Things to Consider When Switching to the Cloud
Making the move to the cloud isn’t the toughest decision; it’s choosing the best Cloud Provider to meet your needs! The search might seem daunting at first, but we’ve outlined a few helpful tips to help you find your way.
Finding the right cloud provider
Security
Your biggest concern is probably security. You’ll want to know who has access to your data — both physically and electronically. Where is their data center located? Is it prone to natural disaster? What kind of security measures do they have in place for people who gain physical access to the building? Ideally, the data center will require a barometric login and be in an area where natural disasters are a low risk. Is the connection to my data encrypted? How often do they perform backups?
Performance
Obviously, working on the cloud comes with a dependence on your internet speed. But most of our clients experience increase in speed and performance. As a cloud provider with a dedicated server environment, this experience is noted even within the trial period. You will need to know if the service will be up and running when your business needs it most. Will there be downtimes or unacceptable levels of application latency that may cost you customers or productivity? (Our uptime guarantee is 99.5%; the only downtime that we have experienced is for maintanance, upgrades and expansion.)
Accessibility
Will I be able to access the cloud from any device with an internet connection? Will I still have all of my software’s functions (like printing, maximizing windows, etc.)? What if I use a Mac? The move to the cloud is supposed to make your business run more efficiently — make sure that your cloud provider jibes with what you’re using.
Pricing
While the adage “you get what you pay for” is true, you probably have a budget in place for your monthly cloud hosting costs. While we certainly don’t recommend Googling “cheap cloud hosting” and picking your cloud provider with your eyes closed, it’s still important to be conscious of your cloud costs. One of the greatest benefits of the cloud is how scale-able it can be. Be sure to find out the costs of expansion should your businesses needs grow.
Support and Transition
The move to the cloud is often faced with trepidation. It’s nerve-wracking to have your precious data in a state of transition. You’re going to want to make sure that your cloud provider has a support team that’s easily accessible and available to assist you if necessary. We’ve developed a 3 (or 5) Step UP process and have a dedicated Onboarding Specialist that is responsible for ensuring a smooth transition to the cloud. Also, once you’re up and running, will you be calling a domestic-based support staff? What are their hours? (We offer U.S. Based, Friendly and Responsive, Technical and Customer Support, 24/7!)
Learn more about Trapp Technology as a Cloud Provider:
- 5 Things To Look For When Choosing a Cloud Provider: Whiteboard Wednesday (Video)
- Accounting Technology Resources Selects Trapp Technology as Preferred Cloud Provider
- Practical Software Solutions Selects Trapp Technology as Preferred Cloud Provider
- TAG Signs Trapp Technology as Preferred Cloud Provider for Application Hosting Services
If you’re ready to make the move, we’re ready to help. Give our cloud a spin for 30 days – No credit card information required! Make Trapp Technology your preferred Cloud Provider today!