As the use of cloud platforms continues to grow, it is important to carefully evaluate potential cloud providers. One can easily be tempted to choose one of the large American providers out of convenience, but there are several key factors to consider before making a decision. These include security measures and policies, data ownership and control, reliability and uptime, the location of the provider's data centers, and pricing and contract terms. Use our 10 point checklist to ensure that you select the right cloud provider for your business.
1. Which regulations must the supplier be governed by?
Depending on the type of cloud service you use and the data it handles, certain regulations may apply. For example, cloud providers that follow Swedish and EU legislation may provide better privacy protection and security than providers based in other countries, such as the United States or China. It's important to carefully evaluate the regulations and compliance measures of any potential cloud provider to ensure that your data is protected.
2. Do you want a commitment period?
Some cloud providers may use commercial lock-in tactics, which can be frustrating and costly for businesses. This type of lock-in can force you to make premature decisions about your future needs, and you may end up paying for a service that doesn’t meet your expectations or a canceled project. However, there are providers on the market, such as Elastx, that do not use these types of binding contracts. Choosing a provider without commercial lock-in can give you the flexibility to change your cloud services as your needs evolve, without being held back by contracts.
3. Do you want to be able to move?
When choosing a cloud provider, it's important to consider whether their services are proprietary or based on open source code. Proprietary services can make it difficult to switch to a different provider, while open source code provides more flexibility and the ability to run the services yourself. This gives you control and the ability to switch to a different provider if needed.
4. How important is your data?
Different storage services may focus on different aspects, such as long-term archiving or real-time applications, and the level of redundancy can vary. If your data is important, it's crucial to choose a provider that offers multiple geographically dispersed copies of your data and the ability to recreate it in the event of an issue. By carefully evaluating the protection and redundancy measures of potential providers, you can ensure that your data is properly protected.
5. What level of security do you need?
Security is so much more than just functionality - it's an attitude that should permeate the cloud provider you choose. Make sure that the provider is at least on par with your own organization in terms of security and offers services and tools that support your security efforts. This can include factors such as the availability of encryption and adherence to standards such as ISO 27001.
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Tell me more!6. What about the disaster cover?
Many cloud providers offer services from multiple geographic locations, but the level of disaster protection may vary. A common rule of thumb is that there should be at least 16 kilometers between the data storage location and the location where the service is running. We recommend that you have the service actively running in at least three geographically separated locations for added protection.
7. What type of encryption is used?
Encrypting data has become increasingly important in protecting sensitive information. Almost all data transmitted over the internet is encrypted, as well as stored data. To ensure the security of your data, it is crucial to select a provider that offers strong encryption and enables you to retain control of the encryption keys. It is best to avoid providers that only offer limited protection.
8. What about accessibility?
Having predictable, reliable service is essential for everyone. This means that the service should be consistently available, providing the expected results within the expected time frame. If a service is not available, it is essentially useless. To ensure reliability, providers should offer at least three availability zones and predictable platform services. Additionally, it is important to design applications that can scale horizontally to handle both high demand and unexpected disruptions. Your provider can help you with this.
9. What kind of support do you need?
The quality of a provider's support only becomes apparent when you need help. To evaluate a potential provider's support before becoming a customer, consider asking some of the provider's current customers about their satisfaction levels. However, make sure to also ensure that you will be purchasing the same level of support that these customers have. The level of support included in a provider's offering, as well as the cost of additional support, can vary greatly between providers.
10. What about the environment and ethics?
At a minimum, you should expect your cloud provider to use renewable electricity. It is also worth investigating what additional steps the provider takes to support environmental sustainability. Additionally, you should inquire about the types of customers the provider works with, the countries in which they pay taxes, and their overall social impact. This will help you make an informed decision about the provider that aligns with your values.