Are you using cloud services, also known as software as a service (SaaS) or storage as a service? Cloud services are typically sold as “worry free” and they certainly take a lot of the IT concerns off of your IT team. However, there are risks involved with cloud services, which are not obvious to most businesses.
For example, cloud services have shut down due to financial problems or after a severe hacking incident. This causes companies to lose data they thought was safe. That is why it is important to realize that cloud services carry the same risks as other IT options, they are just transferred to a third party.
If you are looking for cloud services or SaaS, be sure to:
Research Your Cloud Solutions Provider
Will the provider be storing critical data for you? For example, how would it impact your business if you lost all the data in your CRM? It would be pretty severe for most companies. The more critical your data is, the more important it is to choose an established, financially stable company. For example, Salesforce.com is going to have more safeguards in place than a small CRM provider, even though neither is bullet proof.
Backup Critical Data
Even if you choose a very reputable and established provider, be sure to backup critical data. Cloud providers generally make it easy to backup your data, you just need to make sure you do it regularly.
For many organizations, cloud services are a great option. They allow you to outsource some of your IT infrastructure and keep it up-to-date at a reasonable cost. Just be aware that there are still risks, and be certain that you take appropriate measures to minimize those risks.
Choose the Right Cloud Service Providers
If you would like guidance on choosing the right cloud service providers, we would be glad to help. We provide unbiased recommendations (since we do not resell any services) on cloud providers and other IT investments. Because we help a lot of companies choose their cloud services, we have already done a lot of research on which providers are the most reliable. Contact us to schedule a time to talk.
