Pros and Cons of Cloud-Based Managed Services

As more companies move to the cloud, there is a strong demand for managed services providers to help support an increasingly complex IT infrastructure. Cloud-based managed services are maintained by a third party entity and are highly effective for businesses that may not have the resources to maintain an in-house IT staff.

Cutting down significant costs for software licensing, hardware, and personnel, these services can be ideal for businesses of all sizes. They do come with a unique set of pros and cons. Here we’ll look at the main points to consider before subscribing to a new provider.

Pros

Scalability
Managed cloud services are extremely scalable and can cater to the needs of small, medium to large size businesses. Businesses have the ability to easily scale up capacity for increased usage.

Accessibility
Managed cloud services are easy to access, thanks to the versatility that the cloud offers. As a result, this is ideal for those who work with outside clients and need the ability to access apps and documents in a quick, efficient manner.

Reliability
When leaving IT requirements in the hands of trusted professionals, like managed services from Syntax the business can benefit from various additional services from the vendor. These services may include hosting, backup and recovery, troubleshooting, and regular updates.

Cons

Cost
The initial implementation costs of managed cloud services can be somewhat expensive. This can sway decision-makers working with a tight budget. However, it's more than possible to implement these types of services without spending a fortune.

Security
In the past, cloud services were regarded as less secure than dedicated hosting. However, the cloud has matured to the point where data loss is practically a thing of the past. While these cons do exist, they usually don't interfere and are no reason to avoid managed cloud services altogether.

Deployment
Depending on the type of managed services agreed upon, deployment can be a significant challenge. This can entail taking on the implementation for all users, defining customized policies and navigating through the portal on your own. Managed services support may include maintenance of the application and server, but perhaps not assistance features and functionality.
With the right service provider, and a proper implementation strategy put in place before transitioning to the cloud, a business can significantly help improve employee productivity and enhance the overall management of the IT infrastructure, improving security, control ling costs, and complying with regulations.