Cloud management offers businesses of any size a brilliant way to control and scale their IT infrastructure. It’s therefore no surprise that organisations are enthusiastically migrating to the cloud – with over 60% of corporate data now being stored in the cloud.
However, cloud computing does offer some challenges to businesses that have recently moved to the cloud.
In this article, we’ll walk you through some common cloud management problems that businesses face after cloud migrations. We’ll also discuss how working with a managed service provider can help mitigate these pitfalls.
Cloud providers don’t implement security controls correctly
Cloud computing can introduce some security concerns if the cloud provider doesn’t offer the right security controls and measures to keep your data safe.
In theory, the cloud is less secure than on-premises systems. As your data is accessed through the internet, there’s always the possibility that information can be intercepted or your system could be hacked remotely.
That’s why cloud security controls are so important, as they help mitigate the risk of a security vulnerability. Fortunately, cloud service providers like Azure and AWS have implemented some great security features to protect your cloud infrastructure.
These include:
- Deterrent controls: to discourage attackers by warning them of other controls
- Preventative controls: prevent attacks by plugging security flaws
- Detective controls: to detect ongoing attacks by monitoring network traffic
- Corrective controls: to limit the damage of cyber attacks by shutting down cloud servers or limiting data access
Many cloud providers don’t implement strong enough controls. Some of these features may not even be enabled by default.
Working with a reputable managed service provider (MSP) can help ensure you’re picking the right cloud platform, and ensure your security controls are configured correctly.
Unexpectedly High Cloud Costs
Cloud computing helps most businesses save money by removing the need for costly hardware and network infrastructure. However, without properly managing your data usage, your business could be hit with an unexpectedly expensive bill from your cloud provider.
The trick here is to plan what resources you’ll need to power your workflow before you migrate and to keep checking what you’re using.
Here are a few tips to help avoid a nasty bill:
- Plan the capacity you’ll be using. We recommend working with an MSP to monitor your current network usage and bandwidth. This will give a great indication of how much cloud capacity you’ll need. Businesses often overspend on resources they don’t need.
- Avoid large data transfers. Many cloud providers charge data egress fees for large data transfers out of the cloud system. Try to limit the amount of data you pull from the cloud platform. For example, a 25TB egress will set you back $2,075 on Azure. For backups to offline storage, use incremental backups instead of full ones.
- Use cost monitoring tools to see what you’re spending. Cloud providers offer some great tools to monitor your cloud costs. For instance, the Azure Cost Management + Billing tool tracks your spending, forecasts future bills and alerts over-budget users.
Cloud sprawl is a common problem in small and mid-level enterprises. Many firms fail to phase out cloud services that are no longer needed and continue to pay for them. An MSP can help you analyse your cloud usage and bring down your bill.
Lack of Resources and Expertise
There exists a skills and resources gap that’s limiting cloud expansion. Existing IT teams often lack the expertise needed to migrate and take advantage of a cloud deployment.
Resources are a problem too. According to research by iland, 83% of businesses say a lack of migration resources has delayed their cloud migration, with 12% stating this has prevented migration entirely.
What’s the solution? We recommend:
- Resource planning: to understand what resources and infrastructure is needed to facilitate a successful cloud migration and management.
- Outsourcing to a skilled MSP: to off-load expertise-heavy tasks and benefit from the guidance of cloud experts.
Working with an MSP can help plug these gaps. A managed cloud solution offloads the responsibility of planning and managing your cloud infrastructure, providing valuable assistance to your IT staff.
Ensuring cloud compliance
Many businesses are bound by strict compliance. For example, medical and insurance companies handle sensitive data, and this can complicate a cloud migration.
Organisations must ensure compliance with legal standards based on their sector, location and requirements. Businesses need to look for cloud providers that provide compliance and adhere to the specific regulations needed in their sector.
For instance, Azure Security and Compliance Blueprints allow businesses to create, deploy, and update compliant environments. Azure Security Centre also unifies security management and enables advanced threat protection.
MSPs are experts in cloud compliance. They can work with you to ensure your cloud platform complies with the regulations applicable to your sector.
Streamline your cloud migration & management with a Managed Service Provider (MSP)
Cloud migrations offer businesses some complex challenges. You can streamline this process by working with a cloud migration expert.
Managed service providers will help you plan a successful migration, identify and mitigate any possible pitfalls, and assist you with setting up your cloud environment. Cloud management shouldn’t stretch your IT capacity. Outsourcing your cloud management responsibilities ensures you’re getting the most out of your modern, scalable cloud computing infrastructure.
