What do you need to know when choosing a cloud-storage service provider? Never has this question been more relevant than it is today. After all, more businesses than ever before are moving part of their business operations to the cloud, seeking to cut costs and streamline their operations.

Cloud-service providers have noticed this growing trend. As a result, they fiercely market their services, making it harder for you to know which one to choose. So, here’s how.

1. Your Needs

Don’t just sign up for a service without first knowing what your needs are. For instance, do you need basic software-based services to store documents, photos, and videos?

Or, do you want more advanced IT infrastructure, such as applications and servers? After answering such questions, you can better choose a cloud service suitable for business. But which one do you choose?

2. Services on Offer

Depending on your needs, you have three service plans from which to choose. For basic cloud needs, go for the Infrastructure as a Service plan. It gives you access to cloud storage if you have little capital, making it perfect for startups.

But if you need software as well as storage, then, choose the Software as a Service plan. Because it comes with many options, it’s the most flexible and popular of the three services. For instance, your bill varies depending on the time and data you spend while you’re on the service.

Finally, opt for the Platform as a Service if you have advanced needs. This comprehensive plan is preconfigured to suit your software environment. But how much do these services cost? As you’d expect, the more basic the service, the cheaper it is and vice versa.

3. Data Security

But should you settle on a service provider based only on price? No, you shouldn’t. Security also matters just as much, if not more so. Remember, you’ll store critical data in the cloud, and the last thing you want to do is lose it. So, what do you look for?

Cloudstoragebuzz.com suggests that you ensure that your service plan includes more than firewalls and anti-virus software. It should also have encryption services and multi-step verification. What’s more, the provider should conduct regular security audits and have SSAE 16 certification.

4. Compensation for Data Loss

Yet even with the above security measures in place, you can still lose data, but not to external threats. Sometimes, a provider’s mistakes can lead to data loss or deletion. What happens, then? How does the provider mitigate the losses?

And more importantly, will you be compensated for the loss? The answers to these questions are to be found in the provider’s service level agreement. So, read it carefully before signing up.

5. Downtime

Other times, you’ll lose data and money because of service interruptions. This is when the provider’s services become inaccessible. Unfortunately, you’ll experience downtime even with the best provider, though rarely. To find out which provider has the least interruptions, read the downtime logs they post online.

Conclusion

All these factors will need to be considered next time you’re shopping for a cloud storage provider. Make sure that you run down your list of specifications and find a storage solution that fits your needs.