Cloud technology’s significance to businesses has been proven time and again, as has the fact that there is no “one-size-fits-all” approach to it. That’s because every organization has unique computing and storage requirements. So when it’s time for you to choose a cloud computing environment, you need to consider your needs closely, not only what vendors have to offer.
Assessing Your Requirements
The importance of choosing a suitable cloud computing environment can never be overstated. Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services, and the straightforwardly named Google Cloud Platform are the most popular cloud options, but you should choose based on which one supports all the apps and services your business requires. Before signing up with any vendor, take note of these factors:
The type and amount of data to be stored - Will you be storing mostly sensitive information? Or perhaps you only require heightened security for certain data? In either case, you have to determine the level of security required to keep it safe. You also need to determine how much data you will store so you know how much space you actually need.
The number of devices that will connect to your platform - How many employees will be accessing data? Knowing that will help you pick the option that reflects your business size to accommodate the appropriate number of logins. Just remember that the more devices connected to your platform, the higher the security risk so you also need to make sure the cloud environment you pick can scale as you grow.
The type of software you’ll need in the cloud - This will largely depend on your industry and business. A community hospital, for example, can use a healthcare management app to improve their service while an accounting firm can move their practice to the cloud to take advantage of robust ERP solutions.
Your budget - Cloud providers have slightly different methods of billing. But generally, pricing depends on usage, something that is extremely beneficial to small businesses. Don’t forget to contact a responsible company like Safebit Solutions for a quote.
Public Cloud
The public cloud is the first type of cloud computing environment you might consider, and it’s perfect if you are storing non-sensitive data, such as business phone from your website or any information that’s readily available elsewhere. You will rent out space from your cloud provider who will handle all the setup and maintenance for you. You won’t have to manage any of the software or apps yourself so you’ll save on installation and upgrade costs.
But since public clouds share infrastructure among multiple clients, they are the most vulnerable to data breaches. Compliance issues may also arise for certain industries like healthcare and finance because regulatory bodies mandate a certain level of security. But there are huge savings to be had by migrating your apps and data to a public cloud because of its simple pay-per-use pricing structure.
Private Cloud
The private cloud covers for the public cloud’s major drawback, which is security. It is much more secure than the public cloud because all the computing resources you’ll use will be earmarked for your business only -- no sharing with other “tenants.”
A private cloud is also highly scalable. It allows you to add new users on demand with the click of a mouse. This scalability also makes it the preferred platform of businesses running custom software or storing high volumes of confidential information like government, financial, and healthcare organizations do.
Hybrid Cloud
The hybrid cloud combines the best features of public and private clouds, making it ideal for businesses with a range of requirements. For instance, you can use the public cloud for general cloud computing tasks like preparing documents, and the private cloud for storing large volumes of sensitive data. This fit-for-purpose feature continues to attract more and more business across industries. Its market is expected to grow up to $138.63 billion by 2023.
Contact us today so our experienced team can evaluate your business needs and help you define the ideal platform that will match your business and technical requirements.
