Cloud Computing Checklist: Examine Technology and Services
The term “cloud computing” is great as a metaphor, but doesn’t quite explain what happens in real life.
That’s not to say that cloud computing doesn’t hold great promise, particularly for small and medium businesses. With cloud computing, these organizations can substantially reduce their IT investment while increasing their capabilities and security. By engaging the services of a third-party technology provider, businesses can get access to technology and systems that they might ordinarily have.
But cloud computing doesn’t just involve technology. Services are equally important and are key to a successful cloud implementation.
NetStandard, a technology services provider in Kansas City, Mo., serves small and medium businesses. Over the years, NetStandard developed a checklist of expectations. For businesses considering a cloud computing arrangement the checklist includes these topics:
- Staff – does the provider have a dedicated technology manager assigned to the business? Does the supporting team include networking, software and security specialists? What sort of certifications does the staff have? What planning can the staff provide to make sure your system requirements will be met in the future?
- Data Center – The data center’s hardware and systems should be redundant so there is no downtime when a failure occurs. An N+1 redundancy designation means that each component has at least independent backup component.
- Certifications – Partnerships and certifications with technology partners indicate that the provider meets or exceeds the required standards.
- SAS 70 – SAS 70 is an auditing statement issued by the Auditing Standards Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) regarding the internal controls of service organizations, including data centers. Increasingly, data centers have conducted SAS 70 audits and obtained SAS 70 certification so they can prove to their clients in regulated industries that they are compliant. However, you should discuss the audit to see that the provider understands the process. Like any audit, an SAS 70 audit is designed to uncover weaknesses so the organization can improve, not get a certification for marketing purposes.
- Consulting – does the provider offer any consulting services to help a business prepare for the transition to cloud computing? For example, NetStandard assists businesses in creating a business case and will analyze a business’s server capacity to estimate the amount of virtual servers needed and the estimated cost savings.