8 Steps to make you a cloud provider

While cloud computing is now being courted by many, there are still a number of solution providers in the facing this new technology, not knowing how to do business, and the hanging Heart never falls . The founder of Evolve Technologies, a solution provider based in Virginia State Fairfax, and CEO Dave Sobel has been trying to reverse the situation. Sobel is working with the American Computer Industry Association (CompTIA) to give the industry a better understanding of cloud computing basics to meet customer needs and value-added resellers. Sobel in this month's Tech data company Channel Link Partners ' conference entitled "CompTIA How to quickly start cloud computing business," The following is our interview.

Cloud computing is being put there

Sobel tells the solution providers that they need to understand that cloud computing is an increasingly popular way for customers to do business.

He says that, for example, all companies are on the web today, giving them the basis for using cloud computing. Customers are also accustomed to working in a cloud environment, using apps such as Facebook. "People put all kinds of information online," he said. ”

Moreover, the recession has allowed customers to yell for new ways to cut costs, he said. This is especially true when new companies weigh their own IT infrastructure or outsource it to the cloud environment. "If I start a company today, I won't buy IT equipment," he said. ”

Sobel then introduced plans for a cloud computing business, taking eight steps.

First step: Understand the opportunity.

Sobel says the solution provider has several ways to carry out cloud computing operations. This includes providing advisory services, providing management services, capacity planning, management and monitoring of backup systems, acting as agents or aggregators, and servicing storage, security, and database clients.

Sobel said that the integration and deployment of cloud computing technologies could also be considered. "It's not just the switch," he said. To integrate your existing infrastructure into your cloud environment, you still need to provide help. ”

Step two: Find the right business model.

Sobel says there are three basic business models for solution providers looking to get involved in the cloud computing business. One model is the recommended mode, and customer billing is done by the cloud service provider. Another pattern is the white label mode, where the solution provider is responsible for combining multiple Third-party services, developing a unique service for the customer, and handling the billing work. The third mode is that value-added dealers use the white label mode, the distribution of other businesses to provide services.

"There are a lot of different models out there now, but in general there are three models," he said. ”

Step three: Find the best service model for you.

Sobel says that when it comes to what type of service you want to provide, solution providers must find the service that best suits them. He introduced three basic service models, including:

* Infrastructure is the service (IaaS), and server and storage resources are delivered as a service, unlike collocation. For the latter, servers and storage resources are dedicated to specific customers. He mentions Amazon and Rackspace as two examples of IaaS.

* Platform as a service (PaaS), cloud service provider to provide a service base layer, such as Microsoft Azure or Google Application engine, customers can develop and deploy their own applications on these service base layers.

* Software as a service (SaaS), many of the customer's applications are delivered by order, such as Salesforce.com, Office 365, and Google Apps.

"You have to choose which of these service models best suits your business development," Sobel said. ”

Step Fourth: Evaluate the potential cloud service delivery model.

Sobel says there are currently four possible cloud service delivery models for solution providers to choose from:

* Private cloud, only one tenant (user) can access the cloud infrastructure; both managed and local resources are dedicated to this tenant.

* Public Cloud, a cloud that is managed by a third party that employs a multi-tenant-mode cloud infrastructure that can be used by anyone.

* Community Cloud, a group of companies with similar needs share a private cloud.

* A cloud that combines a public cloud with a private cloud. For example, a company might run Office 365 on a public cloud and run Microsoft's Active Directory on a private cloud, Sobel said.

Step Fifth: Finalize service level agreements.

Sobel says solution providers must finalize service-level agreements (SLAs) for customers. This includes determining the commitment to customer assurance to use cloud services and what systems need to be built to ensure that this commitment is fulfilled.

Step Sixth: Ensure compliance and security for cloud computing.

Sobel says the security of cloud computing remains a top priority for customers. Solution providers looking to become cloud service providers must address several issues, including:

* Help customers understand the potential security issues of cloud computing and provide customers with the ability to manage access.

* Provide the necessary authentication and access technology to help customers manage data in the cloud environment, including the ability to automatically delete expired data.

* Ensure the reliability of other technologies that the network and customers will use.

* Understand government or business regulations that are important to customers.

Step Seventh: Design a training and support program.

Sobel says it is important to determine what training and support they need before customers use cloud services.

He said: "Cryoff training is not working." We have to make sure that most people are well trained and enthusiastic. ”

Step eighth: Implement your cloud computing plan.

Sobel says solution providers must constantly review their plans, design, delivery, implementation, operations, and management, with the primary goal of retaining customers.

The cloud solution delivers an average of half of the revenue for each transaction, but if done well, the solution provider can gain long-term recurring revenue.

"It's not about robbing customers with existing business models, but opening up new customers or complementing the existing environment with cloud services," he said. ”

How to get Started

Steve Dillard, a California State Visalia solution Provider and senior Cisco Certification Agent Advanced Micro Bae, said Sobel answered many of the questions that customers now ask their partners.

Dillard said: "I am trying to understand the cloud computing business, so that we can find out for us, buy, build and agent which kind of solution is more appropriate." ”

Cloud computing is just the latest technology in a series of disruptive technologies that solution providers have to sort out, Dillard said.

"Like any disruptive technology, cloud computing technology could shut us down in three years," he said. But for more than 20 years, we've been in the middle of a three-year shutdown for disruptive technology. This is a fun journey. ”

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Cloud computing will cause six predictions of change in the IT industry in the cloud market? Five strokes to fix inventory: 2011 Domestic and foreign mainstream cloud computing Solutions "responsible editor: Xin Wei TEL: (010) 68476606"