Today’s businesses run on more technology and data than ever before. And right now, countless companies are maintaining their business operations remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the only way they can operate remotely is through a cloud network. Although cloud networks are useful, especially now during the pandemic, lacking comprehensive cloud management can have adverse effects on business operations.

Regardless if your business runs a hybrid or multi-tenant cloud environment, you must properly maintain your cloud services to ensure you are running on a protected network. In this article, we discuss the basics of cloud managed services, the different types of services, as well as their importance and benefits.

What are Cloud Managed Services?

Every cloud system needs someone overseeing the network to ensure the integrity of the system. Cloud managed services enable businesses to utilize the power of cloud computing without dedicating so much focus on it that it interferes with general business operations. Now, companies can conduct cloud managed services in one of two ways: either hiring in-house staff to oversee the cloud network or hiring a third-party provider.

Depending on the size and expertise of your IT department, you may already have members qualified in cloud management. However, if nobody currently possesses the skills necessary to maintain and monitor your cloud network, you can hire trained experts. Likewise, you can train members in your IT department to handle cloud management. One downside to training is it takes time, and your IT department members may be more useful with other IT systems.

The second option is outsourcing to a third-party provider to manage your cloud network. One benefit of outsourcing to a third-party provider is they are already experts with cloud management. Therefore, you can save your company time and resources required to hire an in-house expert or to train someone to manage the network. Likewise, hiring a third-party provider allows you to focus on the core of your business while the cloud management experts focus on theirs.

Benefits of Cloud Managed Services

1. Cost Saving

Perhaps the most apparent benefit to outsourcing your cloud managed services is by reducing costs. When you staff a full-time in-house team to manage your cloud network, it can become extremely expensive rather quickly, which is often unnecessary for small or medium-sized businesses that have simple networks.

Luckily, these businesses can outsource to cloud management experts for a fraction of the cost. When you outsource to a third-party provider, you can negotiate a fixed monthly service plan designed to meet your specific service needs and budget. Your cloud management cost then becomes predictable, so you do not have to worry about unexpected changes in your plan. Likewise, you have the flexibility to change your plan or cancel at any time.

2. Scalability

As you grow your business, your network will grow too. Cloud management services are inherently flexible, so you can scale your services with your business accordingly. Scalability is a vital component of any successful business model, and you need a cloud management service provider that can meet your business’s change in needs, as well as explore options that can further enhance business operations as changes occur.

Cloud-managed solutions can accommodate rapid changes, so they are great for many startups or small businesses experiencing a period of rapid growth and development. Likewise, they can accommodate these changes with minimal interference, so you can simultaneously expand your network without worry about unnecessary downtime. Cloud managed services are there to help your business both today as well as in the future.

3. Better Reliability Performance

When you outsource to a cloud management provider, you can sleep comfortably knowing that they are monitoring your network around the clock, constantly checking your network’s performance, and protecting it from potential attacks.

Likewise, they make sure your network is running at optimal efficiency at all times, ensuring your network servers go uninterrupted, even during periods of heavy workloads. Once again, you can remain focused on the core of your business, such as expanding your customer base, providing exceptional customer support, providing top-notch services, etc.

4. Fast Response Time

Cyber-attacks are more common now than ever before. In fact, 76% of businesses experienced a cyber-attack last year. Unfortunately for your business, a cyber-attack is less a manner of if and more of a manner of when. When an attack occurs, you need to react quickly to mitigate the potential damages from the attack.

Due to around-the-clock surveillance, your business can rely on a quick response and notification from a third-party provider. Time is of the essence, which is why you need a reliable provider that can fix the issue remotely quickly.

5. Robust Disaster Recovery

A cyber breach can put an entire business at risk, especially companies that deal with personal customer data. Through a cloud-managed service provider, you can have a disaster recovery solution in place in the case of a disaster.

A disaster recovery solution will back up your entire network, including your operating systems, software applications, customer information, and more. Your disaster relief plan includes a set of policies and procedures that enables a fast recovery and ensures you can return to normal business operations with minimal downtime.

Why You Should Consider Cloud Managed Services

With all the uncertainty in the world and the necessity to rely on cloud networks to operate remotely, cloud managed services are more important now than ever before. When it comes to your bottom line, you must ensure that your cloud network is properly secured and managed by cloud security experts.

Figuring out all your bases to cover pertaining to your organization’s IT strategy is not an easy process to navigate, especially in times like these— and that’s why Electric is here to support your organization. From Atlanta to Austin, from Miami to Boston, we’ve got your business covered.