When it comes to IT, it seems like there are a million organizations saying they do “cloud.” Some do. Some don’t. So how can you tell the difference between the truly knowledgeable and the ones just trying to get in on the trending technology? In this blog, we’ll share the importance of working with true experts – especially when it comes to cloud technologies like Azure.
What makes cloud so valuable?
Your data is arguably the most valuable aspect of your business. From financial information to private client and employee details, keeping your data secure is one of the most important things you can do. That’s why it’s so important to work with experts when it comes to cloud technologies.
A properly designed and configured cloud environment can be more secure than its on-premise counterpart. But an incorrectly configured one can be downright dangerous. In the past few years, many businesses were forced by circumstances to quickly move to the cloud to keep the doors open. If they didn’t already have the right systems in place, there was a much higher risk that costly mistakes would be made as providers struggled to grasp the new cloud models. It became a huge opportunity for cybercriminals.
Risks to cloud environments
Risks to cloud environments are growing, and cybercriminals are quick to adapt. Since many organizations embraced hybrid and cloud models during the pandemic, there’s ample opportunity for threat actors to take advantage. Quickly spun up, improperly configured or unmanaged cloud environments create risk. In addition to impacting performance, they can be an easy way for cybercriminals to try to breach your systems.
Now, cloud technologies are seen as a huge opportunity for cybercriminals, and attacks are becoming more frequent. According to Security Magazine, 39% of businesses experienced a cloud environment data breach in 2022. Why are cloud environments such big targets? Like famed thief Willie Sutton said when asked why he robbed banks, because “that’s where the money is.”
Even if you’re not fully using a cloud environment, you may still be using the technology. Whether you’re in a hybrid environment or simply using applications that are cloud-based, it’s important to keep security in mind.
You might feel that enabling your team to work from anywhere outweighs the risks, but taking proper steps before implementing cloud solutions is a much better option. At the end of the day, most of these risks are unnecessary. That’s where working with cloud experts comes in.
Proper cloud management
Like anything else, a cloud environment has to be properly and continuously managed to function optimally. Even if a solution is perfect initially, as your business changes, your solutions need to adapt. The cloud is incredibly agile which means changes can often be made quickly and with minimal impact. But those changes aren’t automatic.
An expert cloud partner goes beyond implementing the solution and offers to help you manage and maintain your environment. This can eliminate costly cloud sprawl, where resources are utilized incorrectly leading to increased costs.
How do experts help?
Expertise is extremely important with any IT implementation, but especially for cloud environments. Your cloud environment is likely being accessed from many locations, by users with varying degrees of security knowledge and skill. One of the best things you can do is design and implement an environment that’s taken those risks into consideration and addressed them.
How to identify cloud experts
There are a few different ways to tell if a Cloud Service Provider (CSP) is truly an expert. Here’s what you can look for.
- They’re a CSP (Cloud Service Provider), or Cloud MSP. The distinction between these two is just the acronym. Either way, you should see something to back it up. That’s typically either a certification, designation or award. Channel e2e creates an annual Top 250 Public Cloud MSPs list. This industry ranking includes the premier MSPs focused on delivering cloud solutions globally. If a provider is on this list, they’ve proven their cloud capabilities over and over again. ADNET has been ranked on this list since 2020.
- They’re a Microsoft Solutions Partner. When an organization is a Microsoft Solutions Partner, they have a close partnership with Microsoft. To achieve this status, providers must meet criteria based on skill, success and performance. Microsoft offers various designations that indicate proficiency – so finding a partner with relevant cloud designations is key. As part of New Charter Technologies, ADNET is a Microsoft Solutions Partner with designations in Modern Work, Infrastructure | Azure, Data & AI | Azure, Security, Business Applications, and Digital & App Innovation | Azure. Only 1% of Microsoft partners in the world hold all six designations.
- The team has relevant certifications, such as Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert. This certification is complex, and you won’t see it very often – but true cloud providers will invest in helping their team dedicate the time and investment to become certified. ADNET has several team members who have passed or are pursuing this certification, in addition to many other relevant certifications.
- The company has a longstanding presence in the cloud market. When it comes to implementing cloud systems, it helps to work with an organization embedded in the technology. Choosing a partner that has a longstanding presence and ample experience in cloud can minimize issues and ensure you’re getting the best service possible. Awards like the Top 250 Public Cloud MSP list are great indicators of long-term success implementing cloud solutions.
ADNET is an expert cloud partner
You may read this and think we’re advising against moving to the cloud. We’re not! We love cloud technologies and the capabilities they bring. ADNET is a cloud-first IT provider. We’ve been using and designing cloud solutions for years. But we’re also an industry leading, award-winning MSP that focuses on security along with functionality. Whether you’re on-premise or in the cloud, technology inherently creates risk. But proper implementation, management and oversight drastically reduces it.
Need an expert cloud partner? Reach out to us – our team can help.
