Deciding to transition to a private cloud is the easy part. Finding a partner in this endeavor requires research and the ability to understand which features your growing business requires. Look for the seven basic features below from any private cloud provider you seriously consider, and then discuss your needs in detail with the provider to determine the right private cloud solution for now and into the future.
1. Full Backup and Snapshot — A private cloud provider should be able to copy your install file system and transfer it without issue.
2. Total Security — All grid nodes should be locked down. This ensures access to the private cloud solution only through firewalls and other security features.
3. Upgrades With Minimal Downtime — All private cloud providers will allow you to add bandwidth, storage and RAM as needed, but the most important feature to look for involves downtime. Expect no more than two minutes per 1GB of data from any provider you seriously consider.
4. Grid — Many private cloud providers will offer a grid solution, but opt for a solution that uses AppLogic, in particular. This hosting platform allows for easy scaling and management of the infrastructure for your applications. With this feature, you will be able to manage entire racks of servers easier than a single one, run multiple applications on the same server, handle hardware failures with no loss of data, launch existing applications without changing code, scale each application, add or remove servers with no disruption, and manage everything with ease through a web browser.
5. Unlimited Space — If you do opt for a private cloud solution that uses AppLogic, additional servers can be added with no disruption to your business. Removal and replacement also will prove just as easy.
6. Automatic Restoration — A private cloud provider should have in place automatic redeployment and restoration. Expect automatic redeployment to available hardware, followed by automatic reboot and resync when necessary to ensure zero disruption.
7. 24/7 Technical Support — No matter when an issue arises, you should be able to get expert technical support on the phone and/or online 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
When discussing your needs with private cloud providers, be sure to ask questions regarding the needs of your business now but also in the future. You will want your private cloud solution to grow with your company, not be held back by it. For example, you might not need a solution able to handle streaming media, VoIP, heavy database input and output, and ecommerce transactions in high volume now, but you might in the coming years if growth continues according to your plans. Ensure that you have a scalable infrastructure in place. Doing so will save you money and effort over time.
7 Features to Look for in a Private Cloud Provider