Take advantage of technological innovations, without adding complexity or cost.
If your business is like most, technology is the foundation of your operations. So, how do you harness the power of IT without adding complexity or costs? And how can you take advantage of the latest technological innovations without burdening your IT team? Managed cloud services may be the answer.
This guide explores managed cloud services, explaining what they entail and how they streamline workflows and enhance security. We’ll also discuss managed cloud services’ real-world challenges and benefits, giving you an idea of what to expect from your managed cloud services experience.
What Are Managed Cloud Services?
In a managed cloud environment, your cloud infrastructure is supported by an IT service provider that specializes in cloud solutions. They oversee all technical aspects of your cloud technology, freeing you and your team to focus on your core business activities.
Definition of Managed Cloud Services
Managed cloud services include a wide range of IT responsibilities that would otherwise be handled by in-house IT departments. Services include:
- 24/7 infrastructure management and troubleshooting
- Application deployment, permissions and patching
- 24/7 security and compliance management
- Data backup and recovery management
- 24/7 network and systems performance monitoring and optimization
- Scalability management
- And more!
MANAGED CLOUD SERVICES
Key Components and Features
Managed cloud solutions typically include things like:
Cloud Infrastructure
Typically includes hosted, virtual instances of servers, storage, and networks
Monitoring Software
Continuously evaluates system performance and security, providing proactive notifications of potential issues
Disaster Recovery Tools
Ensure business continuity in the event of data loss or system failures
Security tools
Protect against cyber threats with hardware and software such as firewalls, encryption, and intrusion detection/response
Automation
Streamlines simple, repetitive tasks, such as security alert triage or compliance monitoring, both of which improve efficiency and reduce errors
Types of Managed Cloud Services
Managed cloud services are typically categorized into three main types:
Public
Used by multiple clients, public cloud services are third-party vendor-provided services that offer scalability, cost-effectiveness, and ease of use. Common examples of public clouds include Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure.
Private
Private cloud services are dedicated to a single organization and can be hosted on-premises or by a third-party provider. They offer greater data control and security but may come with higher infrastructure and management costs.
Hybrid
Hybrid cloud services combine elements of public and private clouds, allowing your organization to maximize the benefits of both models. This approach often provides the greatest flexibility in data storage, security, and scalability.
Benefits of Managed Cloud Services
Managed cloud services offer numerous advantages to businesses of all sizes, including:
- Cost Efficiency and Predictability
One of the biggest benefits managed cloud services offer is the potential for significant cost savings. By outsourcing IT management and implementing cloud-based solutions, your business can reduce (or eliminate) the need for expensive hardware purchases and in-house IT staff. Additionally, most cloud service providers offer fixed-fee monthly support programs that allow you to more accurately predict budgets and control costs. - Enhanced Security and Compliance
Reputable cloud service providers invest heavily in security measures and compliance certifications, offering you a level of protection that is often beyond what you could independently achieve. Your managed cloud provider should regularly perform security audits and include security features like encryption and multi-factor authentication. - 24/7 Monitoring and Support
Managed cloud services monitor your IT infrastructure 24/7, allowing you to respond quickly to potential issues, minimizing downtime, and ensuring optimal performance. - Focus on Core Business Activities
Outsourcing your IT management to a vetted partner lets your organization focus on its core business activities and strategic initiatives, boosting productivity and facilitating innovation.
Challenges and Considerations
While managed cloud services offer numerous benefits, they also come with potential challenges.
Potential Drawbacks
COSTS
Managed cloud services often reduce costs, but you can’t assume they’re always less expensive. Before you commit, take a hard look at each vendor’s pricing and scope of services. Some services might seem like a bargain at first, but costs can balloon as you scale up and require more after-hours support.
PERFORMANCE
When it comes to cloud services, the details matter — and things like Internet speed and server locations can seriously impact how well everything runs. Before you sign on with a vendor, review their setup and service level agreements (SLAs) to ensure they can deliver the performance your business needs.
DATA PRIVACY
Some organizations — especially those in regulated industries — have concerns about entrusting sensitive data to a third-party provider. To address data privacy and sovereignty concerns, your organization should review a potential provider’s data handling practices and ensure they comply with relevant regulations.
