Managed Cloud Services – Types, Use Cases, and a Checklist for Cloud Success

While the benefits of cloud computing are undeniable, managing a secure and efficient cloud infrastructure can be complex. This is where Managed Cloud Services (MCS) come in.

Key Managed Cloud Services

Some key services offered by cloud managed service providers to optimize cloud operations and enhance business performance include:

• Cloud Monitoring: Proactive monitoring of cloud resources for performance, security threats, and potential issues.
• Patch Management: Ensuring timely updates and security patches are applied to cloud infrastructure and applications.
• Network Management: Optimizing and managing cloud network configurations for security, performance, and efficiency.

Types of Managed Cloud Services

The following table summarizes the different types of managed cloud services with their key characteristics and target users:

How Can Businesses Benefit from Managed Cloud Services?

Leveraging Managed Cloud Services (MCS) offers a multitude of advantages for businesses of all sizes. Let’s take a deeper dive into the key benefits:

Cost Optimization and Efficiency

• Reduced IT Overhead: Cloud managed service providers handle day-to-day cloud management tasks, freeing up internal IT staff to focus on strategic projects and innovation. This translates to reduced personnel costs and improved team productivity.
• Pay-As-You-Go Model: Unlike traditional IT infrastructure with upfront capital expenditure, cloud services typically follow a pay-as-you-go model. Businesses only pay for the resources they utilize, eliminating the burden of managing and maintaining unused hardware.
• Resource Optimization: Cloud managed service providers have expertise in optimizing cloud resource allocation. They can identify and eliminate inefficiencies, such as underutilized resources or redundant configurations, leading to significant cost savings.
• Reduced Hardware Expenses: By migrating to the cloud, businesses can eliminate the need to purchase, maintain, and upgrade physical hardware. This translates to lower upfront costs and a predictable operational expenditure.

Enhanced Security and Compliance

• Advanced Security Expertise: Cloud managed service providers employ security specialists who stay up to date on the latest cyber threats and vulnerabilities. They implement robust security measures, including firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and data encryption, to safeguard your cloud environment from cyberattacks.
• Compliance Management: Meeting industry regulations can be complex, especially in the cloud. Cloud managed service providers can help you navigate compliance requirements and ensure your cloud infrastructure adheres to relevant industry standards like HIPAA, PCI DSS, and GDPR. This reduces the risk of regulatory fines and reputational damage.
• Continuous Monitoring and Threat Detection: Cloud managed service providers offer 24/7 security monitoring and threat detection capabilities. They can identify and respond to security incidents quickly, minimizing potential damage and downtime.

Increased Agility and Scalability

• Elastic Scalability: The cloud offers on-demand scalability, allowing businesses to easily scale their IT infrastructure up or down based on changing business needs. This is particularly beneficial for businesses experiencing seasonal fluctuations in traffic or launching new initiatives. Cloud managed service providers can automate the scaling process to ensure your cloud resources adapt seamlessly to changing demands.
• Faster Time to Market: With readily available cloud resources and streamlined deployment processes facilitated by cloud managed services, businesses can launch new applications and services much faster. This agility allows them to capitalize on market opportunities and gain a competitive edge.
• Improved Disaster Recovery: Cloud managed service providers can design and implement robust disaster recovery plans to ensure business continuity in case of outages or disruptions. Regular backups, data replication across geographically dispersed locations, and failover mechanisms enable rapid recovery and minimize downtime.

Improved Focus on Core Business

• Reduced IT Management Burden: By outsourcing cloud management tasks to a trusted provider, businesses can free up valuable internal IT resources. This allows internal IT teams to focus on core competencies such as application development, user support, and strategic IT initiatives that drive business growth.
• Enhanced User Experience: Cloud managed service providers can optimize application performance and troubleshoot user issues efficiently. This translates to a better user experience for your employees and customers.
• Access to Expertise: Cloud managed service providers offer access to a team of cloud experts with extensive knowledge and experience. Businesses can leverage this expertise to improve their cloud strategy, optimize cloud deployments, and stay ahead of the curve in the cloud landscape.

Sharing a quote from a satisfied customer who benefited from using managed cloud services:

“I will evangelize all day every day that InterVision is the number one company to go to for managed service providers,” said Philip Edge, CTO of Registrar Corp.

Is Managed Cloud Right for You?

• Small and Medium-Sized Businesses (SMBs): SMBs often lack the internal IT resources to manage their cloud infrastructure effectively. Cloud managed services provide them with access to expertise and resources they wouldn’t have otherwise.
• Startups: Startups can leverage cloud managed services to scale their cloud infrastructure rapidly as their business grows, without the need for significant upfront investment.
• Enterprises with Complex IT Environments: Large enterprises with intricate cloud deployments can benefit from the expertise of cloud managed service providers to optimize performance, security, and compliance.

Common Business Use Cases for Managed Cloud Services

Provision, configure, and manage virtual machines in the cloud, ensuring optimal performance and resource utilization.

