Fayez Abu Awad

June 26, 2022

Cloud Managed Services For Startups: Expectations vs. Reality

Introduction

Cloud platforms require a special level of expertise to manage so that your company can run efficiently and securely. Cloud managed services offer the resources to become scalable, while also keeping a close eye on security and cost-savings. If you’re wondering how Cloud Managed Services can help your business, this article will help you understand the benefits of leveraging an expert Cloud Managed Service Provider.

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What is a Cloud Managed Service?

It’s a service provided by certified Cloud specialists and engineers that help you manage your cloud infrastructure and performance.

Managed cloud services provide partial or full management of a client's cloud resources or infrastructure. Migration, configuration, optimization, security, and maintenance are all examples of management responsibilities. These services are intended to help organizations maximize the benefits of cloud services while reducing internal time and costs.

Managed cloud services for public, private, and hybrid clouds are available at any stage of the cloud adoption lifecycle. Organizations frequently contract for services prior to migration to obtain assistance in determining which cloud resources best suit their needs and to ensure that configuration is performed correctly.

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Benefits of Using a Cloud Managed Services Provider

If you are considering working with a cloud-based managed service provider (MCSP), there are several advantages and disadvantages to consider. These factors may not influence your decision, but understanding them can help you get the most out of any provider you choose.

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Advantages of MCSPs

The advantages available vary depending on the provider and your specific cloud configuration. However, typical advantages include:

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1. Resource Optimization

MCSPs can assist you in determining which services are best suited to your workloads. They can also assist you in determining which pricing models are the most cost-effective for your requirements and how to configure services to maximize performance while minimizing costs. Many vendors can also provide detailed reports or performance metrics for your existing resources, as well as recommendations for better configurations.

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2. Integrate Cloud Services

Integration support is a significant advantage of MCSPs, particularly when attempting to create a hybrid or multi-cloud environment. Multi-clouds combine cloud services from multiple providers, while hybrid clouds combine on-premises and cloud resources. These environments frequently necessitate more intricate configurations than single-cloud or cloud-only deployments.

MCSPs can assist you in ensuring that any cloud resources you select are seamlessly connected to your existing systems. They can also help ensure that employees, users, and applications have uninterrupted access to resources.

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3. Controlled Spending

To meet a variety of needs, many MCSPs employ a tiered, subscription-based support system. This gives your budget more flexibility and can help you ensure that you only spend what you expect each month.

Furthermore, some providers allow you to pay for services using a credit system. This allows you to get more help during times of high demand in exchange for less help during slower times. This is ideal for businesses with erratic or seasonal schedules. For example, tax or audit firms.

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Disadvantages of MCSPs

Working with an MCSP has some drawbacks, despite the benefits. Some things to keep an eye out for are:

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1. Expenses Need To Be Monitored

Although billing is predictable, hiring an MCSP will increase your cloud budget. Provider services can be expensive depending on the level of service you receive and the complexity of your systems. This is offset by lower spending on in-house resources and cost-cutting on cloud resources. However, if your budget has not been carefully calculated to account for this, you may end up spending more than you intended.

Control your cloud costs by applying to our limited offer for startups here.

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2. Performance Can Be Sacrificed for Optimization

Optimizing cloud resources frequently entails using lower data storage tiers or lower performance options. This is fine for many types of data and applications, but it can cause problems for others. If providers do not carefully prioritize assets, your data may be slower to access or processes may take longer than expected.

As a result, it is critical that you thoroughly discuss the implications of any "optimizations" suggested or implemented by your provider. Once decisions have been made, you should double-check that the results meet your requirements and make any necessary changes.

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3. Security and Privacy Risks Are Increased by Multi-Tenancy

Cloud MSPs use a multi-tenant model, as do public cloud services in general. This means that providers are responsible for multiple customers at the same time, and all customer data is stored in a single location.

This should not be a problem as long as providers have strict security measures in place. However, if another customer does not, your system may be affected. For example, suppose an MCSP is in charge of migration and accidentally uploads the incorrect data. To avoid this, you should carefully review your provider's security measures and take steps to ensure that your data is as secure as possible.

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Why Do Startups Need Cloud Managed Services?

