Cloud computing has become an increasingly-prominent form of IT in recent years, allowing businesses to maximise performance across virtual environments. However, it can often come with complexity, which can make it tricky to manage and maintain an efficient infrastructure. This is where managed cloud providers can become an extension of your business. But what does this entail?
In this article, we’ve answered the most common questions around managed cloud services, including how it works, the types of managed cloud, and the main benefits and considerations.
An introduction to managed cloud
First and foremost, what is a cloud management service provider – and what do they do? In short, managed cloud refers to a service whereby a cloud provider takes care of the management, maintenance, and smooth running of your public, private, or hybrid cloud environments.
They’ll look after the technical side of things, including software updates, server and resource allocation, and security and data encryption. In simple terms, you’ll enjoy all the benefits of cloud computing without having to worry about keeping things ticking!
How does managed cloud work?
Managed cloud service providers simplify the management and maintenance of cloud environments and infrastructure – letting you instead focus your time and effort on other business objectives. The process that your managed cloud service provider will follow may be along the lines of:
1. Conduct an in-depth analysis of your existing IT processes and prioritise actions
Your cloud provider will conduct a thorough analysis of your existing IT processes, to develop an understanding of your specific requirements – to provide a bespoke plan of action that’s customised around your current and suggested infrastructure.
2. Implementing actions and migrate data to the cloud
Following the initial analysis, your provider will establish your optimal cloud infrastructure (including all relevant hardware, servers, and software), and begin to migrate your data to the new environment. This data could be coming from traditional on-premises computing, or another cloud platform.
3. Providing ongoing maintenance and management of your virtual environment
Once you’ve successfully migrated to your chosen cloud environment, you’ll receive ongoing, dedicated monitoring. Your provider will subsequently manage and maintain the infrastructure.
4. Offering bespoke support to maximise efficiency
As well as not only maintaining your infrastructure, one of the key benefits of a managed cloud service is the bespoke support you receive that’s centred around enhancing your environment to deliver improved efficiency and stronger performance. This includes flexible, dynamic resource allocation, dedicated customer service, and having an expert to hand when needed.
Types of managed cloud services
If you’re considering adopting managed cloud, you’ll typically be faced with a few choices – including infrastructure, platform, and software as a service – with each offering varying levels of user control and provider responsibility.
IaaS
Infrastructure as a service – often referred to simply as IaaS – provides the underlying infrastructure for your cloud environment. In this case, your managed cloud provider will maintain the hardware and software, but you’ll have control, flexibility, and customisability over your cloud environment. Examples of IaaS managed cloud service providers include AWS and Microsoft Azure.
PaaS
PaaS (platform as a service) provides a pre-configured cloud platform and development environment, that’s ready for you to start developing and deploying applications. This makes it a popular choice if you’re happy to trade off total flexibility and customisability for convenience; instead of having full control over your underlying infrastructure, as you do with IaaS, you’ll build your environment from pre-compiled components.
SaaS
SaaS (software as a service) is effectively a prefabricated cloud environment whereby your provider manages pretty much everything on your behalf. You’re effectively renting the software as it comes, so you’re unable to modify how it operates. Of the three main managed cloud services, SaaS offers the least control, but it’s a popular choice for its ease and relative simplicity; you can adopt cloud-based applications without the need for extensive IT management.
What are the benefits of managed cloud?
Reading on, explore why managed cloud may be a suitable IT solution for your business.
Scalability
A key benefit of managed cloud services is the effective and dynamic scalability of resources. Rather than getting bogged down in manual resource allocation yourself, which can often require regular observation and management to ensure optimal performance, your cloud provider will scale resources up or down to meet demand – meaning you’re only ever using what you need; you’re not caught short in a surge and not overprovisioning during slower periods.
Cost-effectiveness
Cost-effectiveness is a natural side-benefit of cloud managed services, with scalability ensuring you’re only ever using the required rate of resource – rather than either over or under provisioning.
However, flexibility isn’t the only cost-related advantage; in many cases, managed cloud services offer pay-as-you-go pricing, meaning you only pay for server resource you consume, while the fact your provider manages the physical and virtual infrastructure means you don’t need to account for upfront (and maintenance) costs associated with on-premises hardware and software.
Security
Managed cloud providers typically offer advanced security measures, to properly encrypt and protect your data and sensitive information from threat and malware. In fact, they’re required to maintain robust security practices in line with industry standards and regulations.
Of course, while cloud providers take significant responsibility, there’s always an element of joint responsibility when it comes to security, so it’s important to also choose effective passwords and implement internal measures.
Reliability
In many cases, managed cloud service providers offer excellent disaster recovery plans, to ensure business continuity at all times. This allows you to focus on other priorities without having to worry about whether your cloud servers are operating. If opting for a reputable provider, you’ll also receive round the clock support, to address issues and maintain high performance at all hours.
Speed to market
With managed cloud services, you can often deploy services with much greater speed than if you were managing your full IT infrastructure in-house. Letting a provider handle the servers and software allows you to spend time developing applications instead, which can allow you to be quicker-to-market (and gain a competitive industry advantage). Additionally, depending on the type of cloud solution you select, you can leverage pre-defined tools to streamline the development process.
What to consider before choosing managed cloud
Of course, before investing in any IT service, you should have a full picture of the potential drawbacks – after all, they’re just as important as the benefits. In the case of managed cloud, there are a few considerations to make, to ensure it’s the right solution for your business.
Vendor lock-in
Vendor lock-in is when you begin to heavily rely on a single cloud provider for your virtual infrastructure. In some cases, it can be tricky or costly to switch to another provider, which can limit flexibility somewhat. Fortunately, an experienced cloud consultant will be able to help you avoid this, by identifying ways you can diversify your cloud strategy; that is, adopting the services of multiple providers across different workloads.
Limited control
While a key benefit of managed cloud services is the provider handling many aspects of the physical and virtual infrastructure, this does come with the trade-off of losing an element of control over your cloud environment. Of course, this depends on your service model; for instance, if you choose IaaS, you’ll have more control and customisability than if you opt for SaaS (though, you’ll have more responsibility).
Cost and pricing
Before committing to one managed cloud provider over another, make sure to compare the various cost and pricing models. For instance, a pay-as-you-go structure might suit one business, while a subscription model might better-suit another.
What are the next steps?
Managed cloud is an effective and efficient computing solution for many businesses of varying sizes, models, and industries. If cloud migration is something you’re interested in exploring for your own business, reach out to our experienced team of cloud consultants who’ll be more than happy to discuss your needs and provide bespoke advice. Alternatively, discover even more cloud information and advice over on our blog.