• Challenge: Manually managing VMs can be time-consuming and complex, especially for businesses with a large number of VMs.
• Solution: Cloud managed services automate VM management tasks, freeing up IT staff to focus on other priorities.

Deploy, monitor, and maintain critical business applications hosted on the cloud, ensuring high availability and performance.

• Challenge: Maintaining uptime and performance for business-critical applications is essential. Any downtime can lead to lost revenue and productivity.
• Solution: Cloud managed services proactively monitor applications and infrastructure, identify potential issues, and take corrective action to prevent downtime.

Implement robust disaster recovery solutions, including regular backups, failover configurations, and rapid recovery procedures.

• Challenge: Disasters such as natural disasters or cyberattacks can disrupt business operations. Businesses need a plan to recover quickly and minimize downtime.
• Solution: Cloud managed services ensure your data is backed up regularly and that you have a plan to restore your systems and applications quickly in the event of a disaster.

Optimizing cloud storage utilization through data tiering, compression, and deduplication, minimizing costs and maximizing efficiency.

• Challenge: Businesses often pay for more cloud storage than they actually use.
• Solution: Cloud managed services can identify unused or redundant data and implement storage optimization techniques to reduce storage costs.

Get continuous security monitoring and threat detection to protect against cyber threats and unauthorized access, ensuring data integrity and confidentiality.

• Challenge: The cloud security landscape is constantly evolving, and businesses need to be vigilant against cyber threats.
• Solution: Cloud managed services provide 24/7 security monitoring and can quickly respond to security incidents.

How to Choose the Right Cloud Managed Services Provider?

Selecting a trustworthy Managed Cloud Service Provider is crucial for ensuring a seamless and efficient cloud experience. Here’s a step-by-step guide for business owners on how to do it:

Evaluate Your Needs

Identify your specific challenges and desired outcomes from managed cloud services:

• Scalability requirements: How much do you anticipate your cloud usage growing?
• Security needs: What level of security compliance is required for your industry?
• Budget constraints: How much are you willing to spend on cloud managed services?

Research Potential Providers

Look for MCSPs with a proven track record and extensive industry expertise:

• Customer Testimonials and Case Studies: Review success stories from businesses in your industry to understand the provider’s capabilities.
• Industry Certifications: Choose a provider with relevant industry certifications that demonstrate their expertise and commitment to security.
• Focus on Customer Service: Evaluate the provider’s customer support options and responsiveness to inquiries.

Compare Service Offerings

Understand the services included in the provider’s offerings and their pricing structures. Compare features such as:

• Cloud Management Platforms (CMPs): Assess the tools and platforms used by the provider for managing cloud infrastructure. Look for user-friendly interfaces and automation capabilities.
• Service Level Agreements (SLAs): Review SLAs for uptime guarantees, performance metrics, and response times for support issues. Ensure the SLA aligns with your business needs.
• Scalability Options: Choose a provider that offers flexible scaling options to accommodate your growing business needs. Explore options for scaling compute, storage, and network resources up or down as required.

Ask Questions

Before finalizing your decision, ask the provider relevant questions to ensure they align with your needs and security requirements. Ask about:

• Data Security Measures: Inquire about the provider’s security protocols, encryption standards, and compliance certifications.
• Disaster Recovery Plans: Understand the provider’s disaster recovery capabilities and procedures for data backup and recovery. How quickly can they restore your systems in the event of an outage?
• Technical Support: Assess the provider’s support offerings, including available channels (phone, email, live chat), response times, and escalation procedures.
• Exit Strategy: Understand the process and potential costs associated with switching to a different provider in the future.

Checklist for Choosing the Right Cloud Managed Service Provider

☐ Clearly defined business needs and desired outcomes

☐ Shortlist of MSPs with proven track record and industry expertise

☐ Comparison of service offerings, pricing structures, and SLAs

☐ In-depth discussions with shortlisted providers to address concerns and questions

☐ Evaluation of data security measures, disaster recovery plans, and technical support options

Concluding Thoughts

Cloud managed services offer businesses a comprehensive solution for managing their cloud infrastructure efficiently and securely. Some key takeaways include:

• Streamlined Operations: Outsourcing cloud management tasks reduces the burden on internal IT teams, allowing businesses to focus on core activities.
• Enhanced Security: Access to dedicated security experts and robust security measures safeguards data and applications from cyber threats.
• Cost Optimization: Efficient resource utilization and flexible pricing structures minimize expenses while maximizing value.
• Scalability and Innovation: Cloud managed services enable businesses to scale resources dynamically and leverage cutting-edge technologies for competitive advantage.

Stay Abreast of Future Trends and Advancements in Cloud Technology

InterVision’s expert team can help you design, implement, and manage a secure and scalable cloud solution that meets your specific needs and budget. Contact InterVision today for an expert consultation and discover how our managed cloud services can help you achieve your business goals.