Choosing the right cloud platform can be frustrating, especially when many options are available in the market. This is due to the surge in cloud adoptions. As more organizations are adopting the cloud, new platforms are emerging, providing more options to them.
According to “The State of Cloud Adoption in 2021”, 83% of respondents indicated that cloud-based developments and deployment are their top IT priority. So, there is no denying that ignoring cloud adoptions is not an option, with most competitors switching to it. Fortunately, several options are available in the market, like AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform, and others.
But, how do you select a suitable cloud platform?
It is a difficult question to answer as every business has different requirements for cloud adoption. For example, while some companies develop entire applications in the cloud environment, others use a hybrid approach.
So, which cloud platform caters to your needs will depend on what are business-specific requirements. Here, we will discuss five vital aspects of choosing the right option for your business.
1. Knowing the Options
Every purchasing decision has three steps; first is the realization of the problem, then consideration of different options, and finally, choosing one. Now we already have seen why organizations are looking for cloud platform options, and it’s essential to discuss all of them.
- AWS (Amazon Web Services)- AWS was the first market leader in cloud computing platforms offering Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) way back in 2008. However, AWS provides more than just cloud computing services with integrations of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning algorithms.
Even for computing needs, it offers services like Amazon EC2 and serverless platforms like AWS Lambda. In addition, AWS also enables communication services through Amazon SNS (Simple Notification Service), Amazon Chime, and others.
It offers services across 78 availability zones, 25 geographical regions and comes with 46 compliance certificates.
- Microsoft Azure- It is one of the fastest-growing cloud platforms despite launching quite later than giants like AWS and Google Cloud Platforms. Not only does Azure offer cloud-based database services but tons of other computing and infrastructure services for enhanced business intelligence.
It provides cloud platform services for AI, Machine Learning, High Compute Platform (HCP), Containers, DevOps, Microsoft Azure Stack, Migrations, Developer Tools, etc. It offers services across 140 availability zones, 54 geographical regions and comes with 90 compliance certificates.
- Google Cloud Platform- Google has been a market leader, especially in the public cloud space, integrating its services into the Android Operating System. However, its cloud platform services are not limited to just public cloud services; several other features are offered such as,
- Data Analytics
- API Management
- Hybrid & Multi-cloud Service
- Security and Identity
- Serverless Computing
- Google Maps Platform
It offers services across 61 availability zones and 21 geographical regions. Now that you know which cloud platforms to choose, let’s understand when to select the most suitable platform for your business.
2. Timing of Cloud Adoption
When it comes to cloud adoption, timing is everything. Every business is different, and its organizational structure is unique. So, it is essential to have gradual adoption to accommodate proper training and acclimatization for employees to the new cloud-based platform.
Take an example of Spotify, where the task of cloud migration was divided into 50-70 services a week. This approach allowed their engineers, stakeholders, and development teams to adjust according to the progress of migrations.
The entire migration process took about a year, but the cloud migration lesson that Spotify’s case provides is patience; they prepared for two years before the migration. Once your organization is ready for cloud adoptions, you will have to choose a cloud platform like certifications, availability zones, etc.
3. Reliable Certifications
One of the most important aspects of choosing a cloud provider is its certification and compliance with industry standards. For example, if you want to operate in European countries, you must comply with the specific data regulations set by the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
Similarly, there are several regional and international compliances for businesses to follow, and your cloud service provider must comply with all of them. You will also need to check on their security protocols and systems to ensure that the data is safe while using such services.
4. Security Measures
Cybersecurity issues are rising as the number of connected devices is increasing. For example, according to Cisco’s data, DDOS attacks or distributed denial-of-service attacks will grow up to 15.4 million by 2023.
So, you need a reliable security system installed to prevent such attacks. If you are looking to choose a cloud platform, check for pre-built security systems or tools that help protect your data. Another important aspect is data recovery tools or systems which will help recover any data lost during the migrations.
5. Data Recovery
Data recovery is essential as there can be instances of data loss during the migration of workloads. According to {Datto](https://www.datto.com/au/resources/the-cost-of-downtime), the average cost due to downtime is $11,600 per minute, which can be massive for any organization.
So, you need to ensure that there are no downtimes due to the loss of data. For this, you need to choose a cloud platform that comes with pre-built data recovery tools.
Conclusion
Cloud platforms are many, which is good news because you get so many options to choose from. However, selecting a suitable platform can be challenging as they come with great features and services.
The best way to choose a cloud platform is to analyze your business needs and compare their services based on different aspects like security, compliance, certifications, availability, and more. This will help you select the best cloud platform for your business.
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