How to Shop For a Cloud Storage Provider
Think about the last time you made a big purchase, like a new car or a new computer. What factors did you consider? What were your dealbreakers?
Choosing a cloud provider is just as important. You should shop around, consider multiple options and factors, and weigh the pros and cons. But let’s get specific: what attributes should you consider when choosing a cloud provider?
Features
Consider the following:
- What does each cloud provider offer?
- What features, tools, apps, or benefits are included in each subscription or package tier?
- What features do you deem “essential”?
- And what features, if any, are not required but you would consider “cool-to-have”?
Some important features to consider are
- The amount of data storage space each provider and package offers
- Their bandwidth speeds for uploading and downloading data
- Their data retention policies
- And if there are things like browser plugins or mobile apps for the provider
Limitations
No provider can offer absolutely everything, so what are the limitations of each cloud provider? What are the limits of each feature that they do offer?
With cloud storage providers, the most common limitations revolve around:
- Maximum file size
- Maximum data storage capacity
- Maximum bandwidth speeds
- Maximum data retention rates.
Compatibility
What about operating system compatibility?
If you utilize third-party applications and tools, are these tools compatible with the cloud providers you’re looking at?
Are they S3 compatible?
Does the cloud provider have any native or partner integrations? Do they offer support for use with third-party services?
Cost
The biggest factor with just about any purchase is the cost. Some important questions to ask yourself as you evaluate each cloud provider:
- What is your budget?
- How much does the cloud provider charge for different packages or subscription tiers?
- What are the benefits of each tier?
- What is the cost like compared to other cloud providers that have similar or identical offerings?
- What features are essential for you that justify certain price points?
Documentation
Does the cloud provider have a wide range of documentation on their services?
What about their pricing, compatibility, and features?
Take a look at their documentation section and see if you can answer the following questions:
- How much documentation do they provide?
- How easy is it to access?
- Is the documentation easy to understand?
Support
Customer support isn’t something that you think about until you need it. But it can also be a dealbreaker if the company doesn’t value-efficient, timely, and helpful customer service!
- Does the cloud provider offer adequate support for their services?
- Do they offer just email support, phone support, or live chat support?
- What is the quality of the support?
- What is the turnaround time for getting a response and a resolution?
Your cloud provider is a service that you’ll, most likely, be used daily or weekly. Why not treat the decision-making process just as you would if you were shopping for anything else? Find the provider that works best for you, and save yourself the time and energy of switching providers later.
