Daniel Person
Pre-bout discussion
There is one significant difference between Enterprise Cloud providers that is rarely compared, but it should be the first consideration you make when choosing one. That is, you need to determine the level of service your team is capable of, and if it’s appropriate for the Hosting provider you have chosen. Otherwise, you may find yourself unprepared, dealing with systematic failures in the most inopportune times. The service models offered by Cloud providers are often separated by two polarizing sides, each having its advantages and disadvantages. Let’s sit back and enjoy this match-up, as two giants go head-to-head in this never seen battle.
In the left corner
In the left corner, you have the leading Cloud platforms in mass hosting. These self-service providers, including AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, etc., have powerful proprietary services that lure many clients to their corner, but they often require significant changes to the underlying code for a seamless experience. Many smaller Enterprises found themselves unprepared, seeking outside assistance when it came to planning, deploying, securing, managing, updating and monitoring all their workloads. Most of these actions can be performed within the provided web-based console or via API, utilized by your own engineers or by contracting them, through your providers list of partners. Unless you’re a fortune 500 company with a significant budget, you’re likely to opt out of these hefty support contracts. Once you are locked into these service-based platforms, you become dependent upon them, limiting your ability to migrate away quickly should it become necessary. You should also be prepared to deal with runaway usage charges that can quickly accumulate during attacks, that could span weeks or even months. Ultimately though, if you know your way around these mass Cloud platforms and your plan is to run applications as code (AWS Lambda), or take advantage of their container services, there are several great use cases for them. But when it comes to VPS’s and IAAS (Infrastructure as a service), you might place your bets on the other corner if you want to get any real value.
In the right corner
In the right corner, you have providers like xByte Hosting (XBH) who offer an Enterprise Cloud platform that includes full-service management options. Even the base plans have full support options that can be requested on-demand. Their team of Engineers are intimately capable of managing the following services on your behalf.
- Free Migrations: One of the biggest hassles of moving to a new Cloud provider is moving the applications, files, and databases without causing significant downtime. But XBH engineers have the automation tools to make this an expedient process, ensuring a seamless transition.
- 24/7 Availability: We have a full-service ticket system, by means of email, chat, and/or phone to request assistance, even during major Holidays. The Cloud doesn’t take a day off, so we don’t either. But the goal is to catch and fix issues before you even notice them.
- Engineers for All: We have certified talent available for every situation. Its more cost effective for a team of engineers to assist many companies, then it is to just support one.
- Scheduled Patches/Updates: Choose between our Enterprise service models so we can apply OS, application patches/updates on demand, or have us apply them proactively on any reoccurring timeframe. It’s only a matter of time before an update/patch takes you down, let us monitor the process for you.
- Planned Deployments: Have a great idea but not sure how to implement it? Rely on XBH engineers to plan, design, deploy, and manage your new solution at no extra cost. Don’t let great ideas slow down your process.
- In-depth Security: Our Security experts keep up with the latest Security best practices and newly released alerts. Deploy secure solutions from day one, using solutions like dedicated firewalls, VPN, VLAN, NAT, 2FA, GEO-Filter, IPS/IDP, WAF, CDN, SSL, Encryption at Rest, and we offer Security Audits w/ Penetration testing.
- Intelligent Monitoring: Active monitoring ensures optimal uptime, performance and security. XBH treats each solution like a critical patient, keeping its pulse 24/7, monitoring its health, response times, processes, logs, backups, and any other focal point of interest requested.
- Resilient HA/DR: Don’t risk your livelihood on a single backup plan. At XBH, we have onsite/offsite Backups, Replications, Snapshots, Load-Balancing, Geo-Failover, mySQL Galera Clustering, SQL Availability Groups, and Real-time file synchronization.
- US-Based Engineers: As a family-owned U.S. based company, we solely rely on U.S. based engineers that are easy to communicate with and trust. Tell us what you want, and we’ll make it happen.
- Custom Ready: Bring us your requirements and let us deploy it.
XBH Managed services are available while using the XBH Cloud platform or while using any mass Hosting provider. They have built-in communication tools, phone support, and a ticketing system to promptly respond to incoming requests. Although earning your business is a required step, their end goal is to become a trusted member of your team, with no forced contracts. You tell them where to punch, and they will knock it out.
Final thoughts
You may be wondering where the other Cloud providers fit within the ring, but it’s hard to say exactly. I am sure they exist somewhere in-between the two contenders. For example, you will find providers that will put a cap on bandwidth, and then charge for excess usage. Providers who maintain minimal support options, or providers who have many support options but charge for it. There are providers that have large migration fees, or they may require extended contracts. You may even find providers that are just resellers of other providers. Otherwise, you will find that providers in the middle have fantastic sales agents, and they will use any tactic to get you migrated to them. They know that migrations are stressful and your unlikely to go through another one soon after. Let me assure you of one thing, after the migration is over, the charismatic helpfulness you briefly experienced will quickly turn to silence. If your business is important enough to need the Cloud, but not large enough to staff it, be wary who you trust.
In the end, the bout had to be cancelled due to the lack of interest. But if you are interested, schedule a consult with XBH, and start calling the shots.