How to Overcome Common Challenges
How do you overcome the challenges associated with managed cloud computing? Consider the following strategies:
- Before migrating to managed cloud services, conduct a thorough cost-benefit analysis
- Track performance and costs with robust monitoring tools
- Develop a comprehensive data governance strategy
- Choose a managed cloud services provider with a strong track record in security and compliance
COMPARISON AND ANALYSIS
Pros and Cons of Managed Cloud Services
Advantages
- Scalability
Managed cloud services allow your business to easily scale up or down its IT resources based on demand. This flexibility ensures that you only pay for the resources you need when you need them. - Flexibility
Cloud-based services facilitate remote work because users can access them from anywhere with an Internet connection. They also make it easier for geographically dispersed teams to collaborate. - Reliability
Reputable managed cloud service vendors will guarantee high levels of uptime and redundancy. This ensures your critical systems and data remain available even during hardware failures or other issues.
Disadvantages
- Vendor Lock-in
Migrating between cloud providers can be complex and costly. This can lead to vendor lock-in, as the organization perceives migration’s cost (and potential headaches) as “too high.” - Compliance Risks
Depending on your industry, cloud data storage may introduce compliance challenges. Ensure that the provider you choose can meet your relevant regulatory requirements. - Cost Management
While cloud services can lead to cost savings, improper management can also result in unexpected expenses. To prevent this, your organization should implement cost monitoring and optimization strategies.
MANAGED CLOUD SERVICES
Xantrion’s Cloud Services
At Xantrion, we offer a comprehensive suite of managed cloud services, including:
Cloud Strategy
Transitioning your company’s data and technology to the cloud is a major undertaking that requires careful planning and expertise. And you can count on Xantrion to ensure your digital transformation goes smoothly, keeping data secure and minimizing downtime.
Our experts will work closely with your organization to develop a tailored cloud strategy that aligns with your business objectives. We’ll assess your current infrastructure, identify opportunities for optimization, and create a customized roadmap for cloud adoption or migration.
Cloud Security Solutions
Migrating to the cloud renders your traditional on-premises cybersecurity tools obsolete, necessitating a complete overhaul of your security strategies. Xantrion can help your organization adapt its cybersecurity approach to address the unique challenges and attack surfaces of cloud infrastructure. Our solutions encompass everything from network security to data encryption and access management.
Cloud-Based IT Services
Xantrion provides numerous cloud-based IT services, including infrastructure management, application hosting, and desktop virtualization. Our IT services can help reduce your IT complexity, enhancing your productivity.
Cloud Management
Xantrion is a Microsoft Premier Partner and a Tier 1 Cloud Service Provider. What does this mean? Our team of experts has vast experience in all Microsoft Cloud products — in fact, we’re among the top 0.5% of Microsoft partners who qualify for this highest level of recognition. We can:
- Design and implement reliable, functionally, and cost-effective Azure Cloud solutions
- Provide expert management of cloud-based productivity suites
- Optimize and secure your cloud environment, ensuring alignment with industry best practices
Managed Cloud Services Pricing
The cost of Xantrion’s managed cloud services varies based on several factors, including:
- Services required: What specific mix of services does your organization need?
- Number of users: How many users or devices require support?
- Data storage and transfer: How much data will be stored and transferred?
- Service level agreements: What level of support and guaranteed uptime does your organization require?
- Customization: Will you use our standard offerings, or do we need to tailor solutions for your organization?
Want more information on managed cloud services pricing? Xantrion experts can help you explore potential costs and benefits. Schedule your free consultation today.
How to Choose the Right Managed Cloud Provider
Selecting the right managed cloud provider can have a huge impact on your cloud strategy’s success. To ensure you’re making an informed choice, consider the following factors:
Factors to Consider
Service Level Agreements
Carefully review each provider’s SLAs to ensure they meet your performance and availability requirements. Remember, these agreements are your proverbial safety net — make sure they’re robust enough to catch you if things go south.
Compliance
Verify that the potential provider can meet all relevant regulatory requirements for your industry. This isn’t just about ticking boxes — non-compliance can lead to hefty fines and reputational damage.
Support
Evaluate the provider’s support offerings, including response times and communication channels. When (not if) things go wrong, you’ll want a responsive team in your corner.
Comparing Providers:
Key Questions to Ask
When comparing providers, don’t be afraid to ask the tough questions. Consider asking questions like:
- What is your track record in terms of uptime and reliability?
- How do you handle data security and privacy?
- What migration support do you offer?
- Can you provide references from clients in similar industries?
- What’s your disaster recovery and business continuity strategy?
MANAGED CLOUD SERVICES
Decision-Making Tips for Different Business Needs
Different types of businesses have different needs. Follow these tips to ensure the managed cloud provider you choose is a good fit:
Small Businesses
Focus on providers offering comprehensive, easy-to-manage solutions. Additionally, look for providers that offer scalable plans to accommodate your business growth without requiring you to overhaul your infrastructure completely.
Enterprise Organizations
Insist on providers with experience handling complex, large-scale deployments. Ensure they offer robust APIs and integration capabilities that will seamlessly connect with your existing systems and workflows.
Regulated Industries
Prioritize providers with strong compliance credentials and industry-specific expertise. Seek out those who offer detailed audit trails and regular compliance reporting to help you maintain regulatory adherence with minimal effort.
CASE STUDIES AND SUCCESS STORIES
Examples of Businesses
Benefiting from Managed Cloud Services
Vista Center Moves into the Digital Future with Xantrion | Xantrion
A nonprofit organization, Vista Center, partnered with Xantrion to transition to cloud-based services. This move allowed the organization to improve collaboration, enhance data security, and focus on its core mission of serving visually impaired individuals.
Accounting Firm Transforms IT Support and System Performance | Xantrion
An accounting firm partnered with Xantrion to modernize its IT infrastructure. By migrating to cloud-based services, it enhanced system performance, improved remote work capabilities, and streamlined its IT support processes.
Architectural Design Firm Scales to Keep up with Growth | Xantrion
Xantrion’s managed cloud services helped this rapidly growing architectural design scale its IT infrastructure. As a result, the firm could handle increased workloads, improve project collaboration, and maintain high productivity levels during its expansion.
Private Foundation Success Story | Xantrion
This private foundation partnered with Xantrion to modernize its IT systems and improve security. By adopting cloud-based solutions, the foundation enhanced data protection, streamlined grant management processes, and improved operational efficiency.
The benefits of managed cloud services can’t be denied.
Managed cloud services offer organizations numerous benefits, from cost efficiency and enhanced security to greater access to expertise and the ability to focus on core business activities. And while challenges exist — like the potential for vendor lock-in, compliance risks, and concerns about managing costs — careful planning and provider selection can help your business mitigate any potential downsides.
Ready to explore how managed cloud services can benefit your organization? Xantrion can help develop a tailored cloud strategy that meets your company’s unique needs and objectives. Get in touch today to schedule a consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do the performance and features of this cloud solution compare to my on-premise solution
Compared to on-prem solutions, cloud solutions offer a variety of improvements such as scalability, business continuity, and security — but the specific benefits you’ll receive depend on your current infrastructure and requirements. Contact us to discuss your unique situation.
Is this cloud solution secure?
Yes, reputable cloud providers like Microsoft implement robust security measures. That said, it’s important to understand your responsibilities in the shared security model. Our experts can help explain — get in touch.
Who owns my data, and how hard is it to change service providers?
Simply stated, you own your data. The difficulty of changing providers varies, but if needed, Xantrion can help you develop and deploy a migration strategy.
What is the scope of your cloud solution?
Our cloud solutions encompass a wide range of services, from infrastructure management to application hosting and security. We tailor our offerings to meet your specific needs.
What are your support hours?
We understand that most emergencies happen on weekends or after closing time; that’s why we offer 24/7 support for critical issues and keep standard business hours for non-urgent matters.
What are your issue response and resolution times?
Xantrion resolves most issues within one hour. However, resolution times may vary based on your service level agreement and the severity of the issue. We prioritize minimizing downtime and disruption to your business.
What is the process for onboarding new clients?
Our onboarding process starts with a thorough assessment of your current infrastructure. Then, we develop a migration plan and provide step-by-step implementation and ongoing support.
What is the contract term, and why?
Xantrion has flexible contract terms, ranging from month to month to annual contracts. Longer contract terms often make it easier to plan and budget and are sometimes required for cloud-based tools.
