The number of small businesses relying on public cloud infrastructure for storing their data and applications is growing steadily. There are many different cloud service providers that offer cloud service for small business. They have solutions for every business requirement, such as managing risk and costs. Many of them have competitive pricing and regularly add new features.

How to choose the best cloud platform for your small business

The following suggestions may help you to choose the best cloud service for small business:

Find out about the offered cloud security measures

Cloud security is an important concern for protecting your business data and something with which you cannot compromise. It is essential to take the time to understand the security measures your business will require and match these with the security measures that the cloud service provider can offer. Inquire which features they offer free out of the box and which additional services you may need to get by paying an extra fee. You may also need to install security measures from third-party providers for additional safety.

Get informed about meeting compliance standards

Before getting a cloud service for small business, consider the various regulations that apply to your industry. These can include the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Health Insurance Portability and Accountability (HIPAA), Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), Service Organization Control 2, and other frameworks. Find out what you need to do to achieve compliance, what responsibilities you will have after your data is in the cloud, and the compliance measures with which your cloud service provider can assist you.

Understand how the cloud architecture incorporates in your workflow

When selecting a cloud platform, it may help to think in the long term and consider how easy it will be to integrate and upgrade the cloud architecture. Find out about the type of storage you can get for your business. Consider how often you will need to store and retrieve data. For example, you can consider hot storage if you need to store and retrieve data frequently. It is more expensive than cold storage and has fewer restrictions.

Determine how to manage different aspects of the cloud infrastructure

You might want to consider the various orchestration tools you require for your business and the services you can integrate with other services. It is essential to make sure that you and your staff can manage these easily. If there is a steep learning curve, you might want to consider a cloud infrastructure that requires less time and effort.

Review the service agreement, support, and fees

It is important to have a legal service agreement that spells out the exact services you can get from your cloud service provider and the legal requirements for the security of your data stored in the cloud. You should also make sure what level of support you can expect to resolve any issues that might crop up. Additionally, be clear about the monthly or annual fees you will pay the provider.