What criteria can you use to select a cloud service provider?

1 Service Level Agreement

One of the first things to look at when selecting a CSP is the service level agreement (SLA), which is a contract that defines the terms and conditions of the cloud service, such as availability, performance, security, privacy, and support. The SLA should clearly specify what the CSP promises to deliver, how they measure and report it, and what are the penalties or remedies for any breaches or failures. You should also check if the SLA is flexible and customizable, and if it allows you to terminate or switch the service if you are not satisfied.

2 Security and Compliance

Another important criterion to consider is the security and compliance of the cloud service, which refers to how the CSP protects your data and applications from unauthorized access, loss, corruption, or theft, and how they comply with the relevant laws and regulations in your industry and location. You should ask the CSP about their security policies, procedures, and standards, such as encryption, authentication, backup, recovery, and auditing. You should also verify if they have any certifications or accreditations from independent organizations, such as ISO, PCI, or HIPAA, that validate their security and compliance level.

3 Scalability and Flexibility

One of the main advantages of cloud computing is the ability to scale and flex your resources according to your demand and budget. Therefore, you should choose a CSP that offers you enough capacity, performance, and features to support your current and future needs, and that allows you to adjust them easily and quickly. You should also check if the CSP charges you based on your actual usage or on a fixed plan, and if they offer any discounts or incentives for long-term or high-volume customers.

4 Reliability and Availability

Another key factor to evaluate is the reliability and availability of the cloud service, which means how often and how well the service works without any interruptions or errors. You should look for a CSP that guarantees a high uptime percentage, which is the proportion of time that the service is operational and accessible. You should also consider the redundancy and backup of the service, which means how the CSP ensures that your data and applications are replicated and stored in multiple locations or servers, in case of any failures or disasters.

5 Support and Customer Service

The last criterion that we will discuss is the support and customer service that the CSP provides to its customers, which refers to how they respond and resolve any issues or queries that you may have regarding the cloud service. You should look for a CSP that offers you a dedicated account manager, a 24/7 technical support team, and a comprehensive knowledge base or documentation. You should also check the reviews and ratings of other customers, and test the CSP's communication channels and response time before signing up for the service.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?