Organizations choose cloud computing for its many benefits that reshape business operations. Cloud computing promotes scalability, enabling resources to expand or contract seamlessly with fluctuating demand. It reduces upfront costs by replacing capital expenses with manageable operational ones. But while cloud migration clearly offers immense advantages, managing it demands expertise. A great solution is to consider hiring a managed cloud security provider.
Managed IT services providers (MSPs) bring specialized expertise to monitor and mitigate security risks, which can be challenging to address in house. Companies that are planning to migrate to the cloud, or have already migrated but are thinking of switching MSPs, should know the right questions to ask for their migration to succeed.
Before your enterprise commits to a partnership with a managed cloud security provider, it should seek answers to these five questions.
Ask your organization first: What are our business needs and our budget?
Begin by internally evaluating your organization’s specific requirements. Clearly define your business goals to understand whether you are aiming to enhance scalability, streamline operations, or bolster your security measures. Take stock of your existing IT infrastructure and the skill set of your personnel, as these factors influence the level of assistance required.
Additionally, establish a realistic timeframe for the migration or integration process, factoring in any urgent deadlines or long-term strategic considerations. By actively assessing your needs, resources, and timeline, you lay a strong foundation for productive discussions with potential managed cloud security providers.
Ask your potential MSP: What is your service catalog and the scope of services that we can expect?
Initiate discussions about their service catalog and the breadth of services they offer. Inquire not only about the scope of services but also the quality of their live support. Understanding their responsiveness, availability, and the expertise of their support teams ensures that you have reliable assistance when it matters most.
You should also explore their service request management, seeking insights into how they address and resolve service disruptions. This approach equips you with an understanding of their strategies for handling incidents. By actively engaging in these conversations, you lay the foundation for a partnership that not only aligns with your business needs but also assures a proactive approach to maintaining smooth business operations.
| Read also: The importance of managed cloud security |
Ask the MSP: What will the migration process look like, and what happens should we decide to terminate our partnership?
Ask your potential MSP about two pivotal aspects of your partnership: the migration process and the protocol for terminating the partnership. Uncover the specifics of the cloud migration process, including the planned steps, estimated timeline, and potential effects on your operations. Simultaneously, delve into the conditions and implications of ending the partnership, covering elements such as associated costs, data ownership, extraction procedures, and available transition assistance.
It’s always wise to have a comprehensive understanding of the entire life cycle of your relationship with the MSP, from onboarding to potential offboarding, before committing to a partnership.
Ask the MSP: How will you safeguard our information and resources?
You should also ask the MSP about their security monitoring and incident response processes. Request a detailed explanation of how they will monitor your systems for threats and anomalies, as well as their response to security incidents. Inquire about their methods for pinpointing vulnerabilities and potential breaches, as well as their strategies for containing, mitigating, and recovering from security events. This enables you to gauge the MSP’s preparedness to tackle security challenges but also align their protocols with your risk tolerance and compliance needs.
Ask the MSP: Could you outline your cloud’s data privacy measures and regulatory compliance?
Ask them about their approach to data privacy and talk about their regulatory compliance. Inquire about how familiar they are with your particular industry’s compliance protocols, standards, and laws. And if they can discuss the physical locations of their servers — which has implications for data privacy and regulations, data sovereignty considerations, and security and jurisdiction concerns — the better. This ensures that you and your potential MSP will have a robust and legally sound collaboration.
Ready for your cloud migration? Contact Refresh Technologies, and we will help you with a smooth transition.