Do you run your IT fully on the cloud? You’re not alone; according to a recent survey, 34% of businesses reported using public cloud in all areas of their enterprise.
And it’s a good idea too. Going fully cloud presents several advantages, from cost savings and easy IT scalability to enhanced data security.
Since the cloud is basically self-sufficient, you might think that fully cloud businesses do not need managed IT support. But you’d be wrong. Professional IT support is especially valuable for businesses running exclusively on the cloud.
You need managed cloud services for these five reasons:
1. Optimize Cloud Efficiency and Costs
IT providers offer cloud management services, a big part of which is ensuring that your cloud infrastructure is as efficient as possible. This includes:
- Auditing the cloud for unused or redundant resources
- Right-sizing your cloud services
- Tracking cloud performance
- Managing autoscaling solutions such as Kubernetes
- Leveraging spot instances
Cloud optimization reduces the complexity of your cloud operations. It also ensures that you only pay for the resources you need, eliminating unnecessary cloud spend and saving you money.
2. Plan Disaster Recovery
Cloud managed services provide robust disaster recovery support. While the cloud is an excellent data backup solution, it’s of no use if not managed properly. Even on the cloud, you run the risk of losing valuable data.
An IT provider will help you develop a solid backup and disaster recovery plan that covers all the bases:
- Data loss prevention
- Optimized cloud storage for data backup
- Offline backup solutions
- Automated backup monitoring
- Regular backup verification
- Quick and reliable post-incident data restoration
3. Automate Upgrades and Updates
A cloud managed provider ensures your cloud infrastructure is up to date. Your cloud IT partner will make efforts to install the latest security patches and software updates. They’ll even suggest system upgrades where necessary.
IT providers work with unique tools that automate cloud updates. And by continuously monitoring your cloud performance, they can easily tell when certain resources are due for an upgrade.
Working with a cloud partner ensures you never fall behind on crucial updates and upgrades, thereby minimizing the risk of costly downtime and vulnerabilities.
4. Fortify Cloud Security
The cloud is often praised for its impenetrable security. But that’s not entirely true; your cloud will only be as safe as you can make it. Furthermore, cloud systems are prime targets for cybercriminals. According to CrowdStrike’s 2024 Global Threat Report, cloud intrusions jumped 75% from 2022 to 2023. It’s no wonder cloud security is the #1 concern among cloud-dependent businesses.
Fortunately, most cloud providers allow users to configure and customize nearly every aspect of cloud security. Rather ironically, security misconfigurations are one of the leading causes of cloud breaches. So, you don’t want to get your cloud security setup wrong. And that’s where a managed services provider with cloud experience comes in.
5. Foster Seamless Vendor Relationships
As a small business, you might find it difficult to click with cloud vendors. Big vendors, especially, are not all that enthusiastic about working with small clients. Some lack the specific facilities for small-scale cloud migration and accommodation.
An IT provider bridges the gap between you and the cloud provider. Their voice holds some weight and they are better able to communicate your cloud needs. Some IT providers even form partnerships with big cloud brands such as IBM, Microsoft, and Amazon, so they are able to broker favourable deals on your behalf.
Plus, if anything goes wrong, the managed IT provider will quickly raise the issue with the vendor. So, you’ll get swift responses to queries and support tickets.
Highway 99: Your Trusted Cloud Partner
Enhance your cloud operations with expert support from Highway 99 Technology Solutions. We’ll help you optimize, secure, and streamline your cloud infrastructure. Our company is a strong tech advocate for SMBs, meaning we can tailor cloud management to your business, regardless of its size or niche.
Let’s talk about boosting your cloud experience.
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