Cloud Computing Backup

Cloud-connected storage solutions use the power of the cloud selectively, enabling you to combine cloud-based and on-premise technologies in a seamless hybrid that provides exactly the right mix of security, accessibility, affordability, and performance.

The evolutionary shift to cloud-connected storage solutions is providing companies with a wider range of data-protection options by blurring the boundaries between onpremise, edge, and cloud-based data protection.

A cloud-connected approach to data protection offers the flexibility to tier data recovery as your business requires. For example, onsite appliances that manage rapid, local recoveries can be coupled with the vast storage resources of the cloud to create the perfect balance of speed, accessibility, and cost.

It is the selective use of the cloud that offers the best solution, and lets you choose any combination of the following, a mix you can freely adjust as your needs evolve.

• Cloud or Software as a Service (SaaS)—Your data is protected in a secure data center and hardware and software is managed for you, including all necessary support and professional services. Protecting your data in the cloud also gives you the inherent benefit of offsite disaster recovery. If your goal is to make life as simple as possible for your IT team but still make sure your data is safe and easily accessible, this approach is ideal.
  
  
• Private—You manage all the hardware and software you need under your roof. Pre-configured, all-in-one appliances are available to simplify deployment and maintenance and speed backup and recovery cycles. You can choose to maintain your infrastructure with your own team, outsource this responsibility to a certified local provider, or take advantage of both internal and external resources.
  
  
• Hybrid—With the increasingly popular cloud-connected model, certain categories of information can be stored in the cloud, while those that need to be instantly available can reside onsite—or a primary backup can reside in one (onsite or in the cloud) with replication to the other. This method offers the greatest flexibility to choose the right blend of capital and operational expenditures.

These three diverse approaches give you flexibility and choice. The growing popularity of hybrid deployments reveals a strategy to create an optimal balance of cloud and on-premise benefits that is being embraced by companies of all sizes. This approach is bringing storage solutions into the cloud-connected future.

Template includes a sample contract with a Sevicel Level Agreement

Cloud computing capacity planning is complex

The cloud computing model reduces the need for capacity planning at an application level. An application can simply request resources from the cloud and obtain them in less than an hour in accordance with dynamic demand. Thus, it is far less important to correctly predict the capacity requirements for an application than it is in traditional data centers, for which as many as six months might be needed to order and install hardware dedicated to the application.

The Cloud Outsourcing HandiGuide is delivered electronically in WORD and/or PDF format.  Included is a detailed sample contract, a sample service level agreement with metrics, two (2) Job Descriptions, and much more.

Cloud processing is only as successful as you plan, manage and direct the relationship.  The rules of the road that should be followed are:

• Make sure your enterprise management initiatives include all the data and information related to outsourced processes and that they are tracked throughout the lifecycle of the relationship.
• Duplicate functions typically exist in organizations likely which create redundancies and increasing costs – root out these teams and right-size your organization before you start the relationship.
• The managers who ran the function that has been outsourced usually do not make the most individuals to manage the ongoing relationship.
• Your outsourcing management team size should ebb and flow as needs change throughout the transition and ongoing, or steady-state, phase – make sure your team flexes and contracts accordingly.
• Ensure you and your outsource providers have aligned goals or risk failure to deliver on the “intent” of the deal – metrics and service level agreements are a must
• Even after the relationship has been in place for a while with your outsource provider, it is never too late to establish best practice.
• Focus on the “what” and not the “how” of the relationship – the reason that the outsourcing relationship was implemented was to do things differently. 
• Track and measure internal client satisfaction – keeping an open dialogue and obtaining regular feedback from internal clients is the key to managing expectations.
• Manage your organization’s level of trust toward its outsource provider – do whatever necessary to maintain or regain trust to avoid diminishing value.

The guide includes everything needed to plan for, negotiate, and manage an outsourcing process within an enterprise.  The electronic document includes:

• Cloud Outsourcing Management Standard Overview of outsourcing, Service Level Agreements and responsibilities.

• Cloud Outsourcing Policy Standard Policy that can be used to determine when outsourcing is an option.

• Cloud Outsourcing Approval Standard Process which can be used in approving an outsourcing agreement.  Includes a process flow chart on steps to a successful outsourcing agreement.

• Sample Service Level Agreement Includes sample metrics as well as text that can be used to create your own SLA.

• Service Level Agreement Metrics Definition of over 150 metrics presented in 18 tables that can be used to manage an outsourcing vendor.

• Outline for Contract Negotiation  Over 17 pages which issues to be addressed including service to be provided, service level requirements, term of the agreement, enterprise's facilities, enterprise's equipment (owned/leased), intellectual property, third party service providers, IT application project (current / future), responsibilities, training and conversion to mention a few.

• Base Case Development Detail listing of factors to include

• Mutual Non-Disclosure Template Template that can be used to create an enterprise's own document for use with outsourcing vendors.

• Two Job Descriptions (3 pages long)

• Business & IT Impact Questionnaire - Inventory and assess all application - addresses Sarbanes-Oxley Compliance issues.

• ISO 27001 & 27002 Security Process Audit Checklist