Advantages of Cloud Services for Businesses
More often than not, it's not the cloud itself which lets businesses down, it's the cloud provider, but can service providers realistically guarantee zero downtime?
There were several high-profile cases of'cloud failure'over the past several years, which may have done little to enforce public opinion of cloud reliability. However, what people often neglect to acknowledge is that it's not the cloud that will be unreliable, oahu is the cloud providers.
Such cases of cloud service failure shouldn't deter people from using cloud services, but rather reinforce the necessity to employ the proper provider. But despite the proper provider, cloud services can zero downtime ever be guaranteed? With the next key ingredients in position, there's no reason why not.
Next generation data centres
A cloud supplier should be making investments in the best, next generation data centre technology, to provide an uninterrupted service, which is able to grow with the customer over time. Data centre security should abide by best practice standards, ideally with a ISO 27001 certification, and offer round-the-clock monitoring and support. Data centres which provide anything less are best avoided.
A proactively monitored network
All cloud services providers will claim to offer round-the-clock support, but unfortunately not totally all can deliver that promise. It's essential that the core network is proactively monitored 24/7/365, to make sure unbroken access to data and applications when they're needed.
Resilient application platforms
Cloud applications, including voice, data and desktop should really be highly resilient, while susceptible to round-the-clock support from maintenance teams. Platforms should really be PCI-certified and ISO 27001 compliant, meeting the highest standards in security and service.
When these three elements combine, the likelihood of downtime are significantly reduced. If cloud providers apply these standards, and make ongoing commitments to further improving their service, there really isn't any excuse for downtime at all.
It's easy for businesses to obtain drawn into attractive looking SLAs (Service Level Agreements), which promise 99.999% uptime. However, the provider is unable to honour such assurances which puts its customers in a compromising position.
There is little which can compensate for the damage caused by lengthy outages, that may potentially damage the reputation and credibility of a company, and cost a large number of pounds in lost revenue.
So, the next occasion you hear about cloud failure, don't assume it's the cloud which can be the issue, because behind every unreliable cloud service, is definitely an unreliable cloud service provider.
There were several high-profile cases of'cloud failure'over the past several years, which may have done little to enforce public opinion of cloud reliability. However, what people often neglect to acknowledge is that it's not the cloud that will be unreliable, oahu is the cloud providers.
Such cases of cloud service failure shouldn't deter people from using cloud services, but rather reinforce the necessity to employ the proper provider. But despite the proper provider, cloud services can zero downtime ever be guaranteed? With the next key ingredients in position, there's no reason why not.
Next generation data centres
A cloud supplier should be making investments in the best, next generation data centre technology, to provide an uninterrupted service, which is able to grow with the customer over time. Data centre security should abide by best practice standards, ideally with a ISO 27001 certification, and offer round-the-clock monitoring and support. Data centres which provide anything less are best avoided.
A proactively monitored network
All cloud services providers will claim to offer round-the-clock support, but unfortunately not totally all can deliver that promise. It's essential that the core network is proactively monitored 24/7/365, to make sure unbroken access to data and applications when they're needed.
Resilient application platforms
Cloud applications, including voice, data and desktop should really be highly resilient, while susceptible to round-the-clock support from maintenance teams. Platforms should really be PCI-certified and ISO 27001 compliant, meeting the highest standards in security and service.
When these three elements combine, the likelihood of downtime are significantly reduced. If cloud providers apply these standards, and make ongoing commitments to further improving their service, there really isn't any excuse for downtime at all.
It's easy for businesses to obtain drawn into attractive looking SLAs (Service Level Agreements), which promise 99.999% uptime. However, the provider is unable to honour such assurances which puts its customers in a compromising position.
There is little which can compensate for the damage caused by lengthy outages, that may potentially damage the reputation and credibility of a company, and cost a large number of pounds in lost revenue.
So, the next occasion you hear about cloud failure, don't assume it's the cloud which can be the issue, because behind every unreliable cloud service, is definitely an unreliable cloud service provider.
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