Cloud Managed Services are an excellent option for any business looking to save money, improve security and scale their operations. If you're considering a move to the cloud but aren't sure where to start, Cloud Managed Services can help you get started with the cloud while also saving you money in the process!

Our cloud managed services include:

Security as a service: We handle updates and patches so that your entire organization is protected against zero-day threats.
Backup as a service: Backups are automatically taken of your data including applications, databases, and operating systems; if something does happen then we have our backup copy ready so that there’s no downtime for your employees or customers.
Monitoring as a service: Our monitoring tools constantly monitor all aspects of your virtual infrastructure 24/7 from spotting performance issues before they become problems; to detecting potential security threats before they become serious problems.

Learn more about Sitech's Cloud Managed Services for Startups.

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A lot of companies, especially startups, are increasingly turning to cloud management service providers for their needs.

Cloud computing is a great way to reduce costs, optimize your infrastructure, and simplify operations. But there are some things you need to watch out for when signing up.

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Good Fit for Startups?

Cloud Managed Services is a natural fit for startups. Startups are flexible and agile, they grow rapidly, they are cost conscious and they're looking to scale quickly. Cloud management services offer all of these services in one package -- so it makes sense why so many companies are turning to them.

There are many reasons why startups need cloud managed services:

Cost Optimization: Cloud services are designed to lower costs by paying only for what you use and scaling up when needed. This way, a startup doesn't have to buy expensive servers upfront and can start their business with just what they need at the time.
Scalability: The ability to scale is essential for any growing business. With cloud managed services, startups can add resources as needed without having to worry about getting hardware or software licenses from vendors or managing those resources themselves, saving both time and money on IT infrastructure management (ITIM).
Flexibility: Cloud computing offers flexibility when it comes to deployment models—from public clouds where anyone can deploy applications with no upfront cost (and pay only for what they consume), private clouds where an organization maintains complete control over its data center but still gets some of the benefits of public clouds like elasticity and automation -- all while maintaining security controls over how applications are deployed across their networked environment.

How to Choose a Cloud Management Provider?

Choosing a cloud management provider is all about finding the right fit for your business.

You should look for a company that has a good reputation and offers competitive pricing. You may also want to consider companies with an established track record and excellent customer service.

For example, if you’re looking for an effective way to manage your server infrastructure, consider using Sitech's Cloud Managed Services. Our team provides effective server management services at affordable prices—and we have plenty of experience doing so!

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Important Considerations When It Comes to Choosing a Managed Cloud Service Provider

Choosing the best MCSP for you can be difficult. Many providers appear to provide the same services, and if you are new to cloud services, you may be confused about which aspects are most important. When considering your MCSP options, keep the following factors in mind.

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Expertise and Skills

Any provider you select must be knowledgeable about both the cloud services you intend to use and business operations. This includes knowing how to integrate any critical tooling or applications you have, as well as adapting or optimizing your workflows for cloud resources.

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Some questions to consider include:

What cloud services are they familiar with, and how are they trained on these services
Which organizations do they primarily serve?
How familiar are they with the tooling or workflows used in your industry?

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Compliance and Security

When it comes to evaluating MCSPs, security and compliance should be at the top of your priority list. These are some of the most difficult components for organizations to manage. The right provider can assist you in ensuring significant improvements over what you could create on your own.

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Some questions to consider include:

What level of security expertise and experience do provider teams possess, including certification?
What compliance regulations does the provider specialize in, and does it provide auditing services?
What security precautions are they taking to prevent client data and access from being compromised as a result of their access? (i.e. an attacker comes through them).
Do they have any built-in security features?

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Transparency

Trust is required when relying on an MCSP to manage your cloud resources. These providers typically have full access to your data and may be entirely responsible for the functionality of your cloud services. As a result, it is critical to select a provider who is open about how your services are handled.

Providers should ideally work with your internal teams to help them understand how services are managed. This transparency reduces reliance on the provider and allows you to confirm that MCSPs provide the services they claim.

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Some questions to consider include:

How willing are providers to share service performance reports and metrics?
Are providers managing services with proprietary or open-source tools?
How are you notified of changes, maintenance, or problems?
What kind of training do providers provide to help employees improve their skills?

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