Cloud solutions give companies the power to scale their operations, ultimately making them more agile and competitive. But configuring and managing cloud tools effectively can be tricky for business owners and employees alike.
Managed cloud services simplify cloud management and maintenance. With these services supporting them, businesses can unlock new levels of efficiency, scalability, and flexibility with robust cloud computing tools.
What is the cloud?
The cloud is a network of software applications and servers hosted on the Internet. Businesses can use the cloud to manage, store, and process their data and applications remotely, providing authorized employees with access to resources and services from anywhere, at any time.
Clouds can be deployed as private clouds, public clouds, hybrid clouds, and even multi-clouds (when organizations leverage multiple cloud vendors at once). For today’s businesses, the most popular cloud platforms are Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services (AWS), and Google Cloud Platform.
What are managed cloud services?
Managed cloud services involve outsourcing the management, maintenance, and optimization of an organization’s cloud applications and environment to a specialized provider (known as a managed cloud service provider). These service providers take care of tasks such as preparing for and performing cloud migrations, infrastructure configuration, monitoring, security, disaster recovery, and more.
How do managed cloud services impact business agility?
Managed cloud services allow companies to take full advantage of cloud resources to boost their overall efficiency. Specifically, they empower businesses with:
- Streamlined operational scalability: A managed cloud service provider helps businesses optimize their processes with cloud tools, making them inherently scalable to match demands.
- Rapid deployment: With managed cloud services, businesses can have a team of experts quickly deploy new cloud solutions to innovate existing applications or services.
- Flexibility: Cloud tools that are maintained by cloud service providers make it easier to customize infrastructure and software to meet changing needs, enabling agile responses to market shifts and customer demands.
- Enhanced collaboration: When using cloud-based productivity tools (like Microsoft 365), managed cloud services can help uphold essential programs that facilitate seamless, real-time collaboration among team members.
- Improved business continuity: A managed cloud service provider can develop, execute, and update holistic disaster recovery and business continuity plans. For example, a cloud solutions provider can help back up company information to external data centers to ensure that the organization is ready to enact its recovery plans quickly for a swift recovery.
- Improved business continuity: A managed cloud service provider can develop, execute, and update holistic disaster recovery and business continuity plans. For example, a cloud solutions provider can help back up company information to external data centers to ensure that the organization is ready to enact its recovery plans quickly for a swift recovery.
- Significant cost savings: By leveraging cloud tools under the eyes of a cloud services provider, business owners can feel confident knowing that their cloud solutions are configured in a way that enhances organizational productivity with as few costs as possible.
- Access to a plethora of solutions:Cloud service providers are experts in all manner of cloud solutions, including infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS), platform-as-a-service (PaaS), software-as-a-service (SaaS), virtual machines, etc. A provider can help you determine which solution your business needs, and how it can be utilized most effectively.
- Greater cloud security: From maintaining cloud monitoring tools to compliance checks, a managed cloud service provider ensures that organizations’ cloud environments are safe from threats.
- Continuous optimization: A managed cloud service provider continuously optimizes their client’s cloud environment, helping them efficiently leverage resources and achieve ongoing performance improvements.
Choosing the right managed cloud service provider
- Relevant expertise and demonstrated experience: Prioritize providers that have a demonstrated history of effective cloud management. It would also be helpful to partner with a provider that already possesses a comprehensive understanding of your industry.
- Detailed service-level agreements (SLAs): Ensure the provider offers comprehensive, tailored SLAs that align with your business’s requirements.
- Prioritizes security and compliance: Verify that the provider has the resources and mindset to support your company with cloud security practices.
- Ongoing monitoring and support: Select a provider that can offer round-the-clock management and maintenance for your cloud solutions.
- Cost transparency: A provider's pricing model should not contain potential hidden expenses.
Experience unmatched business agility with cutting-edge managed cloud services
By harnessing the power of cloud tools and leveraging the expertise of a managed cloud service provider, organizations can unlock unparalleled scalability, seamless adaptability, and optimal cost-efficiency, all while benefitting from a comprehensive suite of services provided by a team of experts skilled in every aspect of cloud management.
The managed cloud services at Davenport Group go beyond traditional support, offering a holistic approach to cloud maintenance that covers everything from infrastructure management and configuration, to robust security measures and reliable data backups.
If you are eager for a top-tier cloud infrastructure that not only upholds your operations but also enhances your business agility, contact Davenport Group today and embark on a transformative journey toward success in the cloud.