As demand for cloud computing services grows, an increasing number of telecommunications companies are shifting their businesses away from offering landline services to cloud communications and computing services. Choosing a telco cloud provider can be complicated, as there are so many out there to choose from. Some offer different types of services as well, whether it’s infrastructure, software, or platforms. It’s important to choose a provider who understands your business objectives, and offers the right services to meet these. With this in mind, if you’re looking for a telco cloud service provider, here are a few of the top features to look for.
Location
One of the first features to look for in a cloud services provider is compatibility with your location. Ideally, the cloud provider’s data centres should be close to where you or your users will be operating. If you’re a business, you want to provide the best possible user experience to your customers, and with regional data centres this usually means faster connections and better security. Be aware that security regulations can vary depending on the country where the data is hosted, so it’s important to find out the location of the provider’s data centres before you examine other features. This could have a major impact on your decision.
Data Management and Security
Security is one of the big issues with cloud computing for any telco cloud service provider today. Data management is a hot button issue for most industries at the moment, but it’s particularly important in the cloud. Security for cloud infrastructure works differently than it does for a regular hard drive, so be sure that your provider has a sound system in place to protect your data.
Affordable Cost
Cost for cloud services can vary widely between providers, and depends on a number of issues including your business’s needs, your location, and the type of service that’s provided. At the moment there’s no set standard for performing cost comparisons in this industry, so you may need to shop around to find the most affordable option that ticks all the boxes.
Telco Cloud Experience
Does the service provider have some experience providing cloud infrastructure or storage, or are they new to the industry? Big names like Nokia Networks provide telco cloud services, but so do smaller, lesser known brands, so you’ll want to look at each provider’s level of experience and track record in the industry. For smaller providers in particular, you might want to ask for and follow up on references.
Customization Capabilities
It’s always helpful if you’re able to customize your service package according to what fits best with your individual needs and those of your clients. As you compare cloud computing providers, look for those that allow you to set up systems that work best with your unique needs. Some will allow you to customize your services, while others will only offer a one-size-fits-all service.
Cloud services can embody many different things, so it’s important to compare your options carefully to find the provider who will be the best fit for your individual or business needs.