What You Should Be Mindful of Before Hosting Your Software in the Cloud

Businesses have focused on efficient utility software deployment for the better part of 30 years. Today, developers are increasingly offering software titles “as-a-service”, which gives users access to these powerful tools, via the cloud, for a consistent monthly payment. Distributing solutions through cloud technologies, be they a private cloud server or a reputable public cloud provider’s platform, can give your business considerable benefits.

According to a recent study, predictions say that SaaS offerings will make up 59 percent of the cloud computing workload by 2018--and with more and more businesses utilizing cloud hosting, those predictions seem well founded.

If you’re looking to move your assets into a cloud environment, they must first be virtualized with other variables taken into consideration. What follows are two crucial considerations to implementing the cloud for your business.

Are You Ready to Integrate?
Unfortunately, many mission-critical applications and cloud services don’t play very nicely with each other, which can lead to issues with integration. If you plan to connect all of your most-used services to a new cloud service, you must be sure to test that they comply with integration requirements. In short, you have to do your homework and learn what the cloud service requires. Otherwise, you run the risk of losing resources and experiencing downtime due to incompatibility.

Is Your Connection Reliable Enough?
In order for a business to use the cloud, a reliable connection is needed. Can your in-house network provide enough bandwidth to access the cloud, even during peak hours? Does your ISP provide you with consistent Internet service?

It is common for companies to upgrade their Internet service before making the switch to a cloud solution, to ensure that they have what it takes to support that type of data-intensive activity. Finally, you should look into the cloud service provider you are considering. Can they guarantee your connectivity and uptime?

These considerations must both be fulfilled if your cloud service is to truly be of benefit to your business operations. We can help you optimize your network, and help you make a seamless transition to cloud-based services. For more assistance, call Managed IT Force at 724-473-3950.