Cloud service provider serves a precise function and provides more or less control over the cloud. Your cloud requirements depend on the amount of space and resources you will need and it depends on the purpose for which you are taking cloud service like for home or business.
Generally, a cloud provider should work on pay as you go model so in future when you need extra space you can buy extra storage space. You can decide your point of control over your information and kinds of services that you desire from a cloud provider. There are two aspects must be observed at the time of choosing a cloud provider: cloud service portfolio and the cloud provider itself.
Cloud Computing Service Portfolio
It includes workload environment with the right degree of performance, security, and flexibility. An enterprise should select a cloud provider, enabling workloads that address multiple environments. The cloud provider should propose utmost flexibility for handling workload rapidly.
Many providers use the same term to define very different services for instance hybrid cloud that creates difficulty for customers to choose the best one. Many providers do not meet with expectations raised for service performance for the future needs. To choose the right cloud provider one should consider the cloud service portfolio and the cloud provider itself.
Portfolio
A business support different types of workloads. While choosing a cloud provider, the company should consider the future vision of cloud provider and ensure that the portfolio that a cloud provider has the full range of workload environments and must address for the future foundation of cloud strategy. Before choosing a Cloud provider there are some points which customers should consider that includes security, interoperability, flexibility, and service level agreement.
Interoperability
It means the cloud provider must have the ability to perform workloads in multiple environments. It offers utmost flexibility for handling workloads proficiently. For instance, an enterprise should be capable to put an application in a public cloud environment, but on the other hand, the related database must be residing in a safe, on-premise cloud. For a better interoperability, search a cloud provider that provides a common infrastructure for public and private cloud and as well as for on-premise private cloud.
Flexibility
For the different workload environment, cloud provider should be able to deliver a different range of option related to the functioning, safety, and resiliency so the enterprise can select the best option according to its requirement.
Service level Agreements (SLAs)
Always discuss about the policy of cloud service with a cloud provider. For instance, reports about outrages, which also shows statements of displeased clients. An enterprise should check the measurement of prolonged outrage that will include in the Annual average metric. If your business has hit with prolonged outrage then this point should be discussed with a cloud provider.
Protection
Cloud provider must take steps to protect the assets and select the provider that considers security a priority. Choose a cloud provider who believes further than the physical security and has built cloud architecture for maximum protection.
Evaluate Cloud Computing Service Provider
Cloud provider should have a future commitment to make your cloud better. Moreover, should invest in development resources to ensure customers that they are leading the trends. Cloud provider should have the foundation for cloud service that possesses a strong infrastructure development. Always look for a cloud provider with a record of accomplishment in organizing enterprise data centers, along with secure hosting, and mission-critical applications.
If we consider technical expert, many cloud providers restrict customer support to save the additional cost. However, enterprise always relies on customer support since they have no expertise person who makes maximum use of cloud technology. Therefore, make sure that your cloud provider provides full customer support service with expert technicians for which you are authorized to get. Cloud provider should furnish a range of professional and well-managed service that helps your cloud strategy.
Security Issue
Security is required for a cloud computing service due to storing of the high volume data. There are a number of security issues, which we cannot disregard while bearing in mind cloud computing.
Data Transfer
All your data travels through the internet and therefore it is required to ensure that your data travels in a secure channel. HTTPS URL can secure your data in transit. It should be noted that your data should have strong encryption and it is authenticated with industry standard protocol. It is very tough to judge the behavior of an online attacker. A secure channel and HTTPS URL can secure your data and makes data transfer easier.
Software Interface
Dependability, liability, and privacy are main lineaments of Cloud computing. If you are experiencing weak interface, then all these lineaments will become vulnerable, and that will be an open invitation for online attacks. Therefore, you should aware of your API and software interface that are going to connect to cloud services.
A weak interface can cause security issues. Before selecting a Cloud computing provider, you should go through its security policy. The security administration policy should be flexible that should support for new services that have different background of authentication.
Stored Data
There should be security for data that travels in a tunnel and the data stored on the server, which is accessed by cloud computing applications. Confirm with your cloud service provider that your internal and external data has enough security. Only few cloud providers promise safety for data being utilized within the application or for discarding your data.
Injection Attack
Attacker can insert a virus in cloud service that can harm a cloud system. The attacker creates a malicious application or service and lays it in the cloud. When a user selects a malicious program application, the virus will arrive in the user’s system and can harm the user’s system hardware. The injection attack compromises data security and your database become vulnerable and your system will become victim of eavesdropping. It causes deadlocks, subtle data change, and change of functionality. Such type of attack is also known as a Metadata spoofing attack.
Flooding Attack
The main object of cloud computing is to furnish resources to users as per demand. Here, an attacker can deliver false requests to cloud service that are of no use, but just pretending as a legal user request. With the increasing amount of request, cloud computing resizes its space to cover all legitimate requests. However, when an attacker places false requests, it occupies free space and therefore, legitimate requests will have no space on cloud servers. Finally, the client has to pay for the increased space thorough false links.
Sniffing
When your cloud service is not encrypted then, the attacker can steal your password, login information during the transit of data. Such activity is called sniffing and it restrains storage integrity and cloud security.
