10 Things To Consider Before Committing To A Cloud Platform

There are already many major players in the Cloud Platform battleground and many other non-major players are battling to reach their way through the ladder to compete with others. As a consumer, it can be quite overwhelming to find the most appropriate Cloud Platform for your special needs.

Doing thorough research before choosing a cloud platform for your next software project is crucial because the choice of cloud provider can significantly impact your project's success, cost-effectiveness, and scalability. Additionally, cloud platforms can vary in terms of pricing, performance, security, and reliability.

Here are ten things to consider before committing to a cloud platform,

? Cost Optimization: Different cloud providers offer various pricing models and structures. Researching helps you identify which provider aligns best with your budget and cost expectations.

? Scalability: The ability to scale resources up or down easily is essential. Different cloud providers may offer different scaling options, and you need to ensure your chosen platform can accommodate your project's growth.

? Performance: Consider the performance requirements of your software project. If you need a cloud platform that can handle high traffic loads or process large amounts of data, make sure you choose one that offers the necessary performance capabilities.

? Features: Consider the features that are important to your software project. Cloud platforms offer a wide range of features, such as computing, storage, networking, databases, and analytics services. Make sure the cloud platform you choose offers the features you need.

? Security and Compliance: Different cloud providers have different security offerings and compliance certifications. You need to assess which provider can meet your security and compliance needs, especially if you handle sensitive data. If your business is subject to industry regulations, such as HIPAA or PCI DSS, make sure the cloud platform you choose meets your compliance requirements.

? Reliability: Cloud platforms should be highly reliable and offer uptime guarantees. This is especially important if your software project is critical to your business operations.

? Vendor Lock-in: Assess the degree of vendor lock-in associated with a particular cloud platform. Avoid excessive lock-in that can make it challenging to migrate to another provider in the future.

? Ease of use: Cloud platforms should be easy to use and manage. This is especially important if you do not have a lot of experience with cloud computing.

? Support and SLAs: Investigate the level of customer support offered and the service-level agreements (SLAs) for uptime and reliability. Consider the size and engagement of the provider's community too, as well as the quality of their customer support. Good support can be invaluable when troubleshooting issues.

? Read Customer Reviews: The same way you read customer reviews before you visit a restaurant, or buy a clothes from a shop, customer reviews about the Cloud Service providers should not go unnoticed.

There are a number of websites where you can find customer feedback/reviews for various cloud service providers. Some popular options include:

?? Gartner Peer Insights: Gartner Peer Insights is a platform where IT professionals can share their experiences with different software and services. It offers a variety of filters to help you find reviews for specific cloud service providers and features.

?? TrustRadius: TrustRadius is another platform where IT professionals can share their reviews of software and services. It offers a variety of features to help you evaluate reviews, such as the ability to filter by industry, company size, and job role.

?? Software Advice: Software Advice is a website that helps businesses compare and choose software. It offers a directory of cloud service providers with user reviews.

?? Capterra: Capterra is a website that helps businesses find and compare software. It offers a directory of cloud service providers with user reviews.

It is important to note that customer reviews can be biased, so it is important to read a variety of reviews and consider the source of the review before making a decision. You should also consider the specific needs of your business when choosing a cloud service provider.

By thoroughly researching and considering these factors, you can make an informed decision when choosing a cloud platform for your software project, increasing the likelihood of success and cost-effectiveness in the long run.

I hope you enjoyed this post. Please let me know what you think in the comments. Thank you.