Issue link: http://cp.revolio.com/i/324708
THE DATA CENTER JOURNAL | 19 www.datacenterjournal.com m anaged-hosting provid- ers are increasingly as- suming a vital role in all aspects of business op- erations. As cloud-based technologies and applications continue to evolve, businesses are eager to employ virtual technologies to drive growth. Organizations have developed new busi- ness models, services and products built around cloud technology. Businesses are differentiating themselves by applying the operational intelligence extracted from the massive volume of data generated, stored and analyzed through managed hosting, virtual infrastructures and cloud technol- ogy. is cloud-based innovation spans all industries and markets, from education to retail to health care. anks to current advances in cloud and managed-hosting technology, economies of scale matter more than ever. Effective business leaders recognize that although they need to employ virtual tech- nologies to remain competitive, they are not in the business of managing applica- tions, maintaining a virtual infrastructure or running a data center. Business and IT leaders who most effectively take advan- tage of cloud and virtual technology oen do so by partnering with a managed-host- ing provider whose expertise is architect- ing, maintaining and evolving customers' applications to help them achieve their business goals. Selecting an effective, well-suited managed-hosting provider is a critical business decision that can determine whether an organization succeeds or fails in today's highly complex and rapidly evolving business climate. Business and IT leaders must ensure their managed- hosting partner is equipped to navigate the sophisticated and rigorous regulatory and PCI compliance issues involved in working with financial, health or personal customer information. With every headline of a data breach, security is becoming a bigger challenge. Owing to the sophistication and expertise required to run a bullet-proof, secure, compliant and highly functional infrastructure, business and IT leaders must systematically evaluate and vet their managed-service provider to select a part- ner that best meets their business needs. Below are five key characteristics to con- sider when selecting a managed-hosting service provider. one: CoMprehensiVe teChnology It may sound obvious, but the most essential characteristic for a managed host- ing provider is the ability to offer a com- prehensive suite of technology solutions. Business and IT leaders should ensure the service provider they select has a disarm- ingly broad set of solutions available not only to meet the business's current needs, but also to scale and grow as the business employs cloud and virtual technology to develop new products and services. A comprehensive suite of services will include a product portfolio with a breadth of innovative cloud and "as- a-service" platforms. A fully equipped managed-hosting provider supports virtual infrastructures, storage, colocation, desktop-as-a-service (DaaS), end=user computing, traditional and dedicated man- aged hosting, application-management capabilities, and more. It can manage a service-level agreement (SLA) starting at the application layer and going all the way up the technology stack. A business's applications may operate on a single, uniform platform or multiple systems. Because of this likely variation in environments, it is critical that a provider is able to accommodate a range of applica- tions and systems in its managed support, which may involve working with middle- ware, applications, and open-source and proprietary soware. It is wise to select a service provider that can offer a range of support to avoid the unnecessary com- plication and cost involved in switching to another provider that offers a broader portfolio of services. two: CustoMizaBility anD Best praCtiCes A second key consideration when selecting a managed-hosting provider is whether the partner is able to architect and maintain a custom solution based on best practices to meet a business's unique goals and technology needs. Customization begins at the design phase, and business and IT leaders should look for a service provider with the expertise to modify each architecture according to their individual business goals. A provider's best practices should ensure seamless transition for its custom- ers by taking an existing physical machine infrastructure and virtualizing it. An effective service provider will have well- established onboarding capabilities that involve white-glove service and compre- hensive support. To execute this transition effectively, a high-quality managed-hosting provider will have tool kits and will have implemented managed capabilities to ensure a seamless move. Best practices should be at the core of a service provider's approach, and they should include assembling the best team to execute a custom solution for each cus- tomer. e right people and right processes should be in place to design an architecture that meets the needs of each business and organization. three: CustoMer-CentriC orientation anD MinDset Business and IT leaders should select a managed-hosting provider with a clear customer orientation and mindset. A ser- vice-provider partnership is a high-touch experience, and the relationship should be led by a dedicated account manager who serves as the single point of contact and escalation for the customer. is support should be readily available by phone or email, and should result in swi attention and escalation to other service channels, if necessary. In terms of breadth of technology expertise, business and IT leaders want to select a service provider with fast, responsive and effective troubleshooting capabilities. How quickly will the service provider assess and address problems from the time they are first reported? e most effective managed-hosting providers will be available to address problems around the clock and will be swi to implement a fix and then solve the underlying issue. A customer should be able to quickly get an engineer working on any issues that arise. A service provider should be flex- ible and available to accommodate each customer's operational needs. A customer- centric focus should motivate a provider