Eight problems in choosing a quasi-cloud service provider

Absrtact: From security issues and migration challenges to implicit costs and compliance with related rules, enterprise deployment of cloud computing is a trap. In this article, it analyst Bill Claybrook will share with you his views on how to choose a cloud service provider.

Imagine when you drive a plane through the clouds, the clouds drift towards you, sometimes hazy, sometimes translucent, and sometimes so dense. In many ways, cloud computing is similar to this: there are a lot of gray areas, and it's hard to know exactly what you can get from each cloud product.

Before deciding which cloud strategy to adopt, be sure to consider the following questions carefully: What cloud service provider do you want to choose? What applications will you put into the cloud? Do you use public cloud services or private cloud? There are also problems with the security, availability, and disaster recovery considerations of cloud services.

It is vital to take some time to think carefully about these issues, Billclaybrook said. Billclaybrook is president of the Mass.concordnewriver market research company. The more information-gathering work you do before you start to deploy your enterprise's cloud computing, the better it will be for you to implement the cloud strategy, which is best suited to your needs, he said.

As follows, Claybrook will share with you the eight major issues that CIOs must consult their potential service providers before choosing a cloud service provider.

1. Can I visit your data center?

If you want to know how your potential cloud service provider will protect your data and applications, Claybrook recommends that you take this approach. "If I am going to run the data center, I will try to access the facilities of any potential cloud service provider and ask them to tell me about their data center environment, what security controls they have, and even let me visit all of their existing hardware and software devices." They have to convince me how to do all the data processing work. ”

2. How do I migrate my applications to cloud services?

CIOs often ignore the question of how applications and data from their businesses migrate to cloud services, Claybrook said. "Usually you can send through some trusted network connections, such as VPNs, but you have to have a clear understanding of how each vendor completes the process."

3. How can my applications and data be differentiated from other users on the same cloud server?

Do not make any assumptions about how the vendor handles multiple users, which is also known as multiple tenants on the same cloud server. Claybrook said. Be sure to ask in detail how your data and applications will be protected while running with other cloud customers. Claybrook recommends that you ask each vendor to show you how they are separating their customers ' data and applications.

4. Can I talk to your client?

Claybrook recommends that you refer to the cloud service provider customer's comments. Communicating with these customers will give you a sense of what they really are, and thus the opportunity to identify what the potential service provider has to offer you.

5. Can I migrate existing applications from my private cloud to your public cloud without a massive reconfiguration?

This issue is critical because your cloud service provider's infrastructure is likely to be completely different from yours, Claybrook said. Therefore, if you want to remove one of your enterprise's applications from your own data center, there may be some conflicts. "Applications have assumed specific storage technologies, specific network configurations, and specific management tools." So you need to know if it can move to a public cloud, where the environment can be different and how it can continue to function after the migration. ”

Suppliers may provide tools to make migration work smoother, Claybrook added. And it can also help you find a technology system that resembles your business's service provider. "Some cloud vendors support a variety of databases and various forms of networking. At the very least, you'll want your application to be as good as it was before it ran in your own data center after performing the migration. "Claybrook said.

6, how to retrieve my data backup?

When you need to move your applications and data backups back to your own data center (or other cloud vendors), you need to know exactly where your data is stored and how to get them back, Claybrook said. You will also need to specify in your contract the circumstances under which you can decide to terminate the partnership with the cloud vendor. For example, if you terminate the contract, you may need to pay for the cloud vendor-related compensation, he added.

"To back up your data, so you can use it relatively easily." "Claybrook said. "It must be settled beforehand, and it should be part of the contract negotiations," he said. ”

7. How do you deal with the relevant regulations of the Government?

Many businesses must comply with national or federal Court regulations on consumer privacy and data protection. With this in mind, it's important to know how your cloud service provider handles your business data to ensure that your business complies with relevant laws and regulations, Claybrook said. "In some cases, you may not want to store your data in certain areas, or in a particular state, and certainly not at home, due to the limitations of laws and regulations." "Claybrook said. "What kind of assurance can you get from your cloud provider about where your data is stored?" ”

Claybrook stressed that compliance with government regulations is the responsibility of customers. "You must ensure that even if your data has been migrated to the cloud service, it is still subject to relevant laws and regulations." "he said. "This is also part of your contract. ”

8. What services do I really need to pay?

"When public clouds such as Amazon EC2 are maturing, applications running on public clouds are relatively inexpensive." "Claybrook said. "Now some people are finding that cloud service providers are much more expensive than they thought they were before, so that some companies are already thinking of trying to fetch and build their own data centers, so you need to do a good job of budgeting for those apps that really run in the cloud." ”

Customers may be misled when the cloud vendor lists cost budget quotes in detail, Claybrook said. "Be sure to ask in detail what you need to know, and don't assume anything." "he said. "For example, the consultation will send the data over the network to the cloud server to collect the relevant fees and so on, incomparable to consult all your concerns." ”

(Responsible editor: admin)