Selecting the top five considerations for cloud computing service providers

In the cloud computing field, how can CIOs falsify and find service providers/solutions that meet the requirements of enterprises? It can be said that there are many problems that need to be considered when there are many suppliers who are struggling to survive. But here, through the consistent recommendation of TechTarget senior IT managers and industry experts, we only need to focus on the top five issues.

Data Integration

In the absence of long-term strategic planning, many companies view the "cloud" as a plaything, using only historical mail migration to test load balancing, while ignoring the consideration of more important indicators, such as Whether the type of cloud required is a public cloud, a private cloud, or a hybrid cloud, or how the enterprise's background data is effectively integrated with the cloud.

"In the early days, the cloud meant that you enjoyed the service here, but the functionality was implemented there. Now, the cloud can be deployed on your private network," Jeff Kaplan said. Jeff is a family. The general manager of a network consulting company called THINK Strategies - he immediately said, "You have to make sure you have enough flexibility to determine when and where the cloud is deployed."

Most cloud providers The service provided is very singular. Kaplan said: "Those who are new to the cloud are only able to provide Web-based remote services, but not behind the firewall. Others package the traditional solutions they have been selling into cloud sales." However, it really meets the needs of enterprises. Vendors should be able to offer both private and public clouds, and leverage a variety of cloud applications to consolidate heterogeneous systems in the data center.

Based on this understanding of integration needs, IBM recently acquired an industry leader, Cast Iron Systems. The company is known for providing private/public cloud-based data application services to Dow Jones and Time Warner.

Almost at the same time, Abiquo has released a cloud management solution based on open standards and management adaptation. The technology supports virtual applications, and virtual resources can be configured into production environments with simple drag and drop.

Abiquo's solution was well received at the recent Cloud Computing Expo in New York: "This is the right direction," said Kevin Jackson, president of R&D at NJVC LLC, a technology provider for the Department of Defense.

Compliance Compliance

As regulatory requirements become more stringent, you must determine if your vendor's cloud solution is compliant. In the financial/healthcare industry, for example, PCI DSS (US Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard), HIPAA (Health Insurance Circulation and Accountability Act), and FISMA (Federal Information Security Management Act) are required. However, suppliers need to be compliant, and your business needs to meet the standards. There is no connection between the two.

Tonya Hongsermeier said that the HIPAA regulations “have to notify patients once the data is suspected to be incorrect.” She is the Chief Information Officer of BostonPartners HealthCare Systems. The company is building a cloud-based patient information database that is the basis for so-called humanized medical treatment, because doctors have access to relevant medical information across the country and find the most effective in the knowledge explosion. Diagnostic information," she said.

"I care about two things: legitimacy and technical rationality," Hongsermeier continued, adding specific requirements: auditing indicators, identity authentication, information encryption/decryption, and repeated consultations on patient data.

Hongsermeier finally said: "In order to achieve these we need to purchase data for applicable third parties, while paying attention to the security certification when establishing a connection. At this point we are still groping forward."

Performance Indicators

In an endless cost-cutting effort, suppliers are likely to make a big fuss about the bandwidth of the IAAS service provider The Planet's "cloud" computing senior product manager. Carl Meadows said: "Reducing bandwidth is like poison. In the short term, it will quench your thirst and kill people in the long run."

"The allocation of CPU and disk resources varies from cloud to cloud, and performance indicators are different. In order to choose the right one." Suppliers, in addition to requesting as complete documentation as possible, it is necessary for companies to conduct independent testing. Based on the 'secret agreement', the supplier's physical network topology, power supply and storage system are examined in detail, and their hardware is carefully analyzed. There is a reliable link between the network connection and the quality of service it promises,” Meadows suggests.

Contract Negotiation

Contracts are always the most critical. In addition to clarifying the “cloud” services required, the contract can clarify under what conditions legal termination of cooperation or replacement of suppliers.

"I want to hold the toy in my hand when I am satisfied, and throw it away if I am not happy," Mladen Vouk said. Vouk is the IT Assistant to the Dean of North Carolina State University. "We have been practicing the cloud long before the clouds," he continued. Vouk's team supports everything from IAAS, PAAS, and SAAS, or as long as it's easy to abstract into a service. “And these are not what independent software vendors like to do,” he said.

Vouk also has some analysts suggesting that exit strategies should be discussed early in the exchange with suppliers, while avoiding signing long-term contracts, as this is only beneficial to suppliers. Do not involve large customer (wholesale) contracts, but be sure to specify specific service level agreements (SLAs).

Physical Security

Although there are some very lightweight cloud services - such as filling out a form to schedule an online meeting - but in the face of critical applications or data storage, you need to be very sharp Question:

"What do their data centers look like? Are they willing to give you a chart presentation? Is there a backup plan? Security documentation?" Jessica Carroll asked. Carroll is the IT General Manager of the National Golf Association, which uses the cloud to achieve business continuity and its information collaboration across 1,500 locations across the United States.

"Do you have special access conditions? After you have entrusted your most valuable data to others, would you like to see that they are locked out and cannot be accessed? If the supplier responds positively, then it is okay. Otherwise I will definitely hesitate to cooperate," Carroll said.