According to analysts Gartner, many SMEs are still put off Cloud because of security concerns. It is true that businesses want to reduce risk where possible and many such risks are dealt with. So what do companies like ours do to make sure that the worry is managed?
The answer is not just in giving assurances, but in meeting those assurances. For the past few years many technology companies, including Colt, have been working on to the way we create and manage Service Level Agreements (SLAs). When we make guarantees, we need to make sure we can meet the client’s expectations.
For businesses looking to move their IT to a managed service model, you should take a look at the vendor’s track record, as well as what they offer. If you find a vendor you’d like to work with then this initial research means you can have an informed meeting when you get to the Service Level Agreement stage.
It’s vital to recall the ‘agreement’ part of the SLA. This document reflects a decision that has been reached jointly between the vendor and client. You shouldn’t have an SLA forced on you just because the vendor insists they know best. Make sure you review your SLA in detail and ask questions. You can’t be too careful with the data that makes your business work. A good SLA will provide assistance you can use. A great SLA will do that, but give you peace of mind too.