In a constantly evolving technological landscape, companies face the challenge of selecting the most suitable cloud services provider for their needs. A recent study by Cloudera sheds light on the current situation and provides valuable recommendations for making this crucial decision.
The rise of hybrid and multi-cloud strategies
The Cloudera report reveals that more than two-thirds (68%) of IT experts in the EMEA region are developing hybrid cloud strategies. Additionally, nearly three-quarters (72%) of organizations are already working with multiple public cloud providers. This trend towards more complex environments underscores the importance of having a strong and well-planned data architecture.
Five keys to a successful choice
Faced with this complex scenario, Cloudera identifies five crucial aspects to consider when selecting a cloud services provider:
- Flexibility for future growth: It is essential to evaluate if the provider will be able to support the organization in its growth. This involves considering if they have the necessary facilities to adapt to current and future workloads. It is also important to verify if they are compatible with open-source standards and examine their product roadmap. This way, it can be ensured that the provider is prepared to support critical innovations for the company, such as AI or advanced analytics.
- Costs in relation to workloads: Cost will always be one of the most important factors in any cloud decision. It is crucial to take into account that certain clouds run some workloads more cost-effectively and efficiently than others. Therefore, after defining which workloads will be migrated to the cloud, it is important to consider how these costs will impact the specific workloads that the organization needs to run.
- Lock-in policy: Although major companies like AWS, Microsoft, and Google have announced the apparent elimination of lock-in fees, there is still some cloud dependency once a provider is chosen. Therefore, it is wise to understand in advance what it would cost to move data out of the provider in case circumstances change. This ‘portability’ is increasingly important to maintain business agility.
- Service resilience and reliability: Currently, if a public cloud were to fail, whole companies could be paralyzed. Simply restarting a server to restore services is no longer enough. Therefore, reliability and resilience are two fundamental criteria when choosing a provider. While there may be cost differences, a provider that offers greater resilience and experiences much less downtime may be a better option, considering that cloud interruptions can cost up to $100,000 per hour.
- Integration with other technologies: Organizations often use multiple tools for data analysis, storage, or information management. They may also use different clouds for different tasks. Therefore, organizations must ensure that the chosen cloud(s) integrates with all the technological tools they use in the company. This integration is crucial to ensure smooth and efficient operation throughout the organization’s technological ecosystem.
These five keys provide a solid framework for organizations to assess and select the most suitable cloud services provider for their specific needs, both current and future.
A cloud infrastructure expert’s perspective
David Carrero, a cloud infrastructure expert and co-founder of Stackscale (Grupo Aire), adds his insight on the importance of a thorough evaluation in the cloud migration process:
“It is essential to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the required needs and functionalities before embarking on a cloud migration,” says Carrero. “Many companies make the mistake of underestimating the complexity of this process and end up facing unexpected costs or performance issues.”
Carrero also highlights the importance of considering infrastructure costs on an equal footing: “Often, companies focus exclusively on technical features and overlook associated costs. However, all things being equal, infrastructure costs can make a significant difference in the long-term budget.”
The expert also values European providers over American ones: “In the current geopolitical and regulatory context, opting for European providers can offer significant advantages in terms of regulatory compliance and data protection. Additionally, it contributes to strengthening the European technological ecosystem.”
The future of cloud data management
The Cloudera study also reveals that 92% of IT experts plan to migrate more data to the cloud in the next three years. This data underscores the importance of fully understanding the company’s data management needs before making decisions on cloud services providers.
In conclusion, the choice of a cloud services provider has become a crucial strategic decision for modern companies. By carefully considering these key aspects, including a detailed assessment of needs, infrastructure costs, and the option of European providers, organizations can ensure they select a provider that not only meets their current needs but also allows them to grow and adapt in an increasingly digital and data-dependent future.