A surprising number of companies we talk to tell us that the cloud applications they have tried just didn’t work for them. They ran slowly, or they never loaded quickly enough, or they never really integrated with other non-cloud business applications in the way they had hoped. When we dig a bit deeper however, we find that most companies that try and then abandon the cloud, have made one of a few fatal errors. The cloud isn’t a magic universe that will streamline all of your programmes by simply signing up for it. It requires planning, evaluating and careful implementation of all the key components. So if you are thinking of signing up for a cloud-based service, you will likely get more out of it if you bear in mind a few key considerations.

1. What kind of connectivity do you have? This is THE number one consideration for a business wanting to move to cloud-applications. It isn’t just about bandwidth, you need the right up and down speeds and the right type of connectivity. They type of connectivity you need will depend on how big your business is and what cloud applications you would like to use. FTTC and ADSL for example are not going to work for cloud applications if you are a larger business. For cloud applications to work, you need a reliable, consistent connection with up and down speeds that can support the cloud programmes you use. Learn more about connectivity options here.

2. Are your cloud vendors connected properly? Cloud applications are hosted in data centres, which also have connectivity. Small vendors or inexperienced vendors that try to provide cloud services without the appropriate connectivity themselves, are never going to be able to deliver a fast, functioning, highly reliable cloud service to you—no matter how much fibre you have installed. So make sure that the vendors you choose are experienced and have appropriate connectivity.

3. Make sure vendors can meet data security, availability and portability requirements. When evaluating cloud vendors, make sure they are able to meet your requirements for data backup and recovery. If a vendor has completed a third-party audit, that is a good indication that the service adheres to data handling best practices. You should also know up-front how a vendor handles data migrations. When moving from one platform to another (e.g. physical to virtual), data needs to be both portable and recoverable in the new infrastructure.

VTSL are experts in connectivity because we provide a cloud-based VoIP phone service that has to be delivered in real time for it to work. You won’t hear a voice on the other end of the phone if the connectivity you have, and the connectivity we have, isn’t fit-for-purpose. As more and more traditionally installed services become cloud-based, getting the connectivity you need to support everything from a hosted VoIP phone service to Microsoft 365 is of increasingly business-critical importance.

So make sure you have what you need! For a free connectivity consultation or to learn more about our hosted VoIP phone service please call us on 020 7078 3200 or email info@vtsl.net.