Running a business is enough work without data and security management, and yet they are essential for ensuring a streamlined workflow. Thankfully, it’s possible to outsource all the backend stuff of your business site or app to a single managed cloud.
But what is managed cloud hosting, and how does it work? Continue below for a full rundown of managed cloud hosting – services, benefits, use cases, and much more.
What Is Managed Cloud Hosting?
Managed cloud hosting means that someone else handles your website or app hosting for you. You don’t have to worry about on-site servers or backups because everything is done remotely while you work.
Managed cloud services are a must for businesses that rely on their online presence for client communication, lead gen, and work operations. They frequently scale their business and thus require a cloud environment that’s flexible enough to accommodate team and client expansions.
The cloud is gaining popularity among businesses and will soon become a business necessity. It’ll be necessary for businesses who want to move with the industry changes and stay on top of their competition.
Managed vs Unmanaged Cloud
Website owners can choose between managed vs unmanaged cloud depending on:
- How big and intricate their website is
- How much support and security they need
- Whether they need to adhere to certain regulations
- How big their budget is.
Managed cloud hosting is better for large websites with huge traffic peaks, such as an e-commerce site. Unmanaged cloud hosting is a good option for small websites with little traffic and no regulatory compliance.
What Is a Managed Cloud Service Provider?
A managed cloud service provider (MCSP for short) offers managed cloud hosting for professional use. They handle everything related to your cloud plan, such as features, support options, pricing, scaling, etc.
When onboarding an MCSP, it’s important to know what services you need from them. Let’s look at the best way to determine the right provider for you:
How to Choose a Managed Cloud Service Provider
Many businesses who want to migrate to the cloud face a lot of challenges, like assessing costs and selecting the right provider. When choosing a managed cloud provider, you have to be aware of all your requirements and how you want them handled. Here are a couple of tips to help:
- Consider the security options: Malware is at an all-time high, so keeping your website safe from security threats is vital. Make sure your chosen MCSP can handle your security needs and even contact them for further inquiries.
- Consider the price: Are you someone who recently started a business? In that case, you will need more flexible pricing to avoid paying for features you don’t need yet. And if you run a large website, you may require custom pricing to accommodate your complex website infrastructure.
- Consider your compliance needs: Are you in a specialized field like law or medicine? Do you handle sensitive client information? In that case, you need an MCSP that is familiar with regulatory requirements in your industry and can make sure you always stay compliant.
- Research and compare providers: You won’t know the full scope of services offered by MCSPs until you research your best options and compare their features. This will help you narrow down your search and choose the most optimal provider for you.
Common Types of Managed Cloud Services
Now that you know how to find a provider, let’s look at the most common types of managed IT services:
- Software as a Service (SaaS): Provides complete software and applications for wide or specialized use.
- Platform as a Service (PaaS): Offers developer platforms for testing and releasing apps, as well as tools to ease the development.
- Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): Offers server storage for businesses to maintain integrity and security.
- Security as a Service (SECaaS): Handles the security departments of businesses, detects safety issues, and eliminates threats.
- Backup as a Service (BaaS): Provides safe and quick backups without having to do it on-site.
- Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS): Ensures your data remains safe and backed up in case of a disaster.
- Database as a Service (DBaaS): Stores and handles databases on the cloud.
- Storage as a Service (STaaS): Provides storage space for businesses and handles its management.
5 Top Benefits of Managed Hosting
Once you’ve selected a cloud provider and completed the onboarding, you’ll notice there are plenty of benefits to managed hosting:
- More time to focus on work: With all cloud hosting management transferred over to your provider, you’ll have your hands free for other business work.
- Less costs: With a managed cloud provider, you won’t have to hire an entire in-house team. This will save you plenty of your budget and will also eliminate the need for recruiting, onboarding, and training.
- No technical skills needed: When you hire a managed cloud provider, you don’t need any training on how to manage the cloud yourself. Managed cloud is a complete maintenance service, so even if you’re not familiar with how it works, it won’t matter.
- Enhanced performance: Without a doubt, your website will perform much better when managed by professionals. You’ll reduce downtime and ensure your site is always up and running. Any bugs or crashes related to your website will be immediately handled by your provider.
- Round-the-clock support: Finally, you can always reach out to your provider for any IT-related questions. Most managed cloud hosting services include 24/7 support.
When to Use Managed Cloud Services
If your business is rapidly growing, it might be time to look into managed cloud services. This is one of the many use cases of managed cloud hosting.
Another use case of managed cloud is for e-commerce sites with huge traffic. Managing a payment gateway and ensuring that all transactions remain secure is vital for these businesses, so many of them rely on MCSPs for support.
Highly regulated fields like finance and law also require enhanced security but regulatory compliance as well. In this case, the cloud provider can help business owners comply with laws like PCI-DSS or HIPAA.
A managed cloud is also recommended for app developers who want to build, test, and deploy applications in a safe environment. Anything related to the servers and network infrastructure will be handled for you.
Get Fully Managed IT Services With Frontline
Now that we’ve cleared up the ‘what is managed cloud hosting’ dilemma, it’s time to start considering if this is a viable option for you. Statistics predict that the managed cloud will become necessary in the near future, with AI and other modern solutions driving its growth.
To not miss out on the latest trends, consider working with Frontline – best managed cloud hosting in Los Angeles. Outsource data management to us, and we’ll:
- Provide 24/7 IT support
- Boost your productivity
- Save you from spending your budget on an in-house data team.
Talk to one of our agents today and get a personalized assessment of your IT needs.