Have you decided that integrating colocation and/or cloud in your daily business operations might make sense, but are intimidated by the first step?
- Do you have difficulty getting to the planning stages of colocation or cloud migration?
- Do you feel as though taking advantage of cloud means a long, unpleasant and expensive process?
- Are you struggling with moving some or all of your data somewhere else?
- Would help making a deliberate and educated decision (including a process map, that supports your decision), be helpful?
You’re not alone. Let’s walk through the talk:
I like the flexibility and security of having data offsite. So, what is the difference between colocation and cloud?
The term ‘colocation’ refers to the physical location in which cloud data is stored, usually referred to as a “Data Center.” More specifically, colocation refers to the Internet service providers (ISPs) or Cloud Service Providers (CSPs) that maintain the “floor space, electrical power and high-speed links to the Internet for a customer’s Web servers,” according to the PC Magazine Encyclopedia. This also includes optional on site resources to help if your equipment needs it. The ‘cloud’ is in reference to the computing model in which data is stored on servers in one or more locations, and accessible via the internet or other forms of remote access.
Why should you “migrate?”
As businesses grow, and become more sizeable in scale, the accessibility of data from a wide array of places is becoming a necessity. Not only does your data need to be accessible, it needs to be protected. Let’s say you have one file server on the premises of your business, the benefits being potentially far more available storage, and the added sense of security of having the server “right where you can see it.” In spite of these bonuses, in application, this file server will require constant maintenance, and various other IT support. And, in the event of damage to the server, such as a fire, or even a natural disaster, it comes with the potential loss of incredible amounts of data. Conversely, storing data on the cloud, when done correctly, means that your data is stored redundantly in multiple locations, and secured and maintained by your service provider, or CSP. Just about any eventuality is covered, meaning your data is accessible to you, inaccessible to others, and protected in the long run from disasters.
Will you lose control of your data?
Believing that your data is more secure because you can see it on-premises in the form of a server is a comforting myth. In reality, data, no matter how it is stored, requires cyber security measures for protection from thieves. Arguably, cloud storage can be even more secure than an on-site server, because your CSP is tasked with protecting your data, and has the resources at their fingertips to do so at a scale supported by a multiplicity of customers. Ultimately, the type of data you have will drive the bus on what levels of security you deploy.
Who can you turn to for direction?
We can hear you now: “I get it, I get it. Cloud is a good thing, but where do I start?” The best place to start is to find your guide, a partner, if you will, who can help you to define the goals of your migration in the context of the business, and what you need based on several specifications. The right partner can also provide a one-stop-shop experience to define what kind of cloud storage you need, and which CSP is the best for your cloud needs. The right partner will have the tools that are essential to help you save time and money, and to find the best fit for your business. They can also provide you with a document that illustrates and supports why you made the decision.
About UCX:
UCX helps organizations to economically simplify and shorten the process of buying, selling and managing cloud compute resources. For more information, contact us here. See the UCX Platform here.