational.
Top 5 factors to keep in mind while choosing the best-suited cloud solution for you
Choosing the best-suited cloud solution for your enterprise is an important task and one of the most difficult ones as well. There can be multiple factors you should keep in mind while choosing the cloud solution for your enterprise but here are 5 important factors you should consider when choosing your cloud storage solution.
- Security:
It doesn’t matter, what is the size of your firm. Even a one-person start-up will have accounts and data. Any kind of business with a website, a social media presence that accepts electronic payments and makes the customers fill in the information, has data about their customers, user experience, web traffic, etc. To make sure your data stays safe – security plays a very important role in your business. Fortunately, the cloud is one of the safest ways to store and share sensitive data. It is recommended to choose a cloud-service with a 7 layer of security to keep your information safe.
- Location:
So, the location where your data is stored matters. The country – where your data is stored makes it susceptible to that nation’s laws. You should learn the relevant laws first to house your data. You should also keep in mind the natural disasters, weather and environmental condition of the chosen location. It is suggested to choose the cloud storage services that can provide you with infrastructure solutions that work for your enterprise and match your enterprise requirements.
- Accessibility:
One of the most important factors to consider while choosing a cloud solution is accessibility. It does not matter where you work or from which device your function, an instant and continuous access to the information you need is critical for your performance.
- Disaster Recovery:
If the giants like Amazon and Google servers get affected and suffer an outage due to a thunderstorm, so does your enterprise. It is required to make sure that the cloud data backup you choose provides an effective and efficient disaster-recovery plan to get back on feet as and when the storm gets normal.
- Compliance:
One of the most important aspects of running a business is staying compliant with local and federal laws. Enterprises should also consider regulatory compliance while choosing cloud storage. There can be some businesses that might be subject to regulations that make it hard for them to store data on their premises.
Conclusion:
The above mentioned 5 factors will help you to build a solid analytical framework to use when you are determining which cloud service can provide you with better services and you should be trusting with your data and applications. You can add granularity by doing a thorough analysis of your organization’s requirements to discover additional factors – which will help you to make an informed decision. And this can be one of the keys to determining – which provider you should choose.